Link: estrogen, depression, and ER+ cancer and recurrence?

nickythebean

Appt with MO next week, probably having rash near BMX scar biopsied. This post is for people like me who think too much. Lol. Check out my history and see what you think. I would LOVE comments/thoughts on this.

1991-94: birth control pills = lowered estrogen = depression

2008 and 2010 pregnancies: had to take weekly shots and daily suppositories of progesterone to maintain viability of pregnancies = major debilitating depression

2012 - six months before DX of IDC (ER+) = unexplained debilitating depression and panic attacks = tumor "eating" estrogen and growing? = less estrogen for mental health??

2013: total hysterectomy and start Arimidex = almost hospitalized for debilitating depression and suicidal thoughts = stopped Arimidex and became stable

2015: rash near mastectomy scar appeared late summer, along with sliding into a deep depression = hospitalized December for debilitating depression, suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks = finally called oncologist about rash in early January = oncologist is very worried about a recurrence and scheduled an appt to look at rash and probably do abiopsy.

I JUST put all of this together. I am wondering whether this latest bout of debilitating depression may have something to do with a new or recurrent tumor "eating" up all of my estrogen again. Clearly, a decrease in estrogen = depression for me. It is interesting that my most severe depressions have preceded my original cancer and this possible recurrence.

If there is a better forum thread for this, please let me know.

MelissaDallas

Nicky, I suffered from depression from the time I was 15. I was perimenopausal for years and the hormonal changes were awful. I felt suicidal or homicidal half the time and had severe insomnia.I have not been depressed at all since I had my total hysterectomy. Just magic. That is one of the reasons I am still hesitating on taking an AI. I do not want to mess with my hormones

Leslie13

I also had bout's of depression beginning with puberty, but I remember feeling better on hormones. I had a tubal in my mid-thirties and that's when my depression came back. It was a bouncy ride until I started Hormone Replacement Therapy. I felt great on it.

Beginning Femara has been awful. I'm always achy and have low-grade depression.

But all of us have different balances of hormones to begin with. I don't think my natural estrogen/progesterone balances were right and hormones helped. But I've heard of other women who can't tolerate hormones either.

Please keep us informed about your biopsy. I'm sure you're quite nervous. Seems like Dr's should wait before results are in to declare cancer