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Hormone Blockers and EXTREMELY poor mental health and terrified.
Hello everyone. I am absolutely new to all this, and sitting here recovering from a mastectomy which is going well. I meet with my doctors in a couple weeks to talk about follow up treatment after the tissue has been tested. I do have hormone positive cells- both estrogen and progesterone.
The thing is, my mental health has been absolutely horrific for the past three years. I was diagnosed with PTSD and Major Depressive disorder a few years ago, moved in with my family and that made everything worse, had no support system, and then on the verge of leaving, I got breast cancer. I am a 53 year old woman.
The irony of it all is that NOW I realize i actually DO want to live. I truly do. There are so many things i want to do. I weep as i write this.
Reading about all of the terrible side effects, and knowing that I have always had a problem with high sensitivity to medications (had to go off tradnazone because of grotesque nightmares, birth control made me gain 20 pounds in a month, etc) that I feel like I am now between a rock and a hard place. I cannot afford even the slightest dip in mood. I don't have a lot of room for error here. Being suicidal is just normal for me. I have seen three therapists in as many years, i have been prescribed every drug under the sun, and I just wonder- what is the point?
I want to live. I truly want to live. What is the point of surviving cancer if i am just going to be even MORE depressed?
My family has finally woken up to the fact that I need them, have rallied around me, and are apologizing for not being more supportive the past few years. Honestly the depression was worse than the physical toll of all this- the bad mammo all the way up to surgery. What goes on in my head is MUCH worse.
I was feeling really good about my progress and healing, and then i made the mistake of going down a hormone blocker rabbit hole and i just wonder what the point is. DO i just live the last years of my life with the knowledge that i have a 50 percent chance of recurrance, or do i live the last years of my life feeling even worse mentally but cancer free? what kind of choice is that? why don't we have better options? I am HEAVILY leaning on not taking them.
My cancer SO FAR appears non invasive, stage 0, had all the tests, it was all DCIS but we won't know more til i have my next appointment with the surgeon. I have felt ok through this once i realized i was at a very early stage, but now that i realize its NOT probably going to result in JUST a masectomy i just wonder what comes next. Part of me just wants to run in the other direction, live my life and never see another doctor again and try and make every day worthwhile. I just don't know.
Anyone with similar experiences- i could really use some advice.
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Thank you! I’m wishing you all the best and truly believe that it WILL lead us to being healthier than before. If you feel like coming back and sharing your stats we’re here… 🙏
Don’t overdo the treadmill either — get lots of rest for your body to heal. A mastectomy is pretty traumatic physically. I had one day of spectacular emotional/mental crash afterwards, I think I was overdoing it. As far as the AI, the people who don’t have issues are less vocal/represented and you may do fine. It’s great that you are so self aware. I hope you stay healthy with whatever you decide! ❤️
I’m sorry you are feeling so conflicted and sad. I understand completely. I had a lumpectomy two years ago,HR positive I was stage 1, for that I feel very fortunate. I actually go today for my two year check.
I’ve been feeling very down as well. I don’t know if it’s the letrozole or just me. It has made my arthritis much worse for sure. I just don’t know if it’s responsible for the depression. I will talk to my oncology nurse practitioner, she is great.
I go to the gym three or four times a week. That helps somewhat, at least I feel I’m trying. My doctor put me on escitalopram for depression, it hasn’t helped at all and now I feel like I’m hooked.
All this is probably not helping you, I’m sorry. I was thinking that you could try going on the hormone blockers and if they make you any worse you can always stop. I have friends that have no side effects at all. You’re young and have a lot of years ahead of you. Maybe try them and see? I’m thinking of asking about Tamoxifen. My mom took that, her hot flashes were terrible but emotionally she was ok. I guess it’s choose your poison.
Good luck. Please let us know how you are doing. Everyone cares.
@nighthouse66 ,@sdbonneal123,@briarrose,@myoga
Hi, I am hoping this works with addressing all of you at the same time. Here goes, I had DCIS, but with twist of invasive carcinoma mixed in 2025! So I am taking Exemestane, hormone blocker, and going thru infusions of Herceptin, ( hercussi). I also am allergic to a bunch of stuff and you guessed it, chemo and now Herceptin. So, I am taking Propel a water supplement to counteract the hormone blockers. It has electrolytes in it. This keeps the side effects down for me. Little to no side effects with this. Now, it's the stuff I am taking to counteract the allergic reaction that is bugging me! Grrr, just doesn't end! However, the first infusion went well without the Benadryl and steroids. Hopefully we all can figure out what is going on with each of us. We all have cancer but it's reacting differently in all of us!! Why haven't they found an answer in 30years??? Anyways, it's a obvious answer. But, we should start asking for cures, instead of remedies that just take care of the symptoms. But, it's better than the alternative!! You know your body best do you research, and ask alot of questions, you should get answers and perhaps some answers to your questions. And yes, sometimes I don't even no the right questions!! It's all temporary, really!
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That’s certainly mind boggling that propel helps with your side effects! That’s something you don’t hear from an onco. When I first started with anastrozole, the recommendation from ladies here is to take Claritin for bone pain. It works for me but doesn’t help with finger stiffness. I don’t have lots of aches and pain from exemestane but the petechiea bothers me. You’re right we have to figure out what helps for ourselves. There’s no one size fits all. Thank you for reaching out.
Hi! I take Claritin everyday, but also take Exemestane with Propel. I don't know what petechiea is though?
Make it a Great Day!
I was diagnosed HER2 + Estrogen/Progesterone. The tumor was small but was in my milk duct but not in my lymph nodes. But had to have Chemo(Abraxane) and Herceptin to eliminate it from anywhere else it could have escaped through the duct. I had a lumpectomy and all margins were clear. You are Blessed to have only Stage one. To stop the Estrogen /Progesterone I am taking Letrozole for 5 years and I have no side affects that interfere with my everyday life. When I had Chemo they gave me intervenious Benedryl along with it as I too am allergic to everything. It went well. I dip what they tell me as they are the experts and have years of study to back them up. I am 70 and this all started in Nov of 2023. I never want to go through it all again .
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