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Re: How common is our 'Low Mood' and 'Uncoping Stress'?
George and All;
This stupid disease sucks. It sucks real bad. But the treatment is even worse. I have been on ADT for 18 months now and I have become androgen independent. That is a real bummer. The high point in my month is when I get my PSA reading. Hoping it will finally go down. It has not yet. Mine is up to 3.6 now and everything we have thrown at it does'nt work.
ADT wrecks your thought processes. Forget about sex. No urge left. and with the stress of seeing my PSA go up for the last 6 months, it gets a bit much.
Re: How common is our 'Low Mood' and 'Uncoping Stress'?
Dear Steve,
It can 'suck' as you say, BUT you must never give up hope. The one thing that has stayed with me is utter determination to beat this damn illness.
My low moods are getting me angry with myself, yes - but it was also my anger which helped me fight so hard when the urologist 'wrote me off' back in April 2005.
I reckon that if I have managed to get from PSA 182 with T4 tumour down to my present PSA of 1.0 (after a year without meds) then I can also get through stress and depression.
Steve? I think life DOES give you a kicking at times, but we have to lift ourselves up and kick back like crazy!
It's easier said than done, I know. The first hurdle is getting the will to begin the fightback.
A very wise cancer fighter, a woman, once told me to listen to my body. If you feel tired, then rest up and let your body re-charge itself. It has a big fight on its hands and needs all your energy for that.
Re: How common is our 'Low Mood' and 'Uncoping Stress'?
Hi again folks,
It seems my post may have given the impression I got from PSA 182 down to 1.0 without meds. No way, but how I wish that was the case!
I was diagnosed early 2005 and began treatment of hormone therapy immediately, and also had 37 RT sessions.
I was on Zoladex(Lupron) for almost 2 years and then moved to Casodex 150 for 7 months. After seeing my PSA stable at <0.1 for over a year my onco agreed I could cease casodex in September 2007. So...I have just ended my first year med free.
Re: How common is our 'Low Mood' and 'Uncoping Stress'?
I understand what you mean.
My opeation (August this year)was successful in removing the cancer (at this stage anyhow). Yet whilst i felt great about this I got very depressed about the damage done to me. Wetting yourself and impotence. I lost my sense of self, my self esteem and value. I couldn't see how I could have value to someone. no doubt this was very important to me because earlier this year I started a new relationship with a wonderful lady and I started worrying that I could be all she wanted and needed. I live alone and instaed of talking about it I got into a downward spiral that drove me to break the relationship off. It was wrong as I cut away my support network.
I regretted it as soon as it was done.
i am now on medication which is helping and working on trying to rebuild.
My sense of self worth has started to return as I gain control on continence and i am hopeful of return of erectile function.
Depression is a very real side effect and one I believe is ignored by the medical professionals.
I felt guilty for being down whe everyone was saying how lucky I was (cancer removed).
