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• April 14, 2013 10:17 p.m.

  my husband was diagnosed with stage IV prostrate cancer. No remission will occur, only management. He has been on hormone therapy to manage his PSA which were 1100 then dropped to 1 and now slowly climbing. We have a happy marriage, great friends, and he is well respected in his career in which he recently retired. I woke up one morning and his car was packed and said he just needs to leave...no clue this would happen. Our friends and his colleagues are baffled with his behavior. He is normally a very loving and thoughtful man without any selfishness. Could his behavior be due to PTSD? Anyone ever hear of such a thing? He jjust has run away disassociating himself from all who care so much for him. We have been married for 25 years and been very happy. He said he still loves me but he can't explain why he feels this way. He will not speak about personal topics but now considers us a business relationship. He moved to another state. I am so lost for what may be happening to him? He is going into his third year after diagnosis. Averages for his stage are a lifespan of 3-5 years...but it be longer as well. Any help would be so appreciated

  - Cathey

• September 20, 2012 8:29 a.m.

  What a relief when I found these discussions today. I had all but a couple of the symptoms for PTSD when I read the list. I asked my regular dr. to find me someone for some counseling -- that I didn't want to pump more chemicals in my body. He promised to look, but hasn't. I have horrible joint pain with Arimidex, but am afraid not to take it. I've been on it about 2-1/2 years now. I had stage 3C breast cancer, double mastectomy, over 20 lymph nodes affected. Had 15 chemo treatments -- had to stop because I was in too bad a shape to finish last 3. Refused radiation because I felt my body just wouldn't take it. Many mentions here of the neuropathy. Both feet are pretty much numb, but I didn't take the prescribed gabapentin after reading how it can cause depression. I couldn't stand one more "straw" on the pile to make depression worse. I've gone from a huge salary to a fixed income that won't allow me to maintain my life anywhere close to what I had before. I live alone, and am glad I do because I don't think I could stand anyone around me all the time -- and neither could they stand me. My faith, and my 3 dogs keep me going. Doctors don't understand, or don't care -- neither the regular doctors nor the oncologists. I hate to sound so negative, but it seemed after they got the big bucks for the chemo treatments, I was no longer of interest to them. It's rough. I'm hanging on, but some days it's by my fingernails. God isn't done with me yet because I'm

  - Mary

• September 11, 2012 11:54 a.m.

  WOW!!! This is an eye-opener, a huge relief and a blessing to know that maybe, I'm not going crazy or just not trying hard enough to "get through it". Feb 2009 I went to the ER that evening with excruciating abdominal pain only to be rushed into emergency surgery where they discovered the large tumor (diaphram to pelvis) had eaten through my small intestine and I was completely septic. They told my wife to call in the family as they weren't sure I would make it through the night. Three days later I woke up in ICU from a medically induced coma and heard the "C" word (Agressive large B Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma - Stage 2). Round of chemo, remission, 2 more surgeries due to problems from the first surgery, relapse, a round of high dose chemo, remission, stem cell transplant and by Jan 2010 remission and been in remission since. Mid 2010, wife diagnosed with colon cancer but, surgery got it all - no chemo or radiation. Wife has been in and out of hospital and rehab haspital with other abdominal and lung problems six times since. Since 2009 and increasingly so in the last year, I am a different person. I have peripheral neuropathy in both lower legs and feet and getting a knee replacement next month. I can hardly do my job anymore and haven't been able to figure out why until I read this article and the comments and checked off 8/10 of the listed symptoms. THANK YOU! I am going to find a good therapist/counselor to help me get back on track. Prayers

  - Mike

• August 26, 2012 2:39 p.m.

