Post treatment depression

Well... we see you on our Zoom calls, so I know you're kicking butt so far... but yeah, the post-op journey is still a bit depressing simply because things move ridiculously slooooow! But little by little (think 12 to 18 months), things do get somewhat back to normal... with eating, pooping, sleeping, etc.

But if you need a little help... some THC gummies, maybe some Ativan, etc, couldn't hurt. But take with prescription, and only under a doctor's supervision. A half mg may work wonders... but even 1mg would be fine... before bedtime.

See you soon,

Gary

Grieving, perhaps?

@zzonner, the emotional side effects of cancer can hit at different times. That your mind and reflections demand attention after active treatment and the period you were focusing on fighting the cancer makes sense.

In addition to Dave and Gary, I'd like to bring fellow members @davidwrenn @hrhwilliam @lori57216 @pellaw @puprluvr @sepdvm @sjw6358 @snickers124 @survivorsuz and others into this discussion to share their experiences with emotional health after treatment.

There are a few discussions in the Cancer: Managing Symptoms support group that talk about this too.
- Emotional health after cancer: How are you doing really?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/emotional-health-after-cancer/
- Emotional aftermath following breast cancer treatment
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/emotional-aftermath-following-breast-cancer-treatment/
I think the words of @rhongirl will resonate with you.
"I've spent the past 2 1/2 years trying to stay alive – and I'm exhausted. Exaggerated emotions with up-and-down mood swings. . . I find myself yearning for that sense of emotional equilibrium I had before this all began. I'm doing my best to give myself time for this part of the healing – but I find myself weary. Family and friends look at me like I'm fine now, and the trauma has passed – but the truth is, I am not fine on the inside. It's as if my body is trying to reboot emotionally, and its short-circuiting a bit."

I get that bit that you don't want to sound ungrateful (survivor's guilt). It's important to reflect and acknowledge everything that happened, don't you think?

I would first like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Pray for you the have a Happy New Year. I am 85 years old and was pronounced cancer free from my esophageal cancer this past September, after like so many, going through Chemo, Radiation, and 7 months of tube feeding Only. I too at times go through some bouts of depression for no apparent reason. Especially since I should be totally elated with the at (least temporary) Good News. I have been able to eat and swallow ALMOST normally again, with some slight modifications. However I still have to deal with depression occasionally. Having my dog "Baby Girl" and her companionship, as well as her dependency on me, has probably done more to help me through these down times than anything else.

Due to serious deterioration of my lower spine, walking and even standing has become quite difficult and painful, but in a way has been a blessing. It has taught me to learn how to maneuver around my home, and how to deal with the challenges that this condition creates. It is a great stimulant for the mind. Thinking of how to accomplish my daily tasks and needs, while not being able to walk or stand for more than a couple minutes at a time.

My computer and the internet have also been a great help in dealing with these bouts of depression. There are so many Good things happening out there to learn about, if you take the time to find them. I totally avoid the "Hate" filled social media platforms, and search for sites and things that bring knowledge and Joy into my life. I try to avoid watching any National News Broadcasts on TV ( specially any Cable News ) with all of their depressing news, and opt for our local news only. But only once daily. I email, text, and Call family and friends daily to keep myself busy, and share my thoughts and feelings with those who care. Getting responses from those who really care about you, is extremely uplifting.

My dear Friend, I have a few years on you, and have experienced most probably much more than you. So keep your mind stimulated as well as your body, if your body is still able.

