My aunt who finished 35 treatments of radiation about 10 days ago is finding that she is becoming increasingly depressed and stressed out. As a psychotherapist I've have been able to help her some, particularly normalizing how depression and anxiety is a normal response in dealing with this incidious illness and the side effects of the radiation, but am wondering if she would benefit from an antidepressant or anxiolytic short term.

Would you mind sharing your experience with this? Did your MDs prescribe anything for anxiety and/or depression.

Thank you

Dodie

Dodie,

Yes anti-depressants are often prescribed, and specifically just after treatment ends. My doctor likened that period to post traumatic stress experienced by soldiers in the field.

He said the fight to keep yourself alive is all consuming during treatment, but as soon as that ends, you have nothing to do but wait for the healing. That's when the depression can hit. I was prescribed a two-month supply of anti-depressant about two weeks post treatment. I was feeling pretty down and that helped.

Many here have had the same feeling and have asked for treatment. This is nothing to be ashamed of and is quite common. I�m 9 months out and getting back into the swing of things. Those two months were tough but I got past it. Your aunt should check in with her doctor and get this taken care of. There is absolutely no reason to suffer any additional discomfort after such a terrible ordeal.

I figured anti depressants and cancer went hand in hand. My mom has been on prozac through this entire thing - going on 2nd year now. We definitely couldnt have made it through without it.

She also had radiation therapy (35 treatments)

Dodie, anxiety was a huge problem for my husband and of course depression set in shortly after the diagnosis. We blame the medications (morphine)for some of the anxiety. There were many days when he did want me to leave him alone in the room. And at night we had to sleep with a light on! His docs did not hesitate to give him Ativan for anxiety, and Zoloft for depression. Both have helped alot. Best wishes for your aunt to have a speedy recovery, and thanks for the GC mouth gel tip.

Debbie

Carol is depressed but doesn't want to take anything for it. Let alone concede she is depressed. Every time she was asked what her pain factor was, she would down play it, and I would give her my "oh no you don't" look and speak up. After reading this post and other mentions of depression on this forum, the psyche factor should also be tended to. I'll call the Doctor in the am.

The morphine caused some of Carol's anxiety and was one of the factors of being in the hospital for a week.

Debbie,

"There were many days when he did want me to leave him alone in the room."

With us, as long as I am in the same room without saying a word....the TV on, not knowing if they are actually watching or their mind is racing or if they nodded off....Damn this sucks.

Linda

MY PCP prescribed Xanax for anxiety, and my oncologist prescribed zoloft for depression. My oncologist said it was a natural response and the zoloft would help with some of the feelings. It did. I felt so much better. I took it for about 2 months.

I take xanax since 1996 to relax my Barretts Esophagus , I had a Nissen Fundiplication and it hurts 24/7 still but the xanax relaxes it a lot and eases the pain a lot. LOL It might be the 1/3 of my stomache trying to relocate it self to where it came from.

Dodie,

I don't believe that anything should be left off the table when it comes to getting a patient through treatment. Pain medications can cause depression, there is situational depression and anxiety...do what needs to be done to get your aunt through it.

If you are in a state that allows medical marijuana, I say get a scipt, a vaporizor and load up on snack food and watch anxiety and depression fade to giggles and haiku.

EricS,

LOL. If medical marijuana was available in Florida....Vaporizer, check....snack food would be an extra can of jevity...or an extra smoothie!

Thank you all so much. I have read to her many of your replys, she cried and was so appreciative. Yesterday shemet with MD who was in charge of her radiation; he wouldn't rx the zoloft but did give her an rx for Ativan. She's quite leary of meds so is starting with 1/2 tab. Says she is less depressed and anxious than last weekend (possibly the pre-doctor visit anxiety) but is seeing the surgeon next week and is gonna ask him about an antidepressant.

and Eric... You made me laugh, thank you! I'd thought about some pot but she never even smoked a cigarette in her life am pretty sure she would never smoke a joint.

Also am making some progress getting her here to these forums.
Got her on here the other day and helped her navigate through.

I hope each of you who share on these forums realize how wonderful you are and how helpful you are to people who visit here and the lives they touch. I have grown to love you all as you share your hearts here.

Dodie