  GOSH IS THIS AN EYE OPENER FOR ME !!! AFTER BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED BY MY KIDNEY DR AT THE AGE OF 42, WHILE HAVING ANOREXIA, MY WONDERFUL LIFE STARTED ITS DOWNHILL SPIRAL... I AM NOW 60 AND AFTER YEARS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH A WONDERFUL DR. I COULD ACTUALLY GO OUTSIDE AND AROUND PEOPLE... THEN THREE YEARS AGO I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH KIDNEY CANCER,, SURGEON ONLY TOOK A SMALL PC OF MY KIDNEY , WITHIN TWO YEARS THE WHOLE KIDNEY HAD TO COME OUT AS IT HAD COME BACK... IN BETWEEN THE TWO KIDNEY SURGERIES MY THYROID WAS REMOVED AS IT HAD NODULES THAT WERE CAUSING ME SLEEP PROBLEMS WHEN ON MY BACK... THAT SURGEON CUT THROUGH BOTH MY VOCAL CORD NERVES, LEAVING ME WITH A PARALYZED THROAT AND A TRACH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE..... MY PTSD, STARTED WITH THE SEXUAL ABUSE,,, AND HAD REALLY NEVER LEFT ME,, BUT I WAS DOING MUCH BETTER WITH THERAPY FOR YEARS.. WHEN THE CANCER HIT,, I DID REALLY WELL WITH THAT,, BUT WHEN YET ANOTHER DR. WHO DIDNT KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING OR DIDNT CARE, LEFT ME WITH A TRACH FOR LIFE.... THE PTSD RAISED ITS UGLY HEAD FULL FORCE... MOST PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS ILLNESS, BUT BELIEVE ME,,, ITS A TOUGH ONE TO JUST HANDLE.. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE,,FEELING OF DEEP SADNESS, FEEL YOU ARE HURTING YOUR LOVED ONES DUE TO YOUR SADNESS, EXPERIENCE FLASHBACKS OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS, GAIN OR LOSS OF WEIGHT, FEAR, ANXIETY,.. PLEASE SEE A GOOD PSYCHOTHERAPIST... AND I MEAN A GOOD ONE,,, NOT JUST ANY DR. CAN HELP YOU !!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUBMISSIONS !

  - KIMBERLY

• August 9, 2012 12:43 p.m.

  I have been a surivor of PTSD for more then 30 years. Now with the cancer I find myself back on the battle field of not know if but when it will kill me with no help from those that sent me.

  - Edward

• April 21, 2012 8:41 p.m.

  I am so happy to find this PTSD info; have read all the comments and relate to all of them. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2011; had 16 rounds of chemo, surgery, and 4 weeks rads, finished last December. I have told family and close friends that I think I have PTSD--can't sleep, flashbacks, major anxiety, tearful, short temper, emotional outbursts. I completed treatment, so everyone assumes I'm back to normal, but far from it. I finally thought to google "ptsd cancer" and this site popped up. Thankyou-thankyou-thankyou. I'm going to find a therapist asap, because I am utterly miserable. I also have painful peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet, getting worse by the day--a side effect of chemo--Taxol type drugs. In addition, my nails (fingers and toes) separated from the nailbeds; I had staph infection under the nails--horrible--and lost about half of them. I was treated at a world-renowned cancer center (I live in Houston) but the oncologist assigned to me had no personality, no empathy, and was a complete jerk. I kept telling him about the PN and my nails and he just ignored me. When my nails started to fall off I went to a dermatologist who diagnosed and gradually cured that particular affliction. The callousness of that oncologist and various traumatic incidents during treatment forms much of the basis of what I know now is clearly PTSD. Thank you all so much; prayers and good luck to all.

  - Lori

• March 29, 2012 6:23 p.m.

  May 4th will be my second year cancer free from stage 3 breast cancer. And I had all the side effects of chemotherapy and then some. I live alone so I had to work thru the whole thing. With no real support at all. I was strong and somehow made it thru the worst time of my life. Now 2 years later I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, have asthma, depression and a boss that thinks I'm slacking off and milking my cancer experience for pity. Even my coworkers keep telling me to move faster and have even started to question whether or not my cancer and mastectomy even happened. I used to hike and bike 30 miles a day now I'm exhausted after one day of work. I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.

