This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who works in the world of BC. They know that their patients are depressed after getting the cancer diagnosis, and then it can get worse gradually after that. We are bombarded by recurrence rates. Percentages for everything, that contributes to recurrence. Our color, our weight, our age, etc. We develop bad relationships with food, afraid to eat many things. No more alcohol, no more soda, no more most everything. Because, our % of recurrence increases with anything that causes inflammation, weight gain. Our sex lives dwindle, either because our husbands are so sweet and don’t want to hurt us, and/or because we feel unattractive. No easy answers there. We worry about our children and grandchildren. Are we passing this down to them; and even if not, we feel the responsibility to “warn” them and “educate” them about diet, getting exams, and every little thing, so that they don’t end up like us. But we don’t want to nag. How do we take care of everyone, let alone ourselves, without becoming exhausted and depressed. Top it off with stories about people in tip top shape who end up with BC “ for no reason”. Fear. Loss of control. Fear. Sadness. We put on happy faces and try to hide our fears. Nothing is the same after BC, mastectomy, lumpectomy, reconstruction or no reconstruction, infections, set backs, estrogen blockers for 10 years. Very unpleasant side effects from those. Of course we are depressed.

Each one of you are spot on. The mental fatigue of going through cancer on top of the physical fatigue of the treatments, the roller coaster ride of health and a decent night's sleep, it's all overwhelming even after active treatment ends and those things continue. We keep pushing forward. The pace of what forward looks like changes daily. Life goes on, and we adjust. But what does that adjustment look like? I find that the hardest. This 3rd round of BC was stage 4, grade 3, Ki 67% HR+ HER2-. I finished Verzenio March 2025 and, because I can't physically tolerate AIso, I will be on a 28 day cycle of Faslodex for the remainder of my life unless something better comes along. I am grateful no signs of cancer show in CT scans. I'm working on adjusting my life in ways that I didn't expect to change for another 5 to 10 years. I am grateful for remote work, even going to the office one day a week wears me out. I really just want to rest and exercise and get my feet back under me but really love having a roof over my and all my bills paid each month so sitting at my desk takes priority. I appreciate that you've read this far and I woke up this morning hurting and too tired to jump out of bed. This was the second thing I saw in my inbox, and sometimes it helps tossing this out into the universe rather than holding it in. Today will be better as soon as I get my feet back on the ground and my head off the pillow. Wishing everyone strength, joy, and a daily silver lining.

Hi Sue. I don't think anyone could get thru all this and not get depressed at some point.

Thank you all for your information and sincerity. Although I don’t suffer from insomnia, I find I am worn out and unable to keep up like I used to. “Health issues roller coaster”, is especially depressing. I just get over one thing, then something else hits. I want to be healthy and continue to improve, rather I’m getting a cold, the flu, an infection, or sinus problems routinely. Fatigue after a normal day or just a little excersise.
Does this hold true for anyone?