How do you cope with fear before cancer treatment?

One day at a time. With tx comes side effects. Without tx quantity of life is very little. Side effects can be managed. Work with your team let them help. Come here to express yourself. Rest when needed eat when you can do things you enjoy. Try not to be scared we're all in this together.

When I got my first package of Kisqali, I was afraid to take it not wanting to put poison into my body. Now, eight months later I will fight anybody who tries to take it away. Yes I’ve had some rash and minor side effects. However, I’m walking 7,000 steps daily, doing water aerobics, grocery shopping and driving locally. I thought with stage 4 MBC I would be deceased by now, but no, I’m doing amazingly well! Give it a chance. Update: October 2025, after ten months of treatment scans show me in remission! No traces of new growth of tumors anywhere in my spine, soft tissue or breast. I have to stay on the medication and live with some side effects, but I’m not just alive, I’m fully living my life again! Thank Heaven. 🙏

Same here Patricia. I am on a kisquali since. April 2024 and feel the same way! My body adjusted to it within a few cycles and I am on the highest dose! It reduced my tumor markers and shrink my breast tumor and some lymph nodes. Hang in there we got you! !

I was not successful with Kisqali. I couldn't get the side effects under control, but I'm glad I tried. My longest treatment was Ibrance with letrozole, then with fluvestraunt. It was almost 7 years. I pray Kisqali will work for you at least that long. 🙏

Prayer and one day at a time

This is the challenge of metastatic cancer. Cancer is a huge mind game! The question has become more and more with these great new treatments, how do you live with it? All these treatments have side effects. First I’ve changed my thinking and don’t call them poisons. They are powerful drugs that have side effects. I deal with the side effects very heads on. For example, I take anti constipation meds when needed. I exercise and work with a pt specialist, I drink lots of water, I work on my diet did each treatment, I do mindfulness, and lots of other things. I support myself so I can help these meds work for me. Every time I’ve switched treatment it’s taken me 2-3 months to get it down because each treatment can have wildly different side effects. This is all hard. I do see a cancer social worker and have a support group. The group has helped with sharing “tricks” to deal with stuff. But I try to stack the deck to help myself. It’s the only good choice that I can make. And I’ve been at this for a long time - I was diagnosed 14 1/2 years ago as metastatic. And the party isn’t over for me yet! I’m hanging in there for longer! You can too. Also, when I switched meds I was scared that each one would get harder and harder until I would just give up. Not exactly an uplifting view point! But that’s not been my experience. Some have been harder and then others have been clearly easier. It was more that the side effects were different each time. Sometimes they were opposite! So I have to adapt. But changes were not necessarily harder. Maybe reading this might make you feel calmer. Surrounding you with love and hope, Susan

Omg Susan you are so inspiring! Please continue to give us hope and insights. I feel better reading this post. I needed this today.

Treatment anxiety is completely understandable, and many in this community share those same feelings about upcoming sessions and potential side effects. Consider connecting with others here who have walked similar paths, as they often share practical coping strategies like relaxation techniques, preparing comfort items for treatment days, or writing down questions for the medical team beforehand.

My name is Mary and too have stage4 bone cancer only in my back. It spread to my bones in the back. I too had a mastectomy and did both 13 yrs ago. I also had 17 lymph notes that 5 were malignant . I’ve been fighting this hell for almost fourteen years. I’m currently doing chemo which is working but the side effects are sometimes very hard to take. But husband says one at a time Which is what I’m trying to do. I’m here if ever want to vent.

Good bless you Mary. You are a warrior! I had my metastatic breast cancer diagnosis April 2024. Your story is inspiring..

I was diagnosed with metastatic disease May of 2016. Coming up my 10 year mark this year. I really appreciate those of you who share your stories and experiences of what you have done to manage this horrible disease. God bless and lots of prayers out to each and everyone of you. ❤️🙏

I too will have to do chemo, have lymph nodes removed and have a mastectomy possibly this summer after my recent lumpectomy with reconstruction (1/14/26) revealed an invasive cancer (ICD) that was not detected until after surgery on the pathology report surgeon thought it was DCIS. I am on letrozole and my cancer tested positive for all 3 receptors. It has been an emotional rollercoaster ride since my cancer diagnosis in November 2025. It's human to be fearful, sad, anxious, and all the feels and I'm grateful for this app and others who post encouraging words. Keep your head up high, stay positive on the days that you can, find a great support system of neighbors, friends, family, or coworkers who will be with you every step of the way! Continue to use this app and reach out. We are stronger together and we never know how strong we are until being strong is the only choice we have!

I hear u a lot of days I think to myself is all this discomfort and pain worth it? I guess to a certain extent it is. Everybody that knows me think I’m warrior and a fighter. But believe me I have my days.I pray to my Mom and Dad that they keep their hands on me. Which they’ve doing so far. I lost my Mom almost 6 yrs ago. She was 103 plus. We found out 2 weeks before she died she had colorectal cancer that had spread everywhere. The funny thing was she never gave any indication of pain or not feeling well. We thought that the way she was due to age and the dementia and paranoid. But I guess it was just her turn. Anyway enough about me I do hope u feel better and that u’ll keep in touch. Stay well and be safe. Mary❤️

That’s exactly what it is a roller coaster. Unfortunately u can have the best results and than it turns in a heartbeat. Last year going through the hell I was already going through. I reached over to get something on my nightstand and didn’t realize I was so close to the end. I guess u can guess what happened next. I fell on the marble and shattered my femur(hip) and needed surgery. So I had surgery and that hospital stay was a month. 2 mons. later I was back in the hospital because they found a mass on my kidney. So again I needed surgery this time 20% of my kidney was removed but I didn’t need chemo or radiation. That was a relief! I guess u can say I’ve through a lot . Meanwhile my husband and I are still trying to move in between all this mess. Well just try to stay well and as they say one day at a time believe me I know it’s not easy! Mary