  - Terri

• March 28, 2012 4:36 p.m.

  Hi everyone here. I been cancer free for 3.5yrs. My cancer is incurable and is suppose to come back anytime now I guess. They found my cancer with the six kidney stone blockages I had. Since I turned 40 my health has been so bad. Now my pancreas is acting up having surgery in two weeks. Just has kidney surgery last week. I am very discouraged. I think I have PTSD. I am a counselor and am working on a Masters, but I want to quit. I am tired of trying too hard. Chemo brain I have that really bad too. My husband well he doesnt understand my tiredness, my lack of interest ect. He is not much help. I feel all alone and isolated from a normal life. I want to be shown some compassion. My dreams are gone and I need some understanding from someone who says they love me. It is hard and I get it. I am letting go of my dreams I want to just go. Why I feel like a burden to everyone around me. I didnt ask for this that is the catch why does it have to be such a bother. Well that is my story. hope my panreas surgery goes well.

  - Maureen

• March 20, 2012 8:05 p.m.

  Chemo Brain.----- after eight months of chemotherapy I was very happy to tell others that I was very fortunate to have had very few side effects from chemo. I was able to continue working, doing my normal routine with very little interference from chemo. What I was hiding from though was admitting that my mind was very affected from it. But there was no outward sign, I mean as long as I kept relatively quiet and did not talk too much, I thought I could keep my chemo brain I secret. But I was only fooling myself. In conversations I would not be able to recall something I wanted to relay to someone, I could not think of the correct word that I wanted to use (I would know what letter the word began with but couldn't for the life of me recall the rest of the word.) I wouldn't remember who I was speaking to the previous day, or remember co-worker's names. As embarrassing as it was, it was even more frightening. I learned what it must be like to have dementia.....what it is like to know something but your mind would not bring the information forward. I often would panic mentally when, in the middle of a sentence, I could not recall a word. I have learned what it is like to have dementia, or what it must be like to "grow old" and not be mentally on the ball any more. And it is more frightening to know that you don't have that mental capacity any longer. I understand what it must be like for elderly people now and I have learned compassion, understanding, p

  - Nancy

• March 8, 2012 9:24 p.m.

  I just reached my one-year anniversary of being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Originally misdiagnosed by my pcp, I was eventually sent to a reputable hospital and clinic where I received excellent care and am in remission with a good prognosis. I have done everything the doctors wanted me to and have worked nonstop to regain and adjust to what I've lost. However, the effects of the treatments have taken a toll on my memory, my joints and my self confidence. I am not looking for the cancer to return and I constantly remind myself the glass is half full but, it's not easy. Thank heavens for my support group! Even though I've never met anyone who has survived my particular type of cancer, I can relate to the struggles and challenges experienced by others with cancer. I guess it is time to allow myself time to grieve the person that I've lost, so that I can go forward to become the person I am to become. It's been an incredible journey and not for the faint of heart.

  - Phyllis

• March 3, 2012 6:08 a.m.

  HI,I am new to this forum its great,so much information,Stuff you never would know otherwise.I am recovering from colon cancer re section (stage 11 no mo0 just 9 months ago.I am doing well physically and have my weight and diet under control with radical lifestyle changes on my part.However I am interested in this PTSD and believe is all part of the healing/griving process that all us cancer survivers have to deal with.Our lives have changed so much,I cry alot and hate what cancer has done to me,but I wont let it define me as a person.Seek support from your family doctor or join a local cancer support group in your area and talk to fellow survivours,they have really got me through.Hang in the...we are all so special

  - Rosemary

• February 28, 2012 5:11 p.m.

  I have read this comment and it is very useful for me that I am facing a peritoneo cancer since last year and I am receiving Taxol too, I have been very resistent with the treatment and the chemo has been very friendship with me but anyway it is important to read the possible consecuences of chemo and to share and listen experiences from others. I have read Beth post, thanks Beth. My best regards for all the community from Havana, Cuba. Cecilia

  - Cecilia

• February 15, 2012 7:58 p.m.

