Depression after chemo

jellybean · New User Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

I didn't expect this to happen, but after I finished ABVD chemo treatments and have been considered cured from Hodgkins Lymphoma I now feel overwhelmingly depressed. While going through the treatment I felt for the most part quite positive, hopeful and happy. Is this common? I am a 23 year old female.

narrowSKPE · New User Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Chennai

Hey... we have a purpose in life to be fulfilled which not everybody has. thats y we are called cancer survivors...
Exactly 365 days earlier i was diagnosed with NHL. A tumor the size of my lung was compressing my heart. And today here i m , back to jogging and gymming and working hard on my small IT startup.

Do get in touch with me if wanna share what you feel. I have been very active in connecting with depressed cancer patients in my city.

Have faith dear...

narrowSKPE · New User Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Chennai

Depression is bound to happen... Me being a 23 yr old male, into all gymmin, sports, and adventure, was lying on bed for 8 months without even having enough energy to hold a glass of water...

Yes it is irritating.. .a nightmare... but please remember.. you have a reason to live... that reason is known to you .. and you alone..

We are lucky to be alive .. I understand we need to constantly live with the thought of hearing the dreaded new again, at the back of our minds.. Lets just take it one day at a time.. whether it is during the journey of recovery or after...

Please remember, in the fight for cancer, it is as much about the journey as it is about the destination....

Do let me know if you need any moral support or any information... take care dear.

brainman · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Depression after chemo

Hi jellybean, it is not at all uncommon for a person who has cancer to have times of depression regardless of treatment or prognosis. Cancer is a life altering disease. You are not the same person that you were before cancer. A person as young as you already has some identity issues he or she is working on (young adulthood issues like first job...). I could list hundreds of unique issues that cancer might be bringing to your life that could contribute to depression. My advice to you is: Look for a therapist/counselor who can guide you as you explore your new life and your depression.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

staceymr2 · New User Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

I know how you feel hun. Im now 24 (female) and its been 6-7 months since I come off ABVD.
I have been haveing major trouble with depression since. Im to stronge minded to go to the docs, I feel they are no help.
Im just misrable. I look in the mirror I see what the cancer took from me, im reminded of what I had. But you always have to keep in your mind that you beat it, your still here.
My mind is just full of stuff I cant work through but I have grate friends to help.
Cool

flowers · New User Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

As I look at your story, Im reminded of all the feelings after my chemo, Im just a year out, not even a year from radiation. I had NHL stage 4, in the breast and bone marrow, what a shock to a healthy woman, who was never sick a day in her life! when you know what you are facing, you work hard at facing it, then fighting it, losing everything that makes you feel like a woman, ecspecially your hair! Friends and family gather strong, and are great support, but I noticed as my health returned, friends and loved ones slacked off. I think it's really hard to return to a life "before cancer", because you are never the same. You just don't look at life the same. Life seems to go on all around you, and you are screaming inside " hey, I fought cancer, what is normal again?" I clung to my faith, prayed and read my bible everyday, even though there were days I did'nt want to, daily as I look back, I can see the hand of a great big God. I also joined a support group with other ladies, who had faced the same disease, and we have talked, prayed and shared, which has combated the depression. You've got to make yourself go, and tell yourself daily, today Im going to make it! The thoughts of cancer returning will probably never go away, I've talked to alot of survivors who same the same thing, it's normal. I've found that talking to others is better than medicine! You will be in my prayers.

lorz25 · New User Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 7

Hello jellybean. I'm not sure whether it's common but you're definitely not the only one. I too was quite positive during my treatment but became depressed afterwards. I talked to my nurse about it and she said that that sometimes happens because you shut all your feelings away and just try and cope with what's happening but as soon as it's gone you relax a little bit and all the feelings come back and you don't know how to cope with them. You can get through this though. Try to talk about your feelings and not keep it all in. Hope you feel better soon x

effcancer · Regular Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 22

Its not you, its the chemicals from the chemo. ABVD among many other types of chemo is known for causing depression. I'm 23 also and I had 8 treatments of ABVD last summer... I've never been a depressed person, but that will do it. I would just cry, and have no idea why. Very strange. Talk to your onc. about some anti-depression medication. They should be pretty understanding about it and give it to you no problem.
_________________
So, this sucks.

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