I definitely believe the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can cause post traumatic stress syndrome. I liken it to the way I felt after 9/11. The safety of my life and the life of my son felt so compromised, and I had to accept that as my new reality. This caused anxiety and mild depression for me, and I know I suffered from PTSD. In time, I adjusted to my new normal and rarely think of it now. With cancer, it happened to other people, not my husband. When it hit us personally, our world came crumbling down in the way that it did with 9/11... we are vulnberable, this CAN happen to us, and it can happen again. Cancer takes time to process too. I often have to remind myself just how fresh all of this is, especially when I have a very emotional day. Like 9/11, this will take time, but I have faith that in time it won't be something that has such power over the way I feel.
Side note: hubby goes to bed earlier than before, so I imagine he needs more sleep.
~walkbyfaith~ Hubby, age 45, DX 12/23/11, PSA 17.2
Biopsy, Gleason: RIGHT SIDE: 3+3, (10 or less volume) LEFT SIDE: 3+3, 3+3 (both approx 10% volume or less) 4+3, 4+3 (30% volume)T1C, Bone - Neg, CT - Neg
RALP: 2/2/2012 POST-OP: ORGAN CONFINED: Primary Pattern, Grade 4, Secondary Pattern: Grade 3 = 7 (19% prostate tissue involved) PNI/present, SVI/neg, MARGINS/clear, LN/neg, t2C
PSA, <0.1, 4/2012
Post Edited (walkbyfaith) : 5/9/2012 1:06:48 PM (GMT-6)