Depression

[Guest guest]

What I would really like to know Terry is how you come to get that broken nose?

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

At least your husband knows he has a problem. Many men live in denial

about the impact of depression after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Some resources:

Depression is an illness that affects both men and women. But people

working in mental health services see far fewer men with depression than

women with depression. It seems likely that men suffer from depression

just as often as women, but that they are less likely to ask for help.

Depression is easily treatable and best treated as early as possible.

Men need to know what it is and how to get effective help.

http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/men_4.asp

Depression is a serious medical condition that affects the body, mood,

and thoughts. It affects the way one eats and sleeps. It affects how one

thinks about things, and one's self perception. A depressive disorder is

not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal

weakness or a condition one can will or wish away. People with a

depressive illness cannot merely " pull themselves together " and get

better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or

years. However, appropriate treatment, often involving medication and/or

short term psychotherapy, can help most people who suffer from

depression.

" I can remember it started with a loss of interest in basically

everything that I like doing. I just didn't feel like doing anything. I

just felt like giving up. Sometimes I didn't even want to get out of

bed. "

-Rene Ruballo, Police Officer

Depression can strike anyone regardless of age, ethnic background,

socioeconomic status, or gender; however, large scale research studies

have found that depression is about twice as common in women as in

men.1,2 In the United States, researchers estimate that in any given one

year period, depressive illnesses affect 12 percent of women (more than

12 million women) and nearly 7 percent of men (more than six million

men).3 But important questions remain to be answered about the causes

underlying this gender difference. We still do not know if depression is

truly less common among men, or if men are just less likely than women

to recognize, acknowledge, and seek help for depression.

In focus groups conducted by the National Institute of Mental

Health (NIMH) to assess depression awareness, men described their own

symptoms of depression without realizing that they were depressed.

Notably, many were unaware that " physical " symptoms, such as headaches,

digestive disorders, and chronic pain, can be associated with

depression. In addition, men were concerned that seeing a mental health

professional or going to a mental health clinic would have a negative

impact at work if their employer or colleagues found out. They feared

that being labeled with a diagnosis of mental illness would cost them

the respect of their family and friends, or their standing in the

community.

http://menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/infopage.asp?id=10

Hope you find some help in these resources.

Kathy

Depression

For those that have aggressive PC...how do you deal with depression?

My husband is trying to handle it on his own

[Guest guest]

Ok, my take on this is totally different. If it is "broken" fix it. I am guessing that if you have any kind of cancer and are going through treatments..the depression will always be there. Chemo, radiation, medication, shots whatever. However, if you have a type of cancer where it can be removed from your body and thus remove the "worry" get rid of it. My husband is having his biopsy today, he isn't thrilled about it but he'll get over it. He is in California at our home going by himself and I am at our east coast home. He wants to do this alone, so I he does. He has had two opinions and both doctors have suggested surgery, both doctors have suggested the laproscopic surgery and neither one of them does that type of surgery. Both the east coast doctor and the west coast doctor have referred him to the doctor in FL in the event tht he makes the decision to have the surgery. The decision is

made. Should the biopsy confirm what we most definately suspect he will have the laproscopic surgery. He will "bite the bullet" and move on. My thinking is, the quicker any medical problem is handle the sooner one can get on with life. Dwelling on the cancer, treatment options and "what if's" only make it all worse. Maybe this is a tough approach to everything but it works for me. Sure I cry but I get over it...I know that I am not the first person that has had to deal with this and I will not be the last. If others can resume a normal, healthy life then we can too. I am think on the positive side. Sure, there are negatives, but I do not let them drag me down. Ok, I am now prepared to have my comments torn apart. Kathy, I wish you and your husband the best and hope that you can move forward quickly. Kathy Meade

wrote: Debbie,At least your husband knows he has a problem. Many men live in denialabout the impact of depression after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Some resources:Depression is an illness that affects both men and women. But peopleworking in mental health services see far fewer men with depression thanwomen with depression. It seems likely that men suffer from depressionjust as often as women, but that they are less likely to ask for help.Depression is easily treatable and best treated as early as possible.Men need to know what it is and how to get effective help.http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/men_4.aspDepression is a serious medical condition that affects the body,

