Five and a half years later, I still get twinges and sudden pains in my chest. The tissues they have to cut through are so deep, we are bound to feel stuff for quite awhile, as SRS says.

Until a year ago, this time, I didn't realise I was also suffering from PTSD; diagnosed by a psychologist/therapist. It's something most docs know about, but don't say anything about. Therapy really helped me to live with it until it lessened. Willingly putting our bodies within someone else's hands, literally, surrendering, if you will, completely, and not knowing if our lives will continue or to what extent they might continue, can have profound psychological effects on us. After checking with the oncologist, etc. you might ask them about therapy to help you through these episodes. Just a suggestion, as SRS said, YMMV.

kat