How to handle the emotions

I am just beginning to feel that this is real. I have been just numb and not believing it. I find myself thinking about it a lot, dreading the withdrawal from HRT. sugery, whatever treatment I will need. It's taking up too much space in my head. I try to concentrate on the here and now, but my mind keeps going back to the cancer.

Any tips as to how to back it off?

Comments

  • Ruffy7
    Ruffy7 Member Posts: 126
    Take it a day at a time.
    Take it a day at a time. You'll read this from so many people here... because it works. The first few days and weeks are the worse. Try not to look too far ahead right now just do what you need to do to get through this day. It does get better. Even a year+ later, I still find myself in denial but life does go on and as others have said, cancer nowadays is just a word, not a death sentence. Many people live long term with it. Everyone has their own way to deal with this - you will find what way works best for you.

    As far as HRT, I just started it (I'm 52 - surgery kicked me into it big time:(. My cancer is not estrogen related, according to my onc, but the thought is that you take Hrt at the lowest dose for the shortest time. I hope to only be on it for 1-2 years. Maybe, at 65 as you said you are, you are through menopause and won't have any symptoms from it. Is the dr putting you on something else for your bones?

    Hang in there, it does get better. You are not alone, Hugs, Ruffy
  • Ruffy7
    Ruffy7 Member Posts: 126
    Ruffy7 said:

    Take it a day at a time.
    Take it a day at a time. You'll read this from so many people here... because it works. The first few days and weeks are the worse. Try not to look too far ahead right now just do what you need to do to get through this day. It does get better. Even a year+ later, I still find myself in denial but life does go on and as others have said, cancer nowadays is just a word, not a death sentence. Many people live long term with it. Everyone has their own way to deal with this - you will find what way works best for you.

    As far as HRT, I just started it (I'm 52 - surgery kicked me into it big time:(. My cancer is not estrogen related, according to my onc, but the thought is that you take Hrt at the lowest dose for the shortest time. I hope to only be on it for 1-2 years. Maybe, at 65 as you said you are, you are through menopause and won't have any symptoms from it. Is the dr putting you on something else for your bones?

    Hang in there, it does get better. You are not alone, Hugs, Ruffy

    Oh, a day doesn't pass that
    Oh, a day doesn't pass that I don't think about cancer and I am only 14 months from dx. Someone at work who had breast cancer 10 years ago, not in treatment anymore, said she still thinks about it everyday though how much she thinks about it is not as much now as it was back then.
  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    Ruffy7 said:

    Oh, a day doesn't pass that
    Oh, a day doesn't pass that I don't think about cancer and I am only 14 months from dx. Someone at work who had breast cancer 10 years ago, not in treatment anymore, said she still thinks about it everyday though how much she thinks about it is not as much now as it was back then.

    My 86 year old mother is a
    My 86 year old mother is a 26 year surviver of breast cancer. She recently fell and broke her hip and had a total hip replacement. The first thing she said when she woke up was"did they find any more cancer?" So it seems it is ALWAYS on our minds at some level. It's just up to keep it out of the fore-front of our minds. Best, debrajo
  • seaturtle
    seaturtle Member Posts: 41
    Ruffy7 said:

    Take it a day at a time.
    Take it a day at a time. You'll read this from so many people here... because it works. The first few days and weeks are the worse. Try not to look too far ahead right now just do what you need to do to get through this day. It does get better. Even a year+ later, I still find myself in denial but life does go on and as others have said, cancer nowadays is just a word, not a death sentence. Many people live long term with it. Everyone has their own way to deal with this - you will find what way works best for you.

    As far as HRT, I just started it (I'm 52 - surgery kicked me into it big time:(. My cancer is not estrogen related, according to my onc, but the thought is that you take Hrt at the lowest dose for the shortest time. I hope to only be on it for 1-2 years. Maybe, at 65 as you said you are, you are through menopause and won't have any symptoms from it. Is the dr putting you on something else for your bones?

    Hang in there, it does get better. You are not alone, Hugs, Ruffy

    HRT withdrawal
    Thanks. I gather I will go into menopause because the HRT has kept me out of it. It'd be great if I skipped it!

    Yes, the doctor has me on Boniva in addition to the estrogen.

    Thanks again, everyone, for the reassurance about thinking about it. Relief to know I am normal.