mood,and thoughts. It affects the way one eats and sleeps. It affects how onethinks about things, and one's self perception. A depressive disorder isnot the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personalweakness or a condition one can will or wish away. People with adepressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and getbetter. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, oryears. However, appropriate treatment, often involving medication and/orshort term psychotherapy, can help most people who suffer fromdepression."I can remember it started with a loss of interest in basicallyeverything that I like doing. I just didn't feel like doing anything. Ijust felt like giving up. Sometimes I didn't even want to get out ofbed." -Rene Ruballo, Police Officer Depression can strike anyone regardless of age, ethnic

background,socioeconomic status, or gender; however, large scale research studieshave found that depression is about twice as common in women as inmen.1,2 In the United States, researchers estimate that in any given oneyear period, depressive illnesses affect 12 percent of women (more than12 million women) and nearly 7 percent of men (more than six millionmen).3 But important questions remain to be answered about the causesunderlying this gender difference. We still do not know if depression istruly less common among men, or if men are just less likely than womento recognize, acknowledge, and seek help for depression. In focus groups conducted by the National Institute of MentalHealth (NIMH) to assess depression awareness, men described their ownsymptoms of depression without realizing that they were depressed.Notably, many were unaware that "physical" symptoms, such as headaches,digestive

disorders, and chronic pain, can be associated withdepression. In addition, men were concerned that seeing a mental healthprofessional or going to a mental health clinic would have a negativeimpact at work if their employer or colleagues found out. They fearedthat being labeled with a diagnosis of mental illness would cost themthe respect of their family and friends, or their standing in thecommunity.http://menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/infopage.asp?id=10Hope you find some help in these resources.Kathy-----Original Message-----From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of DebbieSent: Friday, April 28, 2006 12:29 AMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: DepressionFor those that have aggressive PC...how do you deal with

depression? My husband is trying to handle it on his own

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

depression is a treatable illness with physiological causes.

Handling a temporary spell of the blues, or feeling " down, " on

your own or with help from family and friends can work, but

seldom works for depression.

Daily exercise is a good anti-blues activity (relieves stress

and boosts endorphins) but some depressed people stop exercising

or get obsessive about it. Once the depression is relieved,

exercise can help again.

The standard proven treatment for depression today in men and

women is psychotherapy i.e. talk therapy (which can be cognitive

therapy) plus antidepressant medication.

Your husband's family doctor/internist can help him find a

qualified psychotherapist. Today, many insurance plans cover

psychotherapy. If you don't have coverage, some psychotherapists

use a sliding fee scale. Qualified people can range from

psychiatrists to well-trained social workers.If the first

therapist isn't compatible, it's perfectly OK to look for

another.

Newer SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

antidepressants like Lexapro have fewer side effects than the

first generation (Prozac). Other classes of antidepressants

which some men do well on are Serotonin and norepinephrine

reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like Effexor and Norepinephrine and

dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), namely Wellbutrin. Most

antidepressants take a few weeks to kick in. The doctor or

internist can prescribe for depression. See:

http://familydoctor.org/012.xml

In men, depressions tends to have a pattern somwehat different

than in women. Men are more likely to " feel " depression as an

increase in irritation or aggression. This article from

Cleveland Clinic might be of help:

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-

info/docs/2200/2286.asp?index=9307

http://tinyurl.com/ebjas

And this from National Institute of Mental Health:

http://menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/infopage.asp?ID=1

http://menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/infopage.asp?id=10

The NIMH article says:

" Depression has been found to occur at a higher rate among

people who have other serious illnesses such as heart disease,

stroke, cancer, HIV, diabetes, and Parkinson’s. Symptoms of

depression are sometimes mistaken for inevitable accompaniments

to these other illnesses. However, research has shown that the

co occurring depression can and should be treated, and that in

many cases treating the depression can also improve the outcome

of the other illness. "

Hope your husband finds relief. He's lucky to have you by his

side.

best

Jacquie

http://psa-rising.com

> For those that have aggressive PC...how do you deal with

> depression? My husband is trying to handle it on his own

[Guest guest]

yes he has pain..Some days more then others..He does take pain med for it but I worry that some day it won't help... Yes, I think you are write..he is scared and trying not to show it..I try not to follow him around and sak how hes feeling... I try to wait and see if he wants to talk..But he gets very emotional when he trys to talk to me about it all and the things we need to talk about for the future..He was given about 3 yrs..

