Carol had been told that she would be closely watched for 10 years. She felt this was a long time to live in a state of fearfulness.
Transcript
I think for me, also, the scary thing is that I have to be followed closely for 10 years. That means, my chances of having it again for 10 years are elevated. That’s, that’s scary, that’s scary, it means it’s not really over when the chemo and the radiation is over. You still, every year that you get tested, it’s going to be scary and my kids are young still, and that’s hard …
But there’s knowing in your head, but always at the back of my mind is the fact that it’s 10 years that I have to be followed. And when it comes, if it comes back, it’s usually worse. So even knowing how successful they are at counteracting and fighting breast cancer, I’m still scared at the back of my mind that it’ll come back. I think I’ll be scared for 10 years.
More content
- Chemotherapy – CarolCarol felt very sick after the first chemotherapy, so the nurses advised her to take the anti-nausea medication for the next round.
- Chimiothérapie – CarolCarol a été très malade après son premier traitement de chimiothérapie. Les infirmières lui ont alors conseillé de prendre les médicaments contre la nausée pour le second traitement.
- Finding and sharing information – CarolCarol stopped searching on the Internet as she found the range of information too wide.
- Understanding the diagnosis – CarolCarol describes how medical breast cancer knowledge has increased but she is not fully reassured; there is still this knowing in her head that it could possible come back.
- Talking to children about cancer – CarolCarol has four children (between 6 and 11 years old). But it was her oldest daughter who was most aware of the possibility of dying.
- Physical activity and diet changes – CarolCarol sometimes found it hard to maintain a healthy diet, especially with kids and while feeling tired.
- Follow-up care and the risk of recurrence – CarolCarol had been told that she would be closely watched for 10 years. She felt this was a long time to live in a state of fearfulness.
- How it affects family and friends – CarolIt is not a big deal for Carol to go out in her local community.