Anyone on anti-depression/anxiety medication

User

Posted 25 Dec 2025 at 00:51

As this is my first post I'm repeating my bio.

In 2013 I had RT & chemo for head & neck cancer (Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma which had spread to lymph nodes in neck). Lost 5 stone but survived and fought my way back.

Around 2018 was diagnosed with prostate cancer (PSA 70+). I was initially on Lupron for 4 months but had to quit because of panic attacks, anxiety and depression (suicidal) and was put on bicalutamide. I was on that for 2 years (with very few mental health problems) which along with RT brought the PSA down to < 0.1.

In 2023 my PSA started to climb again but because of my reaction to injections they told me they wouldn't start hormone treatment until they were sure the cancer had returned.

After numerous CT & bone scans which found nothing in Jan 2025 (by which time my PSA was 74) a CT scan showed swelling in 2 lymph nodes outside the prostate.

In Feb 2025 I was put on enzalutamide but gradually I got the exact same sides as I did on Lupron (anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal) and stopped after 2 months. This was devastating as the enzalutamide had taken my PSA from 74 to 2 in a short space of time. It was also puzzling because of its similarity to bicalutamide which I tolerated for 2 years.

The last 7 months I've been on the PATCHES trial. Treatment consists of 4 x 100 mcg Estraderm patches twice per week. Initially my quality of life was much better and it did keep my PSA low (currently 1.2). I was depressed but was free of the worst of the aforementioned affects. However, 3 or 4 months ago, my concentration went to hell and anxiety and panic attacks gradually increased in frequency. In the 2 weeks leading up to Xmas 2025 they've become a permanent fixture to the extent that today (24th Dec) I've ripped them off because I've had enough.

I'm autistic and my mind never rests. I have some terrifying thoughts.

So here I am in the early hours of Xmas 2025 with prostate cancer that's left the prostate, is in 2 lymph nodes and I've jacked in the treatment. Why did this all have to peak so close to Xmas? I can't contact oncology until after new year. As oestradiol only has a half life of 1 hour I already feel a bit better but I'm unsure if that's the placebo affect or maybe even just the distraction of typing all this out.

Anyway, the only way I could go back on HT is if they were able to give me some kind of anti-anxiety/depression tablet. Hence the question in the title. Anyone doing the same? Are they working? How are the sides? Also has anyone suffered effects as bad as this on HT?

Edited by member 25 Dec 2025 at 19:22 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 00:40

I was on HT for two years, and I didn't have any significant problems, however I can think of two posters who did have problems with HT. In both cases like mine, the treatment was to accompany HT and hence was limited to two or three years.

One of the posters 'decko', found antidepressants to be quite effective. I think he was prescribed sertraline. The other poster whose name I can not remember found HT to be unbearable and stopped after about six months. I don't think he tried antidepressants.

It is reasonable to assume that, the cancer having already spread to the lymph nodes, if you do not continue with prostate cancer treatment it will eventually be the cause of your death. Getting the balance right between quantity and quality of life is difficult and has to be your decision. If I were in your position I would want to try antidepressants in the hope it would amenable me to continue with HT. You will at least have done the best to keep all options open if you try that.

Dave

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 07:01

Hello mate.

I'm very sorry to see that you are struggling, but welcome to the forum

Many years ago, well before cancer entered my life, I had a very long bout of chronic depression and can still remember the awful emotional state I was in. I often had morbid thoughts. During this 'black' period of my life, I tried various antidepressants and ended up having cognitive behavioural therapy.

When I was diagnosed with PCa, I dreaded that it may trigger another lengthy bout of depression. I think to some degree, it probably has, but I'm now much better equipped to deal with it. I'm coping well, and have had not had to return to antidepressants.

Did you have any mental health issues prior to being diagnosed with your first cancer 12 years ago? Or has your depression mainly been caused by the hormone treatment?

Here's some research and a old conversation on the link between ADT's and depression.

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t31833-Mental-health-issues-caused-by-hormone-therapy

I hope it helps, if only to show, that you are not alone in the way you are feeling.