[Guest guest]

We are hoping to prove the doc wrong... He is being treated by a uroligist...He was told(my husband) he has M1..D2 and grade of tumor...7-8..... Is this real bad, compared to you others?

Debbie

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

I have just been tidying up my mailbox and

cannot see that anyone responded specifically to this mail of yours.

The numbers given to you by your urologist

are a little unusual in this day and age as he seems to be using an old scale Whitmore-Jewett

Staging – see http://tinyurl.com/zt3j5

for staging which is not always directly

comparable to modern staging using what is termed the TNM system – see http://www.phoenix5.org/staging.html

That alone would make me most suspicious of just how up to date his

knowledge and thinking is – I can’t recall just when the TNM system

came in, but it was over 10 years ago. He has said that the staging is D2 M1,

which broodaly speaking is that the tumour has metastasized.

The other numbers shown 7-8 also do not

make absolute sense, but refer to the Gleason Score – see http://www.prostatelab.com/grading.htm

.. The scale for this measurement is from 2 to 10, with 10 being the most

aggressive. So on that scale, assuming the Gleason Score is 7 or 8, you husband

does not have the most aggressive form of the disease, although a GS 8 is not

anything to be trifled with. It may be difficult for you in your personal

circumstances to get a review of the grading from another pathologist, but that

is always advisable as the grading of samples is imprecise.

Years ago, before the modern era of

management of advanced cancer, a study was done estimating survival rates of

men with tumours at varying Gleason Scores. The relevant ones for you are these

– note they show the probability of death from PCa within 15 years:

·

Men with tumors that have a Gleason scores of 7 face a 42% to 70% chance

of dying from prostate cancer within 15 years of diagnosis depending on their

age at diagnosis and

·

Men with tumors that have Gleason scores of 8 to 10 face a 60% to

87% chance of dying from prostate cancer within 15 years of diagnosis depending

on their age at diagnosis.

How you interpret this

information may depend on whether you think a glass is half full or half empty.

All the best

Terry Herbert

in Melbourne Australia

Diagnosed ‘96: Age 54: Stage T2b: PSA 7.2: Gleason

3+3=6: No treatment. June '04: TURP. Mar '06 PSA 17.40 fPSA 23%

My site is at www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

It is a tragedy of the world that no one

knows what he doesn’t know, and the less a man knows, the more sure he is

that he knows everything. Joyce Carey

From: ProstateCancerSupport

[mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ]

On Behalf Of Debbie W

Sent: 01 May 2006 09:39 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: RE: Depression

We are

hoping to prove the doc wrong... He is being treated by a uroligist...He was

told(my husband) he has M1..D2 and grade of tumor...7-8..... Is

this real bad, compared to you others?

Debbie

[Guest guest]

Umm, I am not sure if this thread decreases depression by letting us laugh at some of the weirdness we believe, or deepens it by mirroring humankind's range of foolishness.

Now I am back on a catheter with eight more days to go and that IS depressing. I have yet to find any good way to hold up a leg bag. As it fills, it drops. As it drops, it pulls. As it pulls, it hurts. Not the world's best signal to empty the bag. There's got to be a better way!!!

And dare I mention the effect on my love life? I will leave the details to your imaginations.

On the up side I have discovered a number of things I am allergic to, like latex and the adhesive on surgical tape. Ouch! Plus I can drink all the coffee I want without worrying about being in close proximity to a washroom. And no bladder calls disturb my sleep at night.

Somehow the pluses don't add up to the minus. Suggestions welcome.

Peace,

K'sitew

Re: Debbie--Re: Depression

IMMORTALITY

Many scientists believe that the earth was formed about 4.56 billion

years ago. About 4 billion years ago, a bit of protoplasm was

floating around in some brackish water, when suddenly it was

zapped by a bolt of lightning and the very first life was formed.

