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Has anyone experienced anxiety after starting hormone therapy?

Posted by rparsons @rparsons, Jan 5 10:37am

Has anyone experienced anxiety after starting hormone therapy. I have been off it for 5 months & still have anxiety especially in the morning.

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chippydoo | @chippydoo | Jan 9 10:12am
In reply to @rparsons "Thanks jeffmarc for your reply. You could be right. I am a worrier & worse case..." + (show)
@rparsons

Thanks jeffmarc for your reply. You could be right. I am a worrier & worse case scenario person. Trying to break that trait. I do worry about a recurrence. I don’t know if it’s a source of anxiety for any of you out there, or am I just the only worry wart.

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Once my surgery recovery was over, I got busy getting back to my very active life. This helped me stay present in today. I would suggest getting busy living. Death will happen in its own time.

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jeffmarc | @jeffmarc | Jan 9 10:37am
In reply to @rparsons "jeffmarc were you on watchful waiting during those 6 years & didn’t treat it during that..." + (show)
@rparsons

jeffmarc were you on watchful waiting during those 6 years &
didn’t treat it during that time ?

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No watchful waiting.

Had surgery 15 years ago, no ADT. 3.5 years later PSA started rising had salvage radiation. Still no ADT for 2 1/2 years, Then PSA started rising again was put on Lupron. Didn’t find out until 2020 that I had BRCA2.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 6 days ago
In reply to @rparsons "Has anyone experienced anxiety & worry that you can’t let go about a possible recurrence down..." + (show)
@rparsons

Has anyone experienced anxiety & worry that you can’t let go about a possible recurrence down the road after treatment ?

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@rparsons, you are not alone in managing with fear of recurrence. You might be interested in this long-standing related discussion the the Cancer: Managing Symptoms group:
- Facing Cancer Recurrence, PTSD & Acknowledging Mental Health https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/facing-cancer-recurrence-ptsd-acknowledging-mental-health/

Mayo Clinic offers a self-guided online course for cancer patients dealing with stress. It's free and available to everyone - patients and caregivers
https://mccmscontent.mayo.edu/LSC/CEC/stress-management-for-cancer/index.html#/
Rparsons, have you considered talking with a social worker about your anxiety?

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paulvt | @paulvt | 5 days ago

Hi ,
As regards to anxiety.
After my 26 radiation treatments I’m about 4 weeks into the side effects portion of my recovery.
I found myself with high anxiety during the last 4 weeks and having trouble sleeping my Primary Care prescribed Zoloft and another sleep enhancing medication.
Both seem to be working.
I realize that most of my adult life I’ve been anxious but prostate cancer took it to another level.
Hope this helps you.

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1 reply
rparsons | @rparsons | 4 days ago
In reply to @paulvt "Hi , As regards to anxiety. After my 26 radiation treatments I’m about 4 weeks into..." + (show)
@paulvt

Hi ,
As regards to anxiety.
After my 26 radiation treatments I’m about 4 weeks into the side effects portion of my recovery.
I found myself with high anxiety during the last 4 weeks and having trouble sleeping my Primary Care prescribed Zoloft and another sleep enhancing medication.
Both seem to be working.
I realize that most of my adult life I’ve been anxious but prostate cancer took it to another level.
Hope this helps you.

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Thank-You for your reply. I am glad to see I am not the only one. I have been off hormone therapy for 5 months & still have anxiety especially in the morning. I am on Cymbalta which is an SNRI & gabapentin. That seems to help. I walk in the morning & afternoon . Like all of us we just want to get back to feeling like our normal selves.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 2 days ago
In reply to @glenninjb "I have experienced anxiety and depression while on ADT (Elegard in my case), and more afterward...." + (show)
@glenninjb

I have experienced anxiety and depression while on ADT (Elegard in my case), and more afterward. My treatment is now over; I took two shots, each lasting six months. The second shot should have worn off about three months ago. Much of my anxiety and insomnia is about whether I will ever get my testosterone back. I am 73. My last two blood tests showed PSA< .02 and testosterone < 11 (basically none). I really want the testosterone to come back. I see my urologist next week, and we will plan what to do. One piece of advice I have is: take the exercise recommendation seriously. I think my only hope of getting rid of the side effects of ADT is continuing resistance training at the gym. It really feels great to do a workout and see progress. I think working out will help ease your anxiety. The gym is now my happy place

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@glenninjb, good for you for creating a happy place at the gym. How did your appointment go with your urologist? What are the next steps for you?

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