When my husband first found out he had a tumor and was scheduled for turbt, his uro sent him to his regular doc (see note*, below) for a full check up before surgery (in addition to a battery of tests). His Dr immediately offered prescription for anti-depressents. Here's what the Dr likened it to... if you are driving along a flat road, you have plenty of gas, but if you're going uphill, you need more gas. The class of antidepressents he prescribed (SRIs) is like getting more gas.
Talking to a friend who's had several family members with brain cancer, prescribing anti-depressants for cancer patients is not unusual.
I haven't seen much about depression here. I know it can be a sensitive topic (and i was a little worried about posting) but it is another tool in the toolbox for getting thru this.
And I realize that in our society, one thing more taboo that having the nerve to get cancer and talk about it is talking about mental health. Buck up boy-o being the american way.
It isn't like symptoms are just feeling blue. There is a lot else it can look like.
So I guess it's hard to say "hey, are you on anti-depressants" but... How are you staying together? Are people feeling a stigma around considering anti-depressants? Are your doctors talking to you about it?
J
*Note: One of the nice things about Kaiser Permanente is that all his health care providers are in the same org and so coordination of care is really easy.
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Feelings.... (do not break into song)
- By jmch
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 8:49 pm · 17 replies
- In Living with non-invasive bladder cancer
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Cancer Surgery Prostate cancer Anxiety Neobladder Pain Endometrial cancer Depression Mental health Zoloft
17 replies
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- By roadrunner
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:25 pm
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The Cleveland Clinic has a whole staff of therapists who are waititng to help anyone when having surgery,an r/c....I asked about it,in case of depression for my husband,,,,,,,they were more than happy to entertain an appt...if needed,,,,not all can get through this with the cheerleading we caregivers do,somedays its just not working,thne get help,not to be ashamed,,,its scary,,,more for some,,,,so if you re the some.....get help,,,,hey they work, I am living proof,
I had a bout with clinical depression.....they saved me and brought me back amonst the living.........ginger
- By 15yrsurvivor
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:38 pm
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There is a depression support group here on Inspire if you are interested. Depression does not suffer from the bad reputation it has in the past. Many times, it is a chemical imbalance and not "all in our heads."
By the way, your title for this discussion gave me a chuckle!
- By mendo_lady
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:41 pm
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My mantra(s) in life are; 1. Never judge a book by it's cover ; 2. We are all humans first.
We are lucky to live in a time and in a country that has choices. How I seek to manage my bouts of depression are certainly different from my mendo mans, and that is ok - that is why we have these forums.
These forums lift our spirits and hold us together and make us realize that we are not alone. That is the 1st step in feeling better.
- By Cheyenne
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 11:47 pm
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As 15 yearsurvivor said, it is often a chemical imbalance, not just in our heads. Depression is real, I too wonder why it has not been mentioned more. The serotonic reuptake inhibitors (the SRI drugs) are overall safe and very beneficial. I automatically am on them because they were prescribed for pain management for my bone pain. It helps with the pain and probably if I were not taking it I would feel depressed. These drugs work best when the problem is a physical one, but they also can work well when it is depression for other reasons. There should no longer be any stigma with this. Of course other things help too, exercise is one, but what if you cant exercise. I think the anti depressants should be an optional, but also an integral part of the cancer treatment regimen. Thanks for the post.
- By roadrunner
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 2:51 am
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Well..........HELLO.........I had a chemical imbalance at age 38....seratonin...was missing....my mother was horrified I went to a psychiatrist,finally,after a visit with probably 10 different doctors, giving me every solution but the right one, finally an internist gave me a complete physical, said your in great shape, I think its a chemical imbalance, I had plane tickets for Denver to go to a yearly business function,I couldn't get the courage to go, when it was never a problem before,so it really takes every bit of pleasure from your life, strips you of your spirit, keeps you a prisnor,
after going on a anti-depressant,8 weeks later, an opening of my mind and a return to myself, years ago it was looked down upon, it happens, its scary, finding the right doctor to help is key.
Never want to go thee again...
- By mycopper
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 6:28 am
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I finally got my husband to talk to our family Dr. With me there too. His dpression was affecting his work. My husband had his back to me at the appt. and our Dr. kept looking at me and I kept shaking my head yes. He now calls them his happy pills. He would go off the deep end on little things. He still gets upset but not over the top like he was.
