I was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive breast cancer it will be 3 years in February. I am doing well. Had a double mastectomy, treatment, currently on femara with very few negative sidw effects. Just had my marker test last week. I also had my regular noncancer and my calcium levels were high which can indicate the return of cancer, but with normal cancer markers and a redo of the other test, I'm okay [do not get bloodwork after a 3 day stomach flu]
My sister is a nurse at a cancer center. She immediately convinced everone that I was faking cancer. It was so scary last week when my calcium levels were up. And I had noone to share my fear and then later my good news.
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Hi vicky3vicky, and thanks for sharing your story and concerns with the EmpowHER community.
It's heartbreaking to read what you have been going through for the past three years. Living with a cancer diagnosis, and everything that comes with the disease, is never easy, and every patient needs and deserves support.
It is difficult to understand what would motivate someone to accuse you of faking having cancer, but what this comes down to is that the other person has the problem, not you.
As a two time cancer survivor I have seen this happen to many people. It is always very hurtful when relatives or friends or co-workers, for whatever reason, decide they know more than the patient and judge their degree of illness or accuse them of making it up. Perhaps it is some form of denial or not wanting to get involved. Whatever the motivation, it is the other person's dishonesty and failure to support/believe the patient that is wrong, not the cancer patient who is in need of support and acceptance.
I am glad you said you are doing well. I would encourage you to reach out to other breast cancer survivors and to cancer support organizations, online or in person, where you can be around other people who do get what you are thinking, feeling, and going through.
Life changes significantly after a cancer diagnosis and you have a long road of recovery and maintaining your health and well being ahead of you. The more you can spend time around others with the same goals - positive people who are moving forward - the better.
I have been in many classes and workshops with people who had cancers that were different from my own, and I have learned from each person that I've encountered.
There are many good people out there who do get what you have gone through and who will support you and help you move on with your life.
Please don't dwell on the people who were not there for you, it's not worth it to use up your energy on them.
You seem like a very nice person and I'm sure there are many people who would enjoy having you as a friend.
Take care,
Pat
November 18, 2014 - 6:10pmThis Comment