Sprycel and depression?

[Guest guest]

Hi all:

Last week our family was hit hard by the stomach flu. It seemed to be a 24-36 hr

bug, and very unpleasant, coming out both ends (sorry to be graphic). Right when

we thought was pulling out of it, he spiked a 103.5 fever. We didnt want to

risk that he possibly had a bacterial infection, so we went into the E.R.

Ironically, that very morning he had his monthly appt. with his oncologist, and

his CBC was great--all numbers well within normal range (because he was fighting

the flu, some of his numbers were slightly increased, which actually is a good

thing). But, overall his onc is so happy with where currently sits in his

CML journey, and when told her he was getting over the stomach flu, she

said she wasnt too concerned with him developing infections because based on all

his bloodwork, his body was very capable of fighting off infections.

All tests ran in the ER came back fine--all blood was good (GREAT in fact!),

urine was good, his liver was ever so slightly elevated (because of dehydration

most likely), but they didnt chance it and ran an ultrasound on his liver - all

good. So, they admitted him based solely on the fact that he was severly

dehydrated. He remained in the hospital for 2 nights--1 for dehydration, and 1

because the internalist felt he needed to be safe and run tests on the liver

even though most likely it was the dehydration...all came back fine once

was hydrated, so he was released.

ANYWAY--another hiccup along 's CML journey. But it seems like no longer can

JUST have a cold. Even if it is JUST a cold, he worries, and I worry and

his parents worry- " WHAT IF...? " And this probably is somewhat normal

considering everything our family has been through in the last year or so. But,

by nature has never been a worrier. Has never been " sad. " Never been " down "

for more than a few hours here or there, the type of person who can always pull

himself and others up out of a funk. But for the last few months, just

keeps saying he " isnt the old . " We know he will never be the " old " ,

there are many new things now to deal with. We feel like he will work his way

out of this, but sometimes I wonder if it isnt a possible side affect of

Sprycel. For someone who has never ever felt " depressed " , this all is new,

unchartered territory...for him and for me. I think it may also have to do with

the fact that since diagnosis hasnt really ever had a " good run " of more

than maybe a month or so. In fact, right before this flu, he was on about week 4

of hardly ANY side affects at all, starting what he thought to be a GOOD RUN and

he can put all of this behind him and not WORRY anymore. He is now " back on

track " and we look to the future and hope that the coming weeks and months are

leading up to a long stretch of a GOOD RUN!!

His BMB - the second one EVER since diagnosis in July 2006 - is scheduled for

Dec 18th. I hope and pray and really feel like we FINALLY for once, will have

concrete evidence that is CCR. It will be in writing, on paper, and with

that knowledge hopefully will remember that this is a chronic condition

that his medications are treating, and ultimately that God is in control and as

long as we trust in that, we can go about our lives, and really deep down feel

happy inside!

Anyone else dealing with " new " feelings of depression? And if so, can anyone

really say whether it is a side affect, or just part of being a person diagnosed

with cancer?

Thanks for any words of advice,

Cervera (wife of - dx 07/2006. 140 mg Sprycel daily).

_________________________________________________________________

Your smile counts. The more smiles you share, the more we donate.  Join in.

www.windowslive.com/smile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_oprsmilewlhmtagline

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Your story reminds me of when I had the Norwalk virus. I had it a

few years ago and it really wasn't pleasant! I didn't know which end

to put in the toilet....lol. I don't think I was ever so sick in my

life. I couldn't even keep water down. Needless to say, I didn't

get my Gleevec down that day

I'm so glad to hear that is doing so well on Sprycel. I know

you'll all breath a huge sigh of relief when you get that BMB done

with.

I don't know of any particular papers that address the issue of

depression with Sprycel but I do remember back in the early days when

everyone starting taking Gleevec, many were experiencing depression.

Lots of people were convinced that Gleevec caused depression but I've

always maintained that having cancer can cause depression, not

necessarily the Gleevec.

(and you) went through soooooo much since he's been diagnosed

and like you've said, there have been relatively short periods of

time in between when things were going " smoothly " (as smoothly as

they can for someone with cancer).

In the middle of a crisis (like during the time he was treated for

his stroke), you probably all functioned on auto pilot, sort of

removing yourself emotionally from the situation because there was

just so much going on.

You were just getting used to parenthood too which can be

overwhelming in and of itself. I can't even fathom all that you went

through in the first year. A diagnosis of CML can be devastating all

on it's own but you had other huge life altering events going on at

the same time and honestly, I don't know too many people who would

have coped as well as you all have, given the same circumstances. I

really admire you and .

