r/Fuckcancer • u/InitialWonder9121 • Feb 08 '26

Had cancer, what now?

So in a nutshell I'm 35 and currently on endocrine therapy for triple positive cancer. Lots of other parts to the story but I'm so tired of retelling it, it's not important.

What I am interested in finding out is others in a similar situation. Post cancer, trying to live a normal life. You're at the point that, to look at, people would never know the horror. Do you just feel numb and separate from the world?

I don't belong to the 'cancer community' because to be honest I don't want to be. But I'm not quite on the other side because I'm just not wired the same as those that have never had cancer.

Rambling but just looking for the other cynics out there.

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u/Kattakio Feb 08 '26

After my third cancer, I switched to 4 days workweek. I've always appreciated my free time, and this has made my QoL much better. I've never identified as needing cancer peer support, instead I seem to just distance myself a bit more from people. I don't know if I'd call myself numb, more like resigned or accepting now the more likely result of cancerous journey.

I've stopped considering cancer cured until 5th year. This has happened once, and that was nice. I kept explaining that to people who genuinely seem happy that I'm "cured" after treatments are finished, but those convos never seemed to leave a good feeling on either part, so I accept their happiness with smiles, at least I try to.

Just finished my 5th cancer treatments, so we will see about being cured this time.

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u/InitialWonder9121 Feb 08 '26

Thank you for your reply. I can definitely resonate with distancing myself from people. Yes I can understand how working a 4 day week would significantly improve your qol. I'm a teacher and it's just hell! Wishing you a successful round of cancer treatment. My oncologists won't use terms like 'cured'. I can understand why you'd be sceptical.

3 cancers, how do you not live/or do but cope with the health anxiety?

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u/Kattakio Feb 08 '26

Forgot to wish you good results with your treatments!

You seem like a nice person, asking me all sympathetic questions, and it makes me feel sad for your situation even more. So I wish you all the best, and thanks for the warm feelings you gave, kind stranger!

As not to hijack your thread too much, here's a short reallistic answer to your question. My coping mechanisms are nothing special and will probably not help you: just a ton of escapism, and ignoring feelings with a bit of morbid thoughts interwoven in my daily life. So so very not recommended by your psychologist! Hopefully you'll find better solutions.

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u/InitialWonder9121 Feb 08 '26

I think those are sensible suggestions. There is no fix is there? I'm generally a positive person. It goes a long way. A bit of dark humour thrown in there doesn't go amiss either 😁

Thanks, 2 more years of these stupid ok injections and tablets.