I'm on my 4th day of my zytiga, prednisone treatment. Had my Lupron shot last week. This is all after my initial treatment of 6 months of bicalutamide and 6 rounds of taxotere. I also had to have a metal stent robotically inserted through my penis (that was not fun) I also did not handle the chemo well. Was in ER a few times because of it. I also have to see a gastroenterologist next week because of rectal and pelvic discomfort. I'm basically fighting this disease alone. Now that I'm on zytiga. I find myself more depressed than ever. I seem to be more fatigued and the sweats are more prevalent. The pressure to urinate is always there, just like it was before. My question is. Does this get better with time? I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself. Because I have so much time alone, It's always the mortality and eventually a final horrible death that tends to engulf my thoughts all of the time.
Ralph
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RalphieJr64
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If you don't already have one, most of us here would recommend getting a Medical Oncologist who specialises in prostate cancer. If you want help from us with the treatament aspects, it would be helpful to know your entire history including PSA history, age at diagnosis and details, how long you've been under treatment with the various treatments etc.
As far as the support side goes, I would really recommend finding a support group in your area if possible. Where are you located? For me, the feeling of being alone was one of the hardest aspects of having this disease. I had a lot of people around me to help me, but I found that I needed people who were going through the same thing I was to understand me. My first support group meeting was the first time I didn't feel alone.
Agreed. If you are alone, find folks who understand what you are going through. Generally, I've found that my causal friends all think that Lupron = Going through menopause and they figure my treatment is no big deal because that's what they were told by their dads. Find a support group or educate your friends so that they understand you are in the fight of your life. As for the medicine side, listen to the more experienced members here. I'm finding they know allot and they care for every person who posts. I pray and expect that one day you will be an experienced, old timer here. Good luck.
Speak to your doctor for medication for anxiety or a referral if you need counseling . You should join a prostate cancer support group for face time. I don't know your Gleason score,PSA, prior treatments other then ADT and chemo; or where you have mets, how many, size of mets, etc.
You may have many years ahead, no one knows how long we are going to live. Today's hospice has pain specialists that are very good in their profession and a choice of drugs to ease the burden.
Re the Zytiga...for me it was a new kind of fatigue, but I believe you'll deal with it. The depression comes with the territory, but you might want to think about how those meds are killing the cancer. It's a comforting thought...don't let all the negative ones rule your thinking.
Oh RalphieJr64, I am truely saddened by your situation. Most of your experiences seems to have been the same as my husband.
I want to say that symptoms can improve, they did for my husband. What we also know is that each body responds so differently to both the disease and the treatment.
Depression is very real, and should be discussed with a member of your Care Team, perhaps your PCP? We have tried some alternatives, and I gage my husbands moods, ( hormonal therapy doesn’t help with mood either) : SAMe 400 mg daily, Serenelle 2 caps daily (PharmaGaba, Sensoril Release, &L-theanine ( reduces stress, produces calming brain waves and improves mood).
Perhaps a support group in person, in addition to this one? Walks in the sunshine and nature can also help with relaxation.
As the stalwarts of this group always say, you are not alone in this boat. We are all here to support you in any way we can...
Ralph, It does get better! As time goes on it gets a lot better, hang in there brother. Possibly you should talk to your Dr. about some happy pills to get you through this very hard time. We are all here for you, Please keep us posted.
I'm always grateful and thankful that I have an avenue to go to and the support and advice I get from everyone here. I do have a small bio and other posts that has more info about me. I do have a palliative support system and a prescribed antidepressant that I take every night, mostly for sleeping. I will be seeing them soon.
Thanks to all,
Ralph
Dont let those dark thoughts overtake you man .We’ve all been there .It will get better. Most of these symptoms that youre having are the most common to all of us . You will learn to except and toletate them in time. I had the stents for a year. Replacing them every 3months thru the penis. Great fun .Plus i had tubes out of my back .That took me down pretty good .It was a great day to get all of that off and out. Being by your self in this must really suck. You need alot of love to help you through. I got a puppy a year ago. Best move ever. I love that little dog so much .My wife even more . Children and animals nature and music all bring me joy . Find what brings you joy and practice it every day. Likewise cut stress and stop worrying about a morbid outcome . Urgensy to pee, my middle name .My entire existence revolves around running to the bathroom day and night. I gladly except it .I prayed for that first yr and a half that id be able to pee again without brutal pain. Now everytime i pee, i thank my lucky stars. It’s a new life .Accept it Take care of yourself and find love and enjoyment if you dont have it already.
We downsized and moved into a small 55 plus community which has been very welcoming to us in the absence of a local pCa support group. The men go for breakfast 3 times a week but none seem to have prostate cancer or have been willing to speak of it. Just the socializing aspect is important for my husband who has become so quiet and complains of brain fog from ADT and other treatments.
Ralph, It does get better, sorry your doing this alone. My wife and family are great. Now. My doctor gave me Effexor for my hot flashes sweats and depression. Twice a day. This site helps a lot as well. The first 6 months were awful trying to wrap myself around my mortality, started a journal to talk to myself about what needed to be done if this is it. The second 6 months we got the meds leveled out and I got most of my to do list done. Now on the 19 th month and still have bone pain but I go do basically what I want to do, 4 wheel, fly, ect. And yes. Visited the er several times. Hope this helps. Larry
Check out your local YMCA. The Livestong Foundation has a program at YMCAs throughout the USA. It is a free, 12 week exercise and psychosocial support program, with personalized training, and group sessions, for cancer folks and includes a caregiver. My husband starts tomorrow. Our YMCA offers a day and an evening class. We live in a big city (St Louis, Mo.) and there are 4 locations that offer it. I have heard such tremendous good things about it, that I’d say it would be worth the drive, if one were not very close to you.
My husband is very depressed since his cancer reared it’s ugly head, 12 years later. Coupled with other physical problems, and Lupron, he sits on the sofa most days, it will be great to get him moving. And I’ve been a RN 40 years, and I have to keep telling him and myself that Cancer is different for every person and doctors are often wrong about how long one will live.
Wayneswife, thanks for sharing info about YMCA. Our gym membership is up in a few days and I will certainly check them out to see what they offer in this neck of the woods. 💚
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Hang in there Ralph. It will get better. I was also in the dumps for 1 solid year after DX, but after realizing that I will not die anytime soon , thanks to the meds, I snapped out of it. Doing well now mentally, inspite of the med side effects. Enjoy every minute of every day like you never had before. Only then will you start to beat the crap out of this PC monster. I also found that support groups help a ton.
Hang in there bro and always know that we have your back
Yes, it does get better. You have been through a lot, I would be depressed in your place. Keep up the good fight. I remember when I was first diagnosed I was given 5 to 10 years to live I was depressed. Then my son said to me "What are going to do be depressed for the next 5 or 10 years?" I laughed and that was the end of end my depression. Kids sometimes come up with great wisdom.
If your depression is caused by the Zytiga it should get with time.
Ralph, How are you doing today? I read your bio, It seems similar to what mine was 12 years ago, I was pretty down when I got mine 12 years ago, but it got better, You can read my bio by clicking on my page. I am pain free and really have enjoyed my time since dx, It gets better, and it will for you too. We are all here for you, keep us posted.
This is going to sound weird, but it works for me. Buy, rent or stream some good old-fashioned slapstick comedies or comedies from the Fifties (when comedy was funny) Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and sit down with them with a bowl of popcorn. You'll forget depression ever existed and no chemicals involved. Attitude is everything!!
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