Goserelin & Bicalutamide - Mood

Hi B65432, I’m so sorry to hear of your struggles. I’m also sorry that I can’t shed any light on your diagnoses or medication other than my husband had a 28 day course of bicalutamide prior to a monthly hormone injection for prostate cancer.  He has shown , so far, little to no side effects to the hormone therapy - now 6 weeks in.  However I have!  I have been extremely tearful and very ‘down’ , but also very angry, since he received his diagnosis.  This leads me to think I am, in some weird way, working through the well know different stages of grief?  Am I grieving for a lost way of life, lost certainties etc which are now replaced by fears for the future? I then move a step further and wonder if this is what you, too, might be working through?  

I have a friend who was successfully treated for cancer at The Royal Marsden and she has consistently told me how wonderful the care provided there is. It sounds as if you are in good hands!

so, this is not an informed reply but I do hope it helps you feel somewhat supported and less alone in this cancer nightmare. I also wish you all the very best.

Hello there,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.

I’m sorry to hear of your husbands diagnosis and the emotions you are going through. I have certainly been riding that wave of grief.

I don’t live too far from the Marsden and situated, just around the corner, is a Maggie’s centre. I am very lucky to be so close.

I went up to Maggie’s, yesterday, to have a chat with one of their experienced team. I’m going up there again later to chat to one of their staff who is a qualified pharmacist and runs the men’s prostate group. Pretty sure he’ll provide some helpful information re: medications affecting mood.

I’m currently in my 2nd year of a Physiotherapy BSc (mature student). It’s hard enough and causes stress trying to complete assignments anyway. I had my diagnosis in Aug/September so had written off my dream of becoming a physio. I have since returned.

I spent a lot of time on an assignment on Sat/Sunday. That’s when the stress/emotions started.

I think the stress of that and lack of hormone to manage said stress caused me a slight relapse in my negative emotions. I felt the way I did just after my diagnosis. No future, no hope, pointless doing my degree. Not a nice feeling.

No more long study sessions in one go. Shorter sessions from now on.

The care I have received from staff at The Marsden has been amazing. I am incredibly fortunate to be under their care.

I’ve been told ‘Be kind to yourself’ many times since my diagnosis. I hope you too can ‘Be kind to yourself’ as well.

Take care and best wishes to you and your husband.

B

Hi B65432 and welcome to the forum. I had three years of Prostap and also suffered lots of mood swings early on. I found that going out for a walk in the fresh air helped a lot. So, if you're up to it, give that a try. You might also find you get hot flushes and I too Sage Leaf and Evening Primrose Oil capsules which were amazing. They may not work for you but won't do any harm.

Good luck with your treatment.

Hi B, when I was in my late 40s, early 50s I hit a massive depression.  At the time, I was in the library one day and happened to pick uo a leaflet for the Open University. I did a starter course and then another course and then another.... 16 years later I had a BSc 1st class with hons, MSc with distinction and a PhD.  Most of that time I was studying while hitting repeated depressive episodes and taking medication which slowed me down considerably with the studying. But,... the studying also did a lot of good! When you have to concentrate on an assignment, the cares of the world recede somewhat!  The thrill of getting a good mark is wonderful (but the lows of not such a good mark are tough!).  Throughout my 16 years of study I often hit what I called 'brick wall moments' of complete despair. Somehow, I managed to keep going!  The PhD was a real challenge but, looking back, I enjoyed it tremendously. The whole course of study has opened up so many opportunities for me!  Please keep at it - even on those days when the assignments are a challenge and when despair sets in!  My own mantra were some of the last words my father ever said to me. He had been so disappointed when I didn't go to university when I left school! I was not long into my studying when he was dying. His last words to me were, 'Im so proud of what you're doing. You've had it so tough and I'm so proud of you.'  I know he would not have wanted me to fall at the first, second, third.... hurdles and it kept me going.  I hope my little life story can keep you going forward and that you will succeed - both with your studies and getting through this illness  :)