God Bless and Keep You
Darol Mason
The "Grumpy Pragmatic Old Man"

Hi Gary,
How can I sign up for the zoom calls?
thank you
Lisa

Just pop in whenever you'd like... we do them twice weekly as follows:

Wednesdays, 6pm Eastern
Sundays, 9am Eastern

ID - 455 028 4795
Passcode - tuiBE5

No official format, we just go around the room, concentrating on the newbies, or those in need. We keep it light, have fun, but get down to business when needed. We're made up of 5 to 7 unofficial counselors like myself. Some are stage 4's, given months to live many many years ago. Some are stage 1, straight to surgery folks, and between all of us, we've done every chemo, radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy, known to man. And we have patients and caregivers drop in from all over the world... so we've also seen how things are done elsewhere, in many NHS countries. We know insurance, SSDI, and all the many tests, procedures, side effects we all go thru. After doing these calls since May 2021, I realize that we know far more than most of our doctors. Mainly because we're not specialists like our oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, GI doctors, pathologists, radiologists, etc. We know and have gathered so much from ALL of these doctors along the way... and we see things from our patient's perspective. And yet we are careful... we understand we are not doctors... but we only tell the truth. We're not here to simply comfort others, give them faith or hope (although this almost always happens). It serves no one to bs others... just solid counseling. We talk openly and descriptively... nothing out of bounds.

Be well...

Gary

Merry Christmas zzonner! The holidays come and go with the same joy as precancer when you can finally put the diagnosis and treatment side effects on a back burner. It takes a while. My first surgery was over 11 years ago at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Followup chemo/radiation closer to home at U of Michigan ( tough for an Ohio State grad ) started a month after surgery. The end of treatment left me feeling like I was teetering on the edge of an abyss, with nothing there to catch me. Suddenly we weren't actively fighting cancer any more, but just waiting for it to show itself again. Luckily I knew about an immune augmentation clinic in the Bahamas that had a darn good record in prolonging lives of people with cancer. I started that shortly after the end of radiation and once again I felt I was doing everything I could to prevent a recurrence. Diet and lifestyle changes and simply working on my own attitude of gratitude have all helped. I'm quite the optimist so that helps, and this has gotten me through 4 metastases and 3 more surgeries. At 70, you're never sure if the slowing down is due to age or your chronic illness and treatment but you listen to your body and keep kicking the can down the road. I know others have sought therapy to get through the post treatment period, but I just did some reading. Favorite books which helped me regain my positive attitude: How Not to Be My Patient by Ed Creagan MD, a former palliative care physician at Mayo with many great suggestions for life changes, Radical Remissions by Kelly Turner, and her other book Radical Hope. For me, reading about others who have gone the cancer route and continue to live a good life helps my attitude a lot. The gratitude exercise of waking each morning and thinking of 4 things you are grateful for then again as you go to bed what 4 things happened that day to be thankful for. Just enjoying a quiet cup of coffee in a peaceful setting can be one of them. Congratulations on having NED right now! That is certainly worth celebrating. It takes time and some work on your part to get to your new normal where you can mostly enjoy life and place that cancer diagnosis in a dusty corner until your next scan blows the dust off again. THINK POSITIVE and never give up hope. .....Susan

Thank you!

I was surprised by the post treatment depression. I had a good response to my chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer and went from borderline resectable to resectabal. I had surgery and had no residual cancer detected. Seems like I should be on top of the world. My therapist explained it like this: during treatment everything is focused on making it thru the treatment with a lot of adrenaline. People called often and gave support after treatment was going well, the calls stopped Afterwards, the adrenaline and focus disappeared. A kind of PTSD seemed to set in. I asked myself. "where did my life go anyway?" It was also suggested to me to get busy. I don't want just to be busy, I want to feel like I have a meaningful life. When I was well enough, I started volunteering at a local food pantry for 3 hours a week. I was amazed at the uplift I experienced. Seeing so many struggling just to get by I feel so fortunate. I am glad to hear your story. I thought I was alone.

Whew........I thought the treatment had cooked my brain. Your story is exactly the way mine went. Add the treatment ending to being retired, kids grown, grandkids getting on with their lives and just plain getting older is a recipe for depression. But as I am figuring out, just working to define it is in itself a solution. At least now I know what's wrong. Solving it should be easy. Thanks everyone for their input. Really, I do feel better. It won't be easy, but is doable.