Now that the stroke is behind you, the liver toxicity has been dealt

with and you're more used to being new parents, I think the " auto

pilot " you were running on, is starting to slow down and you're

facing the situation on a more emotional level. Hence these new

feelings of depression. Before, you had so much going on that you

didn't have time to feel depressed.

I don't know anyone who wouldn't feel some depression if they went

through all that you and have gone through. If the depression

gets worse or becomes an ongoing issue, you could ask 's doctor

about an antidepressant.

Take care,

Tracey

>

>

> Hi all:

> Last week our family was hit hard by the stomach flu. It seemed to

be a 24-36 hr bug, and very unpleasant, coming out both ends (sorry

to be graphic). Right when we thought was pulling out of it, he

spiked a 103.5 fever. We didnt want to risk that he possibly had a

bacterial infection, so we went into the E.R. Ironically, that very

morning he had his monthly appt. with his oncologist, and his CBC was

great--all numbers well within normal range (because he was fighting

the flu, some of his numbers were slightly increased, which actually

is a good thing). But, overall his onc is so happy with where

currently sits in his CML journey, and when told her he was

getting over the stomach flu, she said she wasnt too concerned with

him developing infections because based on all his bloodwork, his

body was very capable of fighting off infections.

>

> All tests ran in the ER came back fine--all blood was good (GREAT

in fact!), urine was good, his liver was ever so slightly elevated

(because of dehydration most likely), but they didnt chance it and

ran an ultrasound on his liver - all good. So, they admitted him

based solely on the fact that he was severly dehydrated. He remained

in the hospital for 2 nights--1 for dehydration, and 1 because the

internalist felt he needed to be safe and run tests on the liver even

though most likely it was the dehydration...all came back fine once

was hydrated, so he was released.

>

> ANYWAY--another hiccup along 's CML journey. But it seems like

no longer can JUST have a cold. Even if it is JUST a cold, he

worries, and I worry and his parents worry- " WHAT IF...? " And this

probably is somewhat normal considering everything our family has

been through in the last year or so. But, by nature has never

been a worrier. Has never been " sad. " Never been " down " for more than

a few hours here or there, the type of person who can always pull

himself and others up out of a funk. But for the last few months,

just keeps saying he " isnt the old . " We know he will never

be the " old " , there are many new things now to deal with. We

feel like he will work his way out of this, but sometimes I wonder if

it isnt a possible side affect of Sprycel. For someone who has never

ever felt " depressed " , this all is new, unchartered territory...for

him and for me. I think it may also have to do with the fact that

since diagnosis hasnt really ever had a " good run " of more than

maybe a month or so. In fact, right before this flu, he was on about

week 4 of hardly ANY side affects at all, starting what he thought to

be a GOOD RUN and he can put all of this behind him and not WORRY

anymore. He is now " back on track " and we look to the future and hope

that the coming weeks and months are leading up to a long stretch of

a GOOD RUN!!

>

> His BMB - the second one EVER since diagnosis in July 2006 - is

scheduled for Dec 18th. I hope and pray and really feel like we

FINALLY for once, will have concrete evidence that is CCR. It

will be in writing, on paper, and with that knowledge hopefully

will remember that this is a chronic condition that his medications

are treating, and ultimately that God is in control and as long as we

trust in that, we can go about our lives, and really deep down feel

happy inside!

>

> Anyone else dealing with " new " feelings of depression? And if so,

can anyone really say whether it is a side affect, or just part of

being a person diagnosed with cancer?

>

> Thanks for any words of advice,

> Cervera (wife of - dx 07/2006. 140 mg Sprycel daily).

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Your smile counts. The more smiles you share, the more we donate. 

Join in.

> www.windowslive.com/smile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_oprsmilewlhmtagline

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi! I am on Gleevec and am not familiar with Sprycel, but the feelings

that occur when the body reacts in odd ways is a feeling that can be

rough on moral. I personaly feel I disintegrate and am pretty much ready

to die every week before my period... for instance! i look at myself go

and yes, I could become depressed at times. Overall, here are the

solutions I have explored for me: yoga helps a lot (relaxing, breathing,

meditating, being in a positive energy, and being active depending on

the type of yoga). Physical activity is just great!!!! but i would also

suggest talking to a psychologist. I have seen the onco-psychologist at

the hospital and would see him again if necessary.

