nearing the end of treatments - getting depressed

Hi Susana,

I know exactly how you feel. In 2 weeks my mother will be done with her treatment for stage 3 rectal ca. She has a ct scan in march that i'm already worried about. I can't even imagine the return of this nightmare. What helps me is focusing on how when she first got diagnosed I thought the worst all the time but we've got nothing but good news from the doctor so why shouldn't that continue.

Try to stay focused on the positive and keep in touch. It's easier to go through this as a team.

julie

Julia, You're feelings are soooooooooo normal as you near the end of treatemnt. My oncologist (voted one of NYC's best in a 1999 poll) told me that I could potentially find the post-treatment era harder than during treatment. During treatment you steel yourself for the next infusion, the next dose of radiation...but when it is over it's just you...and all of the anxiety that goes with this stupid disease. I gritted my teeth and got through my 18 treatments over 6 months, then readjusted. I found that running helped me. It made me feel like I did something healthy, even just for that one day, and it helped take the edge off my anxiety and sleep at night. As my body recovered I gained renewed confidence in it. When I beat my family Dr. who discovered my cancer in a 10-K (and he was a good runner), some 6 months after completing chemotherapy I felt a lot better. Not necessarily about forever, but at least for that day, that week, that month. Here I am 6 years later...clean of cancer and running every day. I still worry part of every day...but by living each day as Healthy as I could and getting my body back, I won the battles, and so far, the war. Be kind to yourself during the end of treatment. It is the hardest time. I remember. But 6 weeks from now, you will be getting stronger and better and parts of every day will seem good. Let us know how things are going..and congratulations, you are almost done. I'm pulling for you!

Hi Susanna,
After I finished all my treatments, I felt like I experienced something like 'post-traumatic stress disorder'. And, when I eventually started seeing a therapist, she said it really was something like that. I held it together so tightly during the roller coaster of diagnosis and treatment -- and there was so much to do and focus on. But when that ended, I finally began to process what had happened. It was a tough period, but I got through it and I sincerely believe you will too.
Tara