I am almost 8 months out of treatment and passed the one year anniversary of the start of this journey. I had SCC of right tonsil with met to neck - one large node. 2 surgeries and proton rads, feeling well. However, has anyone else experienced depression? I'm concerned that is what I am now battling. Being finished treatment is, at times, more difficult than treatment itself! Thoughts?

I would imagine depression as a fairly common outcome of the diagnosis and treatment. I think quite a few members of the forum have been prescribed anti-depressants. Do you have access to a therapist?

Patrick, my first visit with the surgeon was last Friday. He told me that depression was a common occurrence for folks in our situation. Worse yet, it is associated with poorer long term outcomes (validated by a study). As a consequence I accepted his offer of a prescription for Escitalopram (Lexapro), an SSRI anti-depressant. I can't say if it will help or not because this is only the third day. But I figured why take a chance?

I think it's very common, Patrick and has happened to me. Antidepressants help. Therapy is very useful too. Most hospitals or Cancer Societies have counselling facilities.

After finishing treatment there can be a sort of anti-climax where everything hits you and other people, so concerned about you before, have gone on with their lives. There's also a sense of being on your own after all the constant medical attention during therapy.

What you are feeling is oh so normal so take whatever help you can get:)

Its just another thing to manage. Nausea, constipation, depression, oral thrush, just another thing to manage (and overcome).

I went to a social worker, 2 psychologists and a psychiatrist, all for different things. I was on a cocktail of anti-depressants, but I was never happy with the side effects. I don't regard them as all that harmful, but they were one less thing to manage when I ditched them.

The psych diagnosis was called a "depressive episode". It was related to the difficulties of treatment, the fear and anxiety of the cancer taking over. I don't think depression is automatic but its certainly something to watch out for. Like most things, talk to your doctor and the best counsellors/psychs are the ones who know about cancer. I found the generic ones to be less useful.

What has brought this on now? Has it been a gradual buildup or has there been a trigger recently?

Hi Patrick...well, I was just diagnosed last week with SCC. Don't have alot of experience with that yet. But I have had several episodes of depression which were very bad. I have been on various meds on and off. To me, the side effects weren't worth it.
I then decided to try something new (new for me I mean!). I went for acupuncture and also got the chinese herb tea made up for me. I also try to go for a massage when I can afford it. I also went for a six week, every Tues night meditation class. I have been an RN for 24 years, so this wasn't really my thing. But I will tell you that I haven't felt this calm and at peace EVER. Well, the cancer has thrown a wrench into it of course. But guess what? So far, so good. Haven't really felt a big dark depression coming on yet. For me, mental health comes first. With a depressed mood and outlook, I figure it just takes a bad situation and makes it that much more difficult to deal with. So, I would suggest checking out any local meditation classes. There are usually some inexpensive ways to do it. I took vipisana meditation. Hope this helps. Denise

Thank you for your input and perspective. This little part of struggle has really been unexpected. I have an appointment in the next week to address things. I'm sure I will work through it!

Thank you for sharing your stories.my husband is very depressed and on men's, but it doesn't help. I worry about him so much. But sounds like depression is common. I'll keep doing what I can to help him. He's in touch with a therapist, thank goodness

Raven, I think there are degrees of depression. If the meds don't work he certainly needs to push it with the therapist. I don't know if severe depression is a normal part of this cancer diagnosis/treatment process. There's usually great anxiety and some depression but if the depression is deep and lasting, appropriate measures need to be taken. I have taken anti-depressants for some time but they don't work when things get extreme. That is when you need extra help.

They put me on AD meds and it was a game changer. My wife made the call; I thought I was fine. Soon as I turned the corner I quit taking them.

I think for me it was more fear and anxiety that was an issue. Depression never came into play really. I think it may have to do with the fact that I am naturally a happy person... blame it on my hormones i guess. Regardless I was simply glad to be alive and moving away from my treatment etc... Not that everything didn't
suck BIG TIME... IT did. but I looked at it as being fortunate that while I had to go through it at least it wasn't a six to eight month ordeal like a lot of other cancer patients have to go through with chemo. The scary part of course is the numbers, but I figure if I can get through it I would do what I could to come out in okay shape and work on what needed working on - speech, eating, dry mouth etc... meds should help - if they don't they may need to be tweaked, and yay on the therapist.

Hugs.

The combination of SSRIs and therapy was a lifesaver (perhaps literally) for me many years ago. I know these drugs are controversial. On the one hand they've been greatly improved since my time on good old Prozac; but I've also read that some research shows that they really have no effect. I would tend to discount the latter since we're talking about the mind.

I happened to have depression before the cancer. I'm sure it contributed to the decline of my physical heath and the eventual cancer as I didn't care enough to look after myself - nothing really mattered at the time and I didn't know what to do about it.
If you even have an inkling that there is something wrong with the way you are feeling, or you are not just right in your thinking - get help.
I went to a pain clinic during/after my treatments and a neurologist thought there was something more he could do for me. He saved my life by referring me to a psychologist and a psychiatrist at the Tom Baker Cancer center here in Calgary.
I was diagnosed with bipolar depression.
Along with talk therapy, I have since tried many different meds. I'm now on Mirtazapine and it has lifted my spirits and helped me gain weight! (It's not for everyone - YMMV)
In my experience, if I had to choose between cancer and depression, I would choose cancer. I still say that. Depression can be even more deadly. Get help and do not think this is a minor thing that may go away in time, as it's not worth the risk.
BTW - eating Lindt Red Chili Dark Chocolate brought back my saliva after 3 years of terrible dry mouth. Or at least I am telling myself that.

Thank you for sharing your story, Shauneen. I admire your courage in bringing this up. All of us will experience situational depression from the diagnosis alone, that builds through treatment and beyond. Bringing depression into this process will certainly escalate issues.

Please know, your depression or lack thereof is not the reason for your cancer. It just happened. I'm glad your doctor recognized your depression and gave you the referral.

Yes, thank you, Shauneen. Your advice could help people who see depression as something minor or something to be ashamed of. You are not the only one who had the cancer piled on top of exisiting personal issues. When the situational depression, as Uptown calls it, hits, it gets mixed up with other patterns of thinking that have developed over our lifetimes. Or at least that is the way I see it. I have a pathological reluctance to ask for help and a fear of losing control which also makes it hard for me to deal with perfectly justified fear and sadness.

I'm glad you are feeling better and I might try the chocolate remedy for dry mouth:) Not too sure about the chilli though.

Best wishes
Maureen