  I have pretty good insurance and the year I had cancer treatment nearly put us under financially. All the years we saved and planned hoping to enjoy the "golden years" - ha, that's a blown dream. My PTSD is the fear of bankrupting my family and having it all feeding the high priced mill our health care system is. I have seriously thought about letting it take its course and not fighting cancer if it comes back. Find a psychologist... a side effect of the cancer that is a side effect of my medication that just jumped $150 a shot to $1000. Money is the limiting factor.

  - Anne

• February 15, 2012 12:35 p.m.

  This comment is for Diane and others who are interested in finding out more about treatment. It is important to find a find a Psychologist who specializes in treatment of PTSD. Ask your cancer doctor if they can recommend someone who is an expert in the field. Take a look at this information on what questions to ask as you are in the process of finding the right provider for you (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/understanding_TX/booklet.pdf). To find a therapist or psychologist in your area, take a look at these resources (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/finding-a-therapist.asp).

  - Sheryl

• February 15, 2012 9:14 a.m.

  am very interested in reading about the side effects of Arimidex, as I'm also experiencing them. Am usually very active and I'm an RN that volunteers at our church and at a clinic, but have to rethink things due to joint pain, etc. I have side effects to the NSAID's. Is there some way to access any studies done about this drug? We're supposed to exercise, etc, to be healthier, but it's sometimes impossible. Thanks to all of you who comment. Very helpful.

  - Marian

• February 14, 2012 9:38 a.m.

  Following radiation and chemo, I was diagnosed with Severe Peripheral Neuropathy with drop feet (no feeling) caused by Taxol. Big problem is skin sensitivity of feet to texture (rug,spandex,wool,polyester,etc} and tile/wood floors too cold. Hard to find comfort shoes with support. I work hard to stay positive. Fortunate to have supportive family. Take 1800 mg Gabapentin daily. Electrical stimulation (18 sessions) no improvement to toes or feet. Nobody wants to talk about PN. I don't feel that I have PTSD but definitely a possible candidate. I let off steam with a professional support person who keeps my head balanced and a physical therapist who is trying to restore my body balance. Perhaps a column from Mayo Clinic could help others in my position.

  - Beth

• February 11, 2012 2:22 p.m.

  Its not easy to admit that you're not coping - evryone thinks that when the treatment ends its over and we are constantly told to be happy that we are still alive and to be positive. This reinforces feelings oa guilt about how we actually feel. I have bilateral breast cancer with lymph node involvement and have had bilateral mastectomies and lymph node removal, chemo and radiotherapy. i have lymphoedema and cannot sleep for the pain and discomfort - I have lost my job and am afraid to put on my heating because of cost - what do I have to be positive about? Cancer hasn't killed me yet but it has taken my life away!

  - Lorraine

• February 10, 2012 8:51 p.m.

  didn't consider ptsd , however may be possible for 6 years after sucessful cancer treatment it is surprising to me to unexpectedly and suddenly finding I am weeping easily and frequently.

  - anne

• February 10, 2012 6:33 p.m.

  I have just been a 6 mo. survivor of breast cancer. The whole radiation experience was filled with pain in my neck,shoulders,arms and hands. They sent me to PT for lymphadema. It was not. But didn't really have anyone say what was happening so we continued with PT for 6mo until I hit the major wall with extreme neck,shoulder, arm deep aches and pains with needles running thru every part of both arms and hands. I wanted to stick all of it in the freezer to numb it during the nite. That's when it hit. Finally I screamed "uncle" Begged for an MRI, exrays finally saw a Neurosurgeon> Again I am told I have Thorasic Outlet Syndrom on the right (where my radiation was done but no idea why I have it on left...Perfect Storm I was told. Guess what.. Meds.. Gabapentin up to 3600mg. OMG I am not a good pill person. I am only taking 3 now. I have bloat that rises my BP, whirlys and many other things. Still have the symptoms. Now what? I haven't worked in 6 mo because I can't do anything with my upper body without paying for it that nite.I believe that radiation is to blame. What could I do? I feel for all of you so much. Bless us

  - Bev

• February 10, 2012 9:53 a.m.

