The Emotional Roller Coaster of Having Breast Cancer

Whether going through treatment, or becoming a survivor of breast cancer, any woman who has experienced it will understand the emotional ups and downs that plague life surrounding this disease. Breast cancer is physically and mentally draining, and the stress and anxiety that come with the news of this fatal disease are followed by anger, depression, and acceptance in erratically phased stages.

The initial shock when receiving the bad news can bring fear and anxiety.

When you first find out about your disease, your emotions take a hard hit to the face. Not only are you terrified of what's to come, but you're also increasingly anxious every time you get a lab test or imaging result taken to evaluate your disease. You're constantly on the edge of your seat, hoping to find out more about what terrible things are going on in your body.

People are going to tell you all kinds of things and react differently to your situation.

Beyond dealing with the stress and shock of finding out you have the disease, you're also afraid because of all the unknown that comes with it. You also will be faced with the varying ways that people surrounding you will try to help you through this difficult time. Obviously, some will be better at it than others, and sometimes people you adore may simply have zero tact when it comes to cancer. Be prepared to snap at friends and family if they accidentally say something insensitive they didn't realize would hurt you. A lot of people don't understand what it feels like to be diagnosed with a serious illness, let alone something as terrifying as breast cancer.

The fight begins, and soon you will feel the urge to battle your enemy head-on with a fierce passion.

Soon after your diagnosis, you will likely discuss with your medical care team the options that are available to you in terms of treatment. At first, everything is still incredibly overwhelming and terrifying as you are still trying to make sense of everything being thrown at you. Nowadays, there are tons of different drugs, radiation options, and biologics that can help you fight your disease. The fear of not choosing the best one can forever linger as an anxiety when making these decisions. Even just hearing all the options you may choose from for treatment may be overwhelming in itself.

After much pondering and confusion, you finally are able to make some choices in terms of your treatment plan. If you're feeling confident in the plan that you drafted with your doctor, you may start to feel a newfound, impulsive courage that fuels your difficult yet spirited battle your worst enemy. Then there are the supporters who work hard to motivate you to fight. Heck, maybe you are already a ferocious fighter yourself. Regardless of how you acquired your courage, many breast cancer patients find willpower and determination among the fears and anxieties they face when battling this disease.

Read on to learn more about the emotional roller coaster that comes along with breast cancer.