[Debbie L.]

Darlene, I wish we had the words to just fix this for you. The only words I have are to remind you that it is SO normal to find that end of treatment doesn't mean end of breast cancer's emotional impact. Probably for most women, it's rather the opposite. Emotions are put on the back burner during the more acute part of diagnosis and treatment (when it often takes all we have just to cope physically), but they often boil over afterwards.

You have so many options now, to help yourself work thru these emotionally tumultuous times. First and foremost, be patient and gentle with yourself. Whether it's anger, sadness, fear -- it's all normal. Ways to help include counseling, exercise (preferably vigorous, gasping, thigh-burning), group support, spiritual exploration/deepening, and medication. Some people just go with pure distraction -- traveling perhaps, or immersing themselves in an important project, whether for profit or personal satisfaction (volunteer).

Any or all of these are frequently reported to help, but no one thing helps everyone. So it's to you to figure out what works for you. It won't be easy (alas), but probably in the process of doing that figuring-out, you'll learn important things about yourself and about life.

Debbie Laxague