  Whom does one see for PTSD treatment? What qualifications do you look for in a doctor? My son, the combat Marine and my daughter, the Hodgkin's patient need help in different ways.

  - Diane

• February 10, 2012 12:14 a.m.

  February 9, 2012 9:30 p.m. To - catherine I am a 12 yr survivor who was also on Arimedex and had joint pain too especially in the hips. It felt like my hip was going to pop out of the joint. My treatment felt like 8 yrs on Arimedex until I did yoga too. It also helped with carpel tunnel syn. Now I have what they are now calling pts. I always exercised but it is hard hanging on. No one really knows how you feel unless you been through it.

  - Nancy

• February 9, 2012 11:08 p.m.

  Reading all of the responses I just kept saying to myself yes I have that too !! It seemed every letter I could relate to in some form.Was almost happy when one mentioned spelling!!!! I was very worried, it seemed as though I was "dumbing down" for lack of a better description. stageIV Thymic Carcinoma they tell me is very rare I KNOW it is very aggressive and will recurr so the 3 month check-ups are torture and no one seems to understand why.The constant pain I have does not help!! concentration is non-existant and keep putting important decisions and work off. I had never been a procrastinator beforebut now "I'll do it tomorrow" is my favorite phrase.I feel guilty I am still alive when I was expected to die within months.I had a wonderful surgeon (but horrid aftercare) so I am still here.It seems the longer I am alive the worse it is and teh constant bills add to the maritial strain. I feel like screaming for hours and hours just to releve the pressure inside of me Think I am a bit stressed? LOL WOW that felt good to just type it. i rarely post but have gotten a lot of support just reading what others contribute. Thank You

  - Erin

• February 9, 2012 9:30 p.m.

  An 11-yr breast ca survivor, I used Arimidex for five years with tremendous joint pain, especially knees and hips. Toughed it out with yoga, deep breathing; didn't want to experiment with other drugs. Symptoms stopped a few months after 5-yr course of treatment and I'm happy I hung in there.

  - catherine

• February 9, 2012 8:16 p.m.

  I didn't realize that there was PTSD for cancer survivors!! I went through pure hell for the first 3 months without knowing what was wrong, nor having anyone listen to me! Oh, everyone felt "sorry" for me, but that's not what I needed!! I just needed someone to listen to what I had to say and answer some of m questions without looking at me with this "WHY ARE YOU NEEDING TO ASK THAT?" expression!! All I wanted was for someone to let me talk and for them to listen!! I would go 24-36 hours without sleeping more than 2-3 hours at a time....talk about nightmares!! Its been almost 5 months now and things are better, but its still tough when I talk about some things that happened...like the lack of pain maintanence right after surgery!! It was pure torture, waking up to NO pain meds after having a body organ removed!! I would have liked to have seen the surgeon in that position, feeling that!! I thought torture was illegal!! Yes, I still harbor some major resentment to how I was treated after my surgery!! I have learned what to DEMAND if I have to have another surgery!!

  - Jae

• February 9, 2012 6:17 p.m.

  I have a couple of comments. I kept working all through chemo and radiation for breast cancer, and thought I was fine. Afterwards, I took on new responsibilities at work, only to find 6 months later that I started crying one day and couldn't stop for 5 days. 15 months later, I still have problems sleeping and my concentration is nothing like what it used to be. I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, which went into remission during chemo but is now back with a vengeance. Thanks to Patty's question and the response, I'll check it's my doctor to see if Arimidex is contributing to this. Many thanks for your forums, they are really helpful

  - Pauline