(Some of you are permitted to think that the bolt of lightning was

actually the hand of God. According to Bishop Usher, that

first life was formed as Adam at 9 A.M. on Oct. 26, 4004. He

did not say whether that was Daylight Saving Time or not.)

At any rate, that first little cell soon grew to such an extent that

it had to split into two cells. Those two then split and soon there

were little cells everywhere. For about 2.8 billion years these

cells reproduced asexually by just splitting into two cells. But

about 1.1 billion years ago, sex was invented. Suddenly millions

of new organisms were developed.

But there was a price to pay for this new found fun. Up until

then, the little single cell organisms were immortal, no natural

death. But after sex was invented, there was mortality. They

lived for a time, then died.

However, there was still a road to immortality provided by sex.

That is half of each offspring derives from you. So the more

offspring one has, the more of your genes are left behind.

The urge to reproduce in humans, animals, plants, bacteria and

every other living thing, is one of the strongest drives known.

Another road to immortality is to be a great writer such as

Shakespeare, or Sir Isaac Newton, or any of the other

geniuses who still live on in their contributions.

We can't all be great writers, philosophers or inventors,

but we can leave contributions. For instance, you can

plant trees, build a nice house, volunteer to give of

yourself to others or thousands of other things for which

you may be remembered.

Of course, the reproduction part is still the most fun.

I wish you all the bestAubrey Pilgrim, DC (Ret.)

[Guest guest]

At least we are still alive to enjoy God wonders everyday."Reverend J. McVay, D.D." wrote: Umm, I am not sure if this thread decreases depression by letting us laugh at some of the weirdness we believe, or deepens it by mirroring humankind's range of foolishness. Now I am back on a catheter with eight more days to go and that IS depressing. I have yet to find any good way to hold up a leg bag. As it fills, it drops. As it drops, it pulls. As it pulls, it

hurts. Not the world's best signal to empty the bag. There's got to be a better way!!! And dare I mention the effect on my love life? I will leave the details to your imaginations. On the up side I have discovered a number of things I am allergic to, like latex and the adhesive on surgical tape. Ouch! Plus I can drink all the coffee I want without worrying about being in close proximity to a washroom. And no bladder calls disturb my sleep at night. Somehow the pluses don't add up to the minus. Suggestions welcome. Peace, K'sitew Re: Debbie--Re: Depression IMMORTALITY Many scientists believe that the earth was formed about 4.56 billion years ago. About 4 billion years ago, a bit of protoplasm was floating around in some brackish water, when suddenly it was zapped by a bolt of lightning and the very first life was formed. (Some of you are permitted to think that the bolt of lightning

was actually the hand of God. According to Bishop Usher, that first life was formed as Adam at 9 A.M. on Oct. 26, 4004. He did not say whether that was Daylight Saving Time or not.) At any rate, that first little cell soon grew to such an extent that it had to split into two cells. Those two then split and soon there were little cells everywhere. For about 2.8 billion years these cells reproduced asexually by just splitting into two cells. But about 1.1 billion years ago, sex was invented. Suddenly millions of new organisms were developed. But there was a price to pay for this new found fun. Up until then, the little single cell organisms were immortal, no natural death. But after sex was invented, there was mortality. They lived for a time, then died. However, there was still a road to immortality provided by sex. That is half of each offspring derives from you. So the more offspring one has, the more of your genes are left behind. The urge to reproduce in humans, animals, plants, bacteria and every other living thing, is one of the strongest drives known. Another road to immortality is to be a great writer such as Shakespeare, or Sir Isaac Newton, or any of the other geniuses who still live on in their contributions. We can't all be great writers, philosophers or inventors, but we can leave contributions. For instance, you can plant trees, build a nice house, volunteer to give of yourself to others or thousands of other things for which you may be remembered. Of course, the reproduction part is still the most fun. I wish you all the bestAubrey Pilgrim, DC (Ret.)

The prostate cancer facts, a forum for survival stats, end of life, and other issues we normally don't discuss. So if your looking for this type of support information stop on by.

Browse Archives at groups.google.com

Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.