- By Annasvenska
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 8:10 am
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Hi
About six weeks after my surgery (neobladder) I started to become very sad and cried alot. As I was getting stronger my emotions seemed to catch up with me. I started to take zoloft ( I had taken them six years earlier for a time when I went through a divorce and became a single mom with young children) so I knew they worked for me. I was on zoloft for maybe three months and no longer needs to take them.
I believe its a natural response to need some help when one goes through cancer. I also believe that depression and cancer can go hand in hand and that ones immunsystem is benefitted from some antidepressants when that is warranted.
Take care and I am glad that your husband recieved some help,
Anna
- By silgal
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 8:54 am
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Such an important post. I agree. I think it should be an integral part of the regimen for this disease.
thanks!
- By mrr3rd
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 9:42 am
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I think the Depression aspect with Cancer is an important one. I have not needed the therapy itself with my cancers (two now both very rare). My whole attitude has been okay now that I am diagnosed let's take care of it. Cancer used to be such a bad word, however with the Doctors and research that has been done and all of the new treatments available it does not have to be. This is the road that I choose! Ihave a family and everyday that I wake up and spend with them is a very special day. I am able to say this because of the support and the treatments that are available out there for not only the Patients but their Families. Please try to remember this mantra that I live by "EVERYDAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD DAY!"
- By jj803
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 9:48 am
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I would be concerned if one wasn't sad when faced with a serious cancer diagnosis (not to exclude other serious medical problems, we just have more fear of cancer). I agree that the "stigma" of depression and the need to go it alone are less than they once were and that often pharmacologic measures may be of help. But these measures do not address the psychological side of the problem. In many of our cases it is a situational reaction to our disease and knowledge of the disease and as treatment and increased personal awareness of it progresses the stimulus for our sadness lessens. Other underlying reasons may not so easily pass and a mental health professional may help address those problems. I think what I am trying to say is the drugs help, but in many cases more than a prescription for a drug will be needed and therefore probably better supervised by a mental health professional.Further situational sadness is quite different from clinical depression and may not need as intensive a treatment. Good topic.
JJ
- By Memi
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 10:02 am
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I was prescribed Zoloft shortly after the treatment for endometrial cancer. During the time my husband and I were waiting for an available compatible heart for his transplant. I took a low dose of Zoloft for maybe three years, until I finally decided I wanted to be free of them, if possible, and weaned myself.
I have, in the past few weeks, considered asking my p c dr. for a new perscription, but now I have procrastinated long enough, that I'm am over that hump.
If the depression returns, I will call.
Memi
- By jmch
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 10:09 am
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Thanks for the responses. I suspect the C diagnosis brought to a head an underlying problem here. And agree it isn't just a matter of just 'better living thru chemistry' but other actions as well.
But I am very happy he is taking them. It does help face this battle from a stronger position.
J
- By JeanneS
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 11:39 am
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I'll have to read this later....I broke out into a song. :)
Glad he is feeling better though High five to him and all who get depressed and find relief. Something to remind myself as I go along in life.
I agree , above ground is good .
- By Linda-Ann
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 10:28 pm
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Any cancer patient's mental health needs to be addressed. We are all encouraged to put on the armour and fight the disease but we forget that we are human and sometimes need a little help. While I was going through BCG I began to be sadder and sadder and would cry several times a day. I would cry at McDonald's commercials! Before my surgery, I saw my primary care physician for clearance and we began to discuss how I was coping with all of this. He placed me on an SSRI which worked wonders in about 2 weeks. No more tears. However, it went to the extreme the other way. I was like a robot, devoid of feeling. So I came off of them. It might just be me and how I react to medication but it got me through a tough month. We need to share our mental health needs. It's ok to talk about it. For the health of it!
- By JeanneS
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 10:46 pm
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Mine is anxiety, which I had anyway, then add bc and prostate cancer for hubby and , well you can imagine.
Took me over a year to come to terms with mine for both of us, and now we have to start over!
What a tough time it has been .
But I know it is normal to be upset and weepy. Goodness , if not upset about this then you'll never be upset about anything.
It is getting a bit tiresome now though , sigh
- By jmch
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 10:51 pm
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Thanks Linda-Ann. There is that: how much of what is appropriate, and when/for how long. I have a relative who suffers from depression who spent years getting to the right combination and doses. That is different than what we are talking about here, but .... for some it is just getting over the hump, for others it is longer term help. And maybe another topic is coordinated care and how well that's working for folks.
hmmmm guess i'll give that a go tomorrow!
- By jmch
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 10:54 pm
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Jeanne, you have that right! and that is a great point. depression or anxiety that is very cope-able normally can become a drain one doesn't need while fighting cancer, and that's what my husband found.
J
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