My heart goes out to you, mate. Please, if you're feeling really down, seek medical help.

Edited by member 26 Dec 2025 at 08:21 | Reason: Add link

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 16:22

Dear Cliff,

I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this. It happened to my husband as he was adapting to HT, but we were completely in the dark and didn’t understand what was going on. It was heartbreaking, and at first he couldn’t help showing that his emotions were getting the better of him. Our situation is different because his PC was definitely not confined when diagnosed. After about six months, things returned to normal, but he also took it upon himself to do cognitive behavioural therapy. Outwardly, that seems to work, and he seems OK when we talk about it.

A wonderful of this community, Phil, a.k.a. “Goalhanger”, wrote a great deal about his experiences with depression and how he managed it. He was very brave and inspiring. He was a brilliant writer too, so it might be helpful to read about his journey and how he overcame depression and truly made the most of things. His words are a tremendous guide for me. His words still help me understand what my husband is dealing with, and help me better cope and make the most of every day. It is possible that reading his posts could offer support.

Wish you all the best, and I hope that your physician can offer medication to help. There are a lot of good meds available for this now.

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 08:24

Thanks Adrian. I had already read that thread and the corresponding links.

Prior to the cancer treatment in 2013, although I always had a routine (as many autistic people have), I hadn't had any mental health problems. Through the treatment for the head & neck cancer and the original prostate cancer I at least had the consolation that the treatment would have an ending but that's no longer the case with the PC having left my prostate.

The accompanying panic attacks and severe anxiety do seem to be related to the HT though. Computer coding was in a sense my version of cognitive behaviour therapy but I haven't had the concentration to do that for months.

I'll certainly be in touch with oncology when they're back after the holiday period but that's still 10 days away.

Edited by member 26 Dec 2025 at 08:39 | Reason: Not specified

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User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 00:40

Dave

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 01:44

Thanks Dave. Contrary to what I said in my last post about feeling better, here I am 24 hours later feeling worse.

I've had a look at Decho's posts and googled the drug. It gives me some hope that I'll be able to go back on the HT. I agree with you that if I don't it will kill me but right at this moment death would be preferable to continuing to live in this state. In the last 3 days I've had maybe a total of around 10 hours sleep, most of which was half hour dosing on the couch. I'm now afraid to go to bed because of the difficulty of falling asleep and the high probability of awakening suddenly with a full blown panic attack.

Suicidal thoughts are constant. I've also developed facial movements where I'm screwing up my face, my eyes and mouth in particular. My face is actually sore from doing it. I also feel overwhelmed by everyday tasks that pop up ranging from getting dressed, shaving, washing, eating, needing the toilet right down to having to open a new box of paper hankies.

AAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH.

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 07:01

Hello mate.

I'm very sorry to see that you are struggling, but welcome to the forum

Did you have any mental health issues prior to being diagnosed with your first cancer 12 years ago? Or has your depression mainly been caused by the hormone treatment?

Here's some research and a old conversation on the link between ADT's and depression.

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t31833-Mental-health-issues-caused-by-hormone-therapy

I hope it helps, if only to show, that you are not alone in the way you are feeling.

My heart goes out to you, mate. Please, if you're feeling really down, seek medical help.

Edited by member 26 Dec 2025 at 08:21 | Reason: Add link

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 08:24

Thanks Adrian. I had already read that thread and the corresponding links.

I'll certainly be in touch with oncology when they're back after the holiday period but that's still 10 days away.

Edited by member 26 Dec 2025 at 08:39 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 16:22

Dear Cliff,

Wish you all the best, and I hope that your physician can offer medication to help. There are a lot of good meds available for this now.

User

Posted 26 Dec 2025 at 17:08

Thanks YM's wife. Emotions are hard to hide. At times it's like being constantly told you've just suffered another bereavement. I used to think if you go before the rest of your loved ones you're spared all that misery but when you more or less know it's coming it's like losing them every time you think of them.

I will certainly do a search on Goalhanger's posts.

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