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

Aunt diag. 2/4/10 with SCC Stage I/II on left side of tongue. Surgery 2/19/10 part. gloss./neck diss. on left side/free flap from chest muscle. TI/II,NO,MO. Clear margins with perineural invasion. Started rads 4/8/10 - 35 treatments, finished 5/26/10.