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djackson748
djackson748 Member Posts: 8
in Colorectal Cancer #1
On May 1, 2011, I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer which had metastisized (sp) to the liver, 1 lung and the brain. They did Gamma Knife radiation surgery to the brain tumors and all are shrinking or gone. The latest CT Scan and MRI show the other tumnors are shrinking. Been doing the Folfox chemo for everything but the brain. In the beginning I was strong, upbeat with a great positive attitude. Now, even though treatment seems to be working, I have become depressed and am having a hard time keeping a positive attitude and I KNOW that's an important part of success. They have had me on steroids for the swelling in the brain, which has created high blood sugar resulting in up to 10 needle sticks a day for testing, insulin, etc. I'm having a harder time with the side effects of the chemo and I'm looking for a way to get my mind in a better place. Any suggestions?

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  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    #2
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    My husband was diagnosed
    My husband was diagnosed with Stage IV twelve days after you. He also is a very positive person. He went through a period where he just wasn't himself and was crying and paranoid. The oncologist prescribed a anti-depressant which he didn't want to take for fear it would change who he was. That didn't happen. It elevated his mood without changing his personality. He has returned to being able to enjoy life. I hope you get there too. I am glad you decided to post and hope you will find information here that can ease your anxiety. Lisa
  • djackson748
    djackson748 Member Posts: 8
    #3
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    buckeye2 said:

    My husband was diagnosed
    My husband was diagnosed with Stage IV twelve days after you. He also is a very positive person. He went through a period where he just wasn't himself and was crying and paranoid. The oncologist prescribed a anti-depressant which he didn't want to take for fear it would change who he was. That didn't happen. It elevated his mood without changing his personality. He has returned to being able to enjoy life. I hope you get there too. I am glad you decided to post and hope you will find information here that can ease your anxiety. Lisa

    thank you
    Lisa,
    Thank you for the reply. Unlike your husband, I was pretty ok at first. Determined, upbeat and ready to fight. I'm not sure just why I've recently done this reversal, except the chemo side effects keep getting worse and I don't really see an end in sight. I too, have resisted the anti-depressants for the same fear and the fear of addiction. With your husband's experience I'll probably re-think that. My daughter's name is also Lisa and a conversation with her last evening is why I'm here today. It's kind of fitting that my first reply would be from Lisa.
    Thanks again,
    Dave
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #4
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    djackson748 said:

    thank you
    Lisa,
    Thank you for the reply. Unlike your husband, I was pretty ok at first. Determined, upbeat and ready to fight. I'm not sure just why I've recently done this reversal, except the chemo side effects keep getting worse and I don't really see an end in sight. I too, have resisted the anti-depressants for the same fear and the fear of addiction. With your husband's experience I'll probably re-think that. My daughter's name is also Lisa and a conversation with her last evening is why I'm here today. It's kind of fitting that my first reply would be from Lisa.
    Thanks again,
    Dave

    Dave,

    " ...the fear of addiction..."

    Hope you don't mind me saying this, but this is an irrational fear. Do not deny yourself pain meds, or anything that can help with mood, for fear of addiction. This is not to say addiction can't happen, just that it is unlikely, and any addiction you may get will be much easier to deal with than the treatments you are currently going through.

    Consider an anti-anxiety drug as well. One of the benefits of a drug like Ativan is that you can take it as needed (as opposed to every 8 hours). Taken in this way, it helps mood, reduces nausea, and addiction is not a concern.

    Welcome to the board, and I hope things get better for you,

    Blake
  • djackson748
    djackson748 Member Posts: 8
    #5
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    Buckwirth said:

    Dave,

    " ...the fear of addiction..."

    Hope you don't mind me saying this, but this is an irrational fear. Do not deny yourself pain meds, or anything that can help with mood, for fear of addiction. This is not to say addiction can't happen, just that it is unlikely, and any addiction you may get will be much easier to deal with than the treatments you are currently going through.

    Consider an anti-anxiety drug as well. One of the benefits of a drug like Ativan is that you can take it as needed (as opposed to every 8 hours). Taken in this way, it helps mood, reduces nausea, and addiction is not a concern.

    Welcome to the board, and I hope things get better for you,

    Blake

    Thank you
    Blake,
    Thank you for the reply. You're right,it's an irrational fear and stubborness on my part. That's what got me here in the first place. Being too stubborn to go to doctors, and too bull headed to listen to sound advice. I spent 62 years without ever spending ANY time in a hospital and very few doctor's visits and it all changed in the blink of an eye on April 29, 2011. I'm going for chemo tomorrow and I'll ask the doc about an anti-depressant, anti-anxiety drug and see what he recommends. Thanks again. It helps to know there are so many of us and to know of your willingness to help.
    Dave
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #6
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    djackson748 said:

    Thank you
    Blake,
    Thank you for the reply. You're right,it's an irrational fear and stubborness on my part. That's what got me here in the first place. Being too stubborn to go to doctors, and too bull headed to listen to sound advice. I spent 62 years without ever spending ANY time in a hospital and very few doctor's visits and it all changed in the blink of an eye on April 29, 2011. I'm going for chemo tomorrow and I'll ask the doc about an anti-depressant, anti-anxiety drug and see what he recommends. Thanks again. It helps to know there are so many of us and to know of your willingness to help.
    Dave

    Dave welcome to the board ,but feel so sorry you have to stay
    here. Any fear is normal but every control results are better so this are the little thing that maintain me in good attitude , hold tightly any good news they give you and no fears to any drug that can alleviate your anxiety and fears.
    Hugs my friend .
    Pepe, Barcelona.
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #7
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    Please don't feel badly getting meds that make this easier.
    You're in the midst of the most difficult trial you've ever faced. Allow the doctors to make the journey a bit easier by asking for meds for anxiety and depression as needed. You need emotional strength, and this is one time where you really need to use all tools available.

    There is no weakness in asking for help, whether it be chemical or a counselor. And don't worry about addiction. You can deal with that later, if necessary. Now is the time to do everything in your power to help you through your treatment.
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #8
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    abrub said:

    Please don't feel badly getting meds that make this easier.
    You're in the midst of the most difficult trial you've ever faced. Allow the doctors to make the journey a bit easier by asking for meds for anxiety and depression as needed. You need emotional strength, and this is one time where you really need to use all tools available.

    There is no weakness in asking for help, whether it be chemical or a counselor. And don't worry about addiction. You can deal with that later, if necessary. Now is the time to do everything in your power to help you through your treatment.

    Hi Dave...
    I agree with abrub...... In my past experience i DID get addicted to the drugs (oxycodone) but i was pill dumb and nieve with it all. I learned thru trial and error...and these people here...the SAFE way to take meds. It DEFINATELY helped me at the time with what I was dealing with. There is a member on this forum...JOHN23... who is very knowledgeable about alternative methods to/with chemo like Traditional Chinese Medicine. He does not post here anymore but you can PM him and he will be glad to answer any qustions you may have. Just a thought. Happy to meet you. You ave a good night.

    Jennie
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #9
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    Welcome
    Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I've found it to be impossible and unrealistic to be positive all the time. Steroids certainly don't help matters, neither does chemo (or cancer!) About 4-5 months after my dx, I started to see a therapist and started on Xanax. Doing both has helped me immensely. I had little reservations about taking meds for that kind of issue, it is the least concern of mine considering having Stage IV Colon Cancer. So I would suggest doing one, the other, or both.
    Best of luck to you...
    -p

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