Your feelings after treatment

At the end of hospital-based treatment there may have been permanent changes to the way you look or feel and you’ll probably need some time to come to terms with this.

Although you’ll probably be relieved it’s over, you may be anxious about losing regular contact with your specialist team. We understand your need for support doesn’t end when treatment finishes.

It is important to give yourself plenty of time to rest, recuperate and adjust. This can sometimes take longer than expected, but this will vary from person to person.

Loss of self

You may feel that life as you knew it has been disrupted by the diagnosis of breast cancer and that you have lost a sense of who you are. It is not uncommon for people to feel their body has let them down or that they need to exert some control over their lives at a time when they feel unsure about the future and the changes in their body. During this time you may experience a number of emotions such as anger, fear, shock and disbelief.

Relating to those around you

The way you relate to others can be affected as you recover. Those around you may be eager for you to return to the person they knew before you were diagnosed. If you are struggling with changes to your identity, it can make it difficult to relate to others and for them to relate to you. This in turn can make you feel isolated and alone.

Loss of identity

At times you may feel you have lost your identity and this can affect a number of areas of your life.

• Fatigue may restrict your ability to be as active as you would like to be. This may reduce the hours you are able to work and may affect your social life, both of which can heighten your feelings of isolation.
• Finding it difficult to work and maintain relationships can be challenging and this can add to the feelings of loss you may be experiencing.
• Your sexuality and how attractive you feel may also have been affected by your breast surgery or menopausal symptoms caused by hormone treatment or chemotherapy.

It’s important to know that many people experience these types of issues. Try to identify the area that is having the biggest impact and make some gradual changes.