Depression After Treatment

My husband just completed his chemo/radiation treatment for tonsil cancer/lymph nodes - We had been told by our doctor that 65% of her patients suffer depression post treatment. I am beginning to see the signs in my husband. Very weepy and quiet. Would appreciate any input from you all - doctor has been notified and we will see her next week. Just would like to hear from our fellow fighters out there. Thanks

I had chemo/radiation/stem cell transplant 3 months ago for lymphoma in my tonsil and lymphnode in my neck. I have had bouts of depression when I just felt like crying. I was already taking Zoloft 100 mg, my husband requested the doctor to increase it to 150 mg and he did. I do feel better on the higher dosage. Some people don't like to take antidepressants, but sometimes they are definetly necessary. I felt depressed everytime I looked at myself. There I was bald with a shinny head, I had lost 20 pounds and my body looked very pittiful and frail, I was throwing up every day and having daily diarrhea! If that doesn't get you depressed, what will? As my hair grows (I now have eyebrows and eyelashes, etc and I am getting much stronger than I was (I couldn't lift a flea for a couple of weeks), I am able to slowly return to being able to cook and take care of the house (slowly), I feel better. Sometimes it just feels good to have a good cry to clear out your pittiful feelings. I had my treatment 3 months ago and feel so much better today than I did right after the treatment. I get concerned about the future also because I still have some cells that they can't eradicate at this time. With more and more research I hope to get rid of them some day. Until then I just try to enjoy each day God has given me and keep going. I hope this has helped you. Just let him cry when he feels the need and let him know you are there for him. You can't understand what he feels inside but you are there to listen if he wants to talk about it. Sometimes we just cry and don't really know why, so if that is how he feels, just let him cry, and you be there for him. It will get better with time and possibly a little help from antidepressants while needed.

I had chemo for 4 months and almost died twice. I had to finish with radiation because I couldn't do anymore chemo. I had low grade B cell follicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I wasn't treated for it because it is chronic and only needs treatment if it mutates into a more aggressive cancer. Almost 3 yrs. ago I had a tumor behind my ear. They took it and the salivary gland. It was Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The doctor said it was treatable and curable. The radiation from the tip of my nose to the middle of my chest on all 4 sides was horrific. My mouth was a disaster. I could hardly swallow. I had no taste. I was in a black hole of depression for 2 months when my Oncologist sent me to Psychiatry. They spent several months trying to get the right mix of medications to balance the chemicals in my brain. It took a long time for me to be able to have any good thoughts. Everything was black and scary and dooming. I little by little started to improve. I still haven't gotten all of my positive emotions back. I don't have excitement or anticipation. I am still a little flat and not as interested in things as I was. We were going to try to wean me from some of the meds. Then I heard that my NHL had mutated into an aggressive form and I will be having chemo again. Follicular, no matter what grade is incurable. I was Stage 4 when first diagnosed. I take Celexa, Well Butrin, Chlorazepam and Lamotrigine. I don't know if I will be able to survive another round of chemo. If I do, I can expect it to come back. If I can't take a third round, I will just get sicker and sicker until I die. 2 new drugs out for my type of cancer are very promising. I don't qualify because my bone marrow is damaged and my WBC count is below normal. I don't qualify for bone marrow or stem cell transplants. I am exercising and eating a very healthy diet. I have a very strong faith and with it I am happy and enjoying life. Without my faith, I would be a basket case. "They" say I have 2-3 yrs. I look to God for my future.
Get psychiatric help for your husband. This is a normal reaction to chemo and radiation. The sooner he gets seen and starts working on the right mix of medicines, the sooner he will start to climb out of the dark pit.
I have residual brain problems. I have a terrible memory, I get confused a lot and I get overwhelmed when there is a lot going on around me. I seek out a quiet place to sit and calm myself. I have trouble pronouncing words and spelling can be very difficult. I have frozen jaws and I have a hard time eating things. My mouth is extremely sensitive so there are many things I cannot eat. I have permanent damage to my spinal cord (in my neck) and the bones. I have a hard time getting into the perfect position for my neck to be comfortable. I am still here and fighting. Prayers work miracles. My church and churches of my friends around the world are praying for me. I think I am probably prayed for more then anyone else. We are going to nag Him until He says, "all right already, I'll cure her!".
May God bless you and yours!
Love, >^..^< Kitty in WA >^..^<
<><

My husband had four weeks of whole brain radiation to shrink four cancerous tumors. This was done the month of October 2005. He also is battling chronic leukemia for the last four years. He has had lots of depression since the radiation but refuses to take his anti-depressants. He used to cry most of the day but now only cries when seeing something sad or patriotic. He still has a problem eating any foods that he used to like and is still extremely weak and tired. We take one day at a time.

Hang in there and you are in my prayers as is everyone with cancer.