all my best,

myriam

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am not on Sprycel, but I definitely got depressed at the time of my initial

diagnosis, and since then as well. I am on a regular antidepressant and it has

really helped me so much---I found myself having more energy and better mood,

less tendency to cry without rhyme or reason, and I just didn't have that deep

down hopeless feeling--like " what is the point anyway--I have a fatal disease. "

I haven't had that feeling in ages now. I do have some occasional bouts of

fatigue, and I, too, can't just have a cold--it seems like things get me more

severely than they used to--I have been hospitalized 3 times in the last two

years--a dog bite to my hand, an infected toe, and a horrible case of C

difficile colitis. It all is really more related to my diabetes and the

tendency to get infections related to that, and the doctors really caused the C

difficile colitis by putting my on a whopping course of antibiotics that killed

off all the good gut flora and left me defenseless against the C difficile

spores. So, I think the depression is pretty common and the illnesses may be as

well. The fact is, though, I am working more than full time and planning my

daughter's wedding in a week, so it is not holding me back one bit! I just had a

doctor's visit and (knock wood) I believe my labs were good (waiting to see if I

have any detectable BCR-ABL), but my doctor believes I have 3 log reduction. I

still have trouble understanding exactly what that means, but I know it is good.

So that is great--tell to hang in there, get on a medication for depression

if he needs to (it's nothing to be ashamed of), and we are rooting for him!

All the best to you both,

Vicki

>

>

> Hi all:

> Last week our family was hit hard by the stomach flu. It seemed to be a 24-36

hr bug, and very unpleasant, coming out both ends (sorry to be graphic). Right

when we thought was pulling out of it, he spiked a 103.5 fever. We didnt

want to risk that he possibly had a bacterial infection, so we went into the

E.R. Ironically, that very morning he had his monthly appt. with his oncologist,

and his CBC was great--all numbers well within normal range (because he was

fighting the flu, some of his numbers were slightly increased, which actually is

a good thing). But, overall his onc is so happy with where currently sits

in his CML journey, and when told her he was getting over the stomach flu,

she said she wasnt too concerned with him developing infections because based on

all his bloodwork, his body was very capable of fighting off infections.

>

> All tests ran in the ER came back fine--all blood was good (GREAT in fact!),

urine was good, his liver was ever so slightly elevated (because of dehydration

most likely), but they didnt chance it and ran an ultrasound on his liver - all

good. So, they admitted him based solely on the fact that he was severly

dehydrated. He remained in the hospital for 2 nights--1 for dehydration, and 1

because the internalist felt he needed to be safe and run tests on the liver

even though most likely it was the dehydration...all came back fine once

was hydrated, so he was released.

>

> ANYWAY--another hiccup along 's CML journey. But it seems like no longer

can JUST have a cold. Even if it is JUST a cold, he worries, and I worry

and his parents worry- " WHAT IF...? " And this probably is somewhat normal

considering everything our family has been through in the last year or so. But,

by nature has never been a worrier. Has never been " sad. " Never been " down "

for more than a few hours here or there, the type of person who can always pull

himself and others up out of a funk. But for the last few months, just

keeps saying he " isnt the old . " We know he will never be the " old " ,

there are many new things now to deal with. We feel like he will work his way

out of this, but sometimes I wonder if it isnt a possible side affect of

Sprycel. For someone who has never ever felt " depressed " , this all is new,

unchartered territory...for him and for me. I think it may also have to do with

the fact that since diagnosis hasnt really ever had a " good run " of more

than maybe a month or so. In fact, right before this flu, he was on about week 4

of hardly ANY side affects at all, starting what he thought to be a GOOD RUN and

he can put all of this behind him and not WORRY anymore. He is now " back on

track " and we look to the future and hope that the coming weeks and months are

leading up to a long stretch of a GOOD RUN!!

>

> His BMB - the second one EVER since diagnosis in July 2006 - is scheduled for

Dec 18th. I hope and pray and really feel like we FINALLY for once, will have

concrete evidence that is CCR. It will be in writing, on paper, and with

that knowledge hopefully will remember that this is a chronic condition

that his medications are treating, and ultimately that God is in control and as

long as we trust in that, we can go about our lives, and really deep down feel

happy inside!

>

> Anyone else dealing with " new " feelings of depression? And if so, can anyone

really say whether it is a side affect, or just part of being a person diagnosed

with cancer?

>

> Thanks for any words of advice,

> Cervera (wife of - dx 07/2006. 140 mg Sprycel daily).

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Your smile counts. The more smiles you share, the more we donate.  Join in.

> www.windowslive.com/smile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_oprsmilewlhmtagline

>

>