celeni's Cancer Blog
August 18, 2008
| Advice on cancer and depression? | Views: 1451 |
Last week Wes went to his oncologist to hear the latest on the MRI he took last week. The main tunor is the lung has shrunk 30%! Hellooo…can you say Thank you God?!
He came to spend the weekend with me after that great news. The first day he ran errands and rode his motorcylcle. The rest of the weekend he was down for the count. Tired…no energy…listless. I would have thought that he would have been on an up-swing. Besides the good news on his main tumor…he is into his 2nd week “post chemo”...which usually is his high point.
I worry about him being depressed…his days mainly consist of laying around and watching tv. I guess I want to think that he would want to do much more…live life to its fullest on his good days. I asked him about checking out the local cancer support groups…to talk with people who KNOW what he is going through… who can share their experiences…who can give each other hope…and purpose.I also asked him to talk to his doctor about some anti-depressants…to see if that would help. He said he didnt think he was depressed…life is just not a lot of fun right now.
Can anyone give me some advise or share experiences with cancer and depression? I sure would appreciate it.
By the way…I got to “buzz” his head this weekend. He looks pretty darn good!
veronica 
Sharon Traywick 
Thanks for your support -
I went for my 6 month today, I am clean and clear. Everyone else rejoiced. I went to the tattoo shop and asked Dave to draw me a revolver with one shell in it and a “C” on the cap, Russian Roulette style. I then grabbed 2 cold diet Cokes,went to the cemetery, and had one with my brother and cried like a baby. The groundsman gave me an odd look as I poured my brother a cold Coke.
If I could explain this, @#** I would be rich. All I can say is give him a bit of space and be there if he crashes.
If he wants to talk, you or he can send me a number @ rigidridr@yahoo.com.
There is a long space between “Thank God” and facing day after day of “what next”.
Hugs to you both
Mac
Celeni!
I don’t know how I have missed your posts all of this time. I just found you today. I have Stage IV Non Small Cell Lung Cancer. I was diagnosed almost 21 months ago and was given 18 months to live. I am doing well, considering. I have been on 6 different chemos. One clinical trial almost killed me, three chemos gave me great results at pushing this evil within me way back, three didn’t work at all. Just keep going, try it all. I get gamma knife radiation to my skull when I get brain tumors. The point is. I have outlived my prognosis. I am convinced it has everything to do with friends and family, love , support, faith, and a strong positive attitude. Sometimes it REALLY gets me down though. Last year I started doing what WES is doing. I slowed down and watched a lot of TV and didn’t show much interest in anything. I went to a counselor that my cancer center provides. She is great and helps a little, but it wasn’t enough. My oncologist put me on Lexapro, an antidepressant. It doesn’t make me feel any different in any way EXCEPT that I feel more like the old me. I am not groggy or foggy or weird, just me. It really helped a lot. Try to get Wes to talk with his doc about some medication. It doesn’t make him weak to do so. He is going through a lot. The chemo has depression as a side effect, so it can’t be helped sometimes. I am COMPLETELY glad that I an on the drug and have been on the same dose for a year and a half.
Please feel free to ask me anything, or just talk. I am happy to help out. I am also an R.N. so I have a little more insight and background. You are a wonderful person and that very handsome Wes is lucky to have you. I just shaved my head for the third time since this started. Each time it grows back I have another metastasis and have to go bald again. I do not look like a bike helmet. It is rather stylish. I thought I would be all bumpy headed, but I look damn good. I just have to be sure to wear some very nice earrings so I look like a girl.
You and Wes are in my prayers. You are an angel and your love and care are providing such strength and healing to Wes. What a blessing you are. And yes, cancer does indeed suck!
Gaile
Celini; Caregiving is the hardest job of all and for that reason alone your cries for help have been answered by the dear friends on this blog. I just cried, after reading Gaile’s and Mac’s responses to you. I hope Wes is reading all of this so he knows how much we care about the both of you. No reason he should be sheltered from your thoughts, because that is what love is about, sharing your fears, working through the bad times. If one didn’t get depressed after hearing the news “You have Cancer” and then doing the tests, doing the treatment; then something is horribly wrong upstairs. I guess Wes is trying to work out his anger about the whole thing, and why he should feel happy at any news. We all deal differently to this BANG IN OUR BODY. Sounds like Gaile is the pro here and I would certainly go after the drug she is on. NO SIDE EFFECTS? Action is better than no action and I know you can help him to see there are ways of combating the loneliness and listlessness of his plight. Wes is one lucky man to have you by his side. He should know that much. Prayers and love and hope coming your way. Weezie
Hmmm…I think with all the other crap they give us some antidepressants wouldn’t hurt to have. BUT, its not magic. I think a lot of people think that if they take these pills that they’ll be happy all the time…A support group is usually a good idea, too. One thing to keep in mind-sometimes you need a little “break” from this, and sometimes that break is zoning out in front of the tv. I went through it last week. Just a whole lot of nothing for a little while. Not feeling like you’ve got to do it now while you can. A little of just being a bum, and trying to ignore things. Its hard to explain. I hope that its what he’s experiencing, though.
XOXO