talk with Onc. - book recommendation

I have two Taxol left to go. One this afternoon and one next week friday on the 27th. I have taken 2 weeks off work until I am done. I feel immnense relief at the prospect of being done with chemo (never mind rads and sugery and herceptin in the works), bewilderment and sadness. I have found myself crying while driving alone in the car and feeling a little down.

I had an appointment with the Onc. yesterday and was describing how I felt, in particular the part about feeling down. He told me this is not uncommon in people who are about to finish chemo or rads or all their cancer treatment. Since so much of our lives (even if we have been working and taking care of families) are geared around the cancer and the treatment. During treatment there is a known, that on on these days treatment will happen etc, friends and family are helping out and so on. However after treatment, many patients feel they are thrust into a void, expected to function normally depsite still reeling from the side affects of chemo, lives don't go back to the way they used to be since so much has changed during cancer diagnosis and treatment. The question often asked silently is 'How do I know live my life?' The Onc. said that in his experience that patients need just as much support to transition into the afterlife of cancer treatment as they do when diagnosed and during. Fortunately at our clinic they offer counselors and support groups.

He did give a book to read called - After Breast Cancer by Hester Hill Schnipper - which I have started reading.

I guess I wanted to share this as I have been reading posts of women who feel in some ways almost abandoned or afraid or depressed after their treatment is completed. My Onc. agreed that chemo is a very traumatic experience and oftentimes their are physocolgical side affects of that as well. I felt encouraged to have had this discussion with the Onc. and was grateful for his concern and recommendations.

much love to you all
Mariam