Down

[Broadbent]

Am on Ibrutinib and everything is going well. But depression has struck. I cannot believe how depressed I am. Any answers out there.

[maggiesgrandmom]

I know how you feel and I think Ibrutinib did make me depressed and anxious. I feel you should call your dr. and get some medication for this. Ibrutinib is so good but there are side effects. You have to have a quality of life, not just treat the disease. Hang in there!

[HB50]

Hi Broadbent,

You don't mention whether this is your first line of treatment, or how quickly you went from diagnosis to treatment. As a therapist and someone who co-facilitates a support group for survivors, I often see people traumatized by a diagnosis, but often it does not hit until after treatment (or perhaps in this case after treatment is working). I'm not saying that you are not clinically depressed, but that is an actual psychiatric diagnosis with some specific criteria and needs to be confirmed by a psychiatrist.

Often what one experiences is grief, as the grieving process is not just about death but about loss. A diagnosis often brings a lot of loss - loss of control, loss of equality within ones main partnership, loss of innocence in regards to death, loss of finances, change in roles , loss of who you once were physically, and the list goes on.....I believe, besides being able to talk this out with a mental health professional, that sharing with others who have gone through a similar experience provides a place where people speak the same language of cancer - validate your own feelings and experience, and provide a place where you can work through the emotional/spiritual trauma of the diagnosis. I firmly believe, as hard as it is having cancer (I'm on my 7th year with CLL, 17p-, and on my third line of treatment with a ASCT coming) that it is an opportunity to learn, transform, and to reach a place where you are able to honour and be your authentic self.

Take good care.

Mark

[Hidden in reply to HB50]

Thanks Mark. Just reading your post was helpful to me. I'm starting my second line tonight with IB. Amazing how important it is to acknowledge how my life and it's context has changed. Onward!

[CLLCalifornia-USA in reply to HB50]

Incredible insight to what we all experience. Great advice for all. Thanks, Sally (USA)

[sumok in reply to HB50]

this is such a helpful reply - well done.

Broadbent - along with many others in this community, i wish you well. try to keep up your self-care, it can be a struggle but it's worth it; there are better times ahead.

[cartwheels]

I too am 17p and on ibrutinib and stopped taking antidepressants when I started treatment but I have found my temper is now very short and I'm struggling not with the cancer but just life in general I keep getting back spasm maybe from ibrutinib and it's wear me down is there a good antidepressant out there to take with ibrutinib as I feel sadly I need it

[maggiesgrandmom in reply to cartwheels]

Hi Cartwheels, Maybe you should re post this as an original post to get more replies. Or you could try to message Mark privately. good luck. Janice

[Hoffy]

I am on Imbruvica but do not have depression. More anxious and sometime angry.

I have depression in the past before CLL and found SSRI's were bad. Welbutrine worked well. Of course check with your doctor.

I use a CPAP machine now as well and that seems to really help