Does anyone have both bipolar disorder and breast cancer??

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kdavis1163
kdavis1163 Member Posts: 24
edited May 2017 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

I was recently dx with LCIS/DCIS in right breast, and underwent lumpectomy last week.  Now my choices for treatment are either radiation and Tamoxifen for 5 years, OR mastectomy of right breast and Tamoxifen for 5 years. 

I have had bipolar since 2003, and am on disability due to that.  My bipolar is primarily controlled right now with Lithium, and a small dose of Prozac.  I know that you can't take prozac with Tamox.  Lots of women seem to take Effexor instead, but my psychiatrist told me today that Effexor is extremely hard to get off of, i.e. there is a hellish withdrawal to go through, even if you are on a lower dose.  Just last year, I went through a hellish withdrawal from benzodiazepines given to me by previous psychiatrists.  I didn't realize I was an addict; I just took them as prescribed.  But when coming off them, it was positively the worst thing I have ever dealt with in my life. I thought I would die; didn't see how I could live through it.  I'm still not completely back to normal from it.  I have constant muscle spasms in my arms that started during withdrawal and are continuing.  So I have to take muscle relaxers for that.  I have really bad insomnia that started during withdrawal so I have to take Ambien to get any sleep at all.

Thus, taking Tamoxifen for 5 years doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy.  I know that it causes the hot flashes and night sweats.  As I am now, I totally freak out if I get too hot -- it causes me to panic.  So I can't imagine signing up to take something for 5 years that is going to cause that.

I have also read many posts on here where women are talking about the Tamox causing them terrible mood swings and anxiety.  I already deal with that! I certainly don't want it to get any worse.

So if anyone on here has bipolar, I would love to know how that affected your choice for BC treatment. Thanks.

Karen 

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited September 2009

    Hi Karen-In the last year and a half I have been dx'd w/ bi-polar-NOS (I guess the lighter of the two bi-polars), major depression, and now a mood disorder. I was hard to dx because I never had the intense manic side; just intense irritability.

    I had a lumpectomy, radiation, & now tamoxifen for 5 years. I've been on the tamoxifen for over a year and it does make me feel more anxious & down. I had to increase my clonazapem a little due to the anxiety.  (I'm still on a really low dose) And my psych has changed my anti-depressant from celexa to zoloft. (the zoloft is stronger) I'm working w/my psych to stay on the tamoxifen because I did not do the chemotherapy.

    I'm also on eskalith for my mood disorder. I hope this helps. Take care.Undecided

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  • kdavis1163
    kdavis1163 Member Posts: 24
    edited July 2011

    Please, please, please watch out for that clonazepam.  That is what my docs got me addicted to.  I was only taking 3 mg a day, and my withdrawal took from January to August 2008.  Believe me, I understand the need for it; anxiety is a horrible thing.  I can't tell you how many times during this cancer crap I have said "I wish to hell I had a xanax or something!"   I too have the lesser bipolar, bipolar II.  I also don't have the true manic phases, but I have hypomania occasionally.  For me, that mostly means really bad decision making!! Doing really stupid things.  Mine is mostly depression dominant.  And I can't tell you how much this cancer diagnosis has added to my depression.  I am at a very low point right now. Perhaps once I made a decision on my treatment for BC I can start getting it together again. But right now, I just feel lost. 

    K 

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited September 2009

    Hi, I'm adding another pill to my regime tonight. It's called Lamictal. My psych says I'm still experiencing alot of irritability and depression. I'll let you know how it goes. Take care.

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited September 2009

    I was dx with bp in 1993, and have been on a ton of different meds over the years.  I have made many "rash" decisions in the past, and I almost did that with my bc dx.  Well, maybe I did make a rash decision.  Anyway, as far as surgery goes, I was terrified at first and jumped at the idea of a mastectomy.  After a few weeks of reading, research and thought, I finally realized that lumpectomy with chemo and rads was the way to go for me.  So what was the rash decision? I dumped all of my meds about two weeks after my dx.  I don't want any more chemicals in my body than necessary - I don't know how smart that was, but it calmed me down some.  

    As far as ADs go - I can't tell you much about that, as my pdoc took me off any/all AD's several years ago because they always threw me into a manic phase.  I was on Lamictal before all of this, and had good results from it.

    Good luck to you!  

    Peace,

    shelby 

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  • mj50withca
    mj50withca Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2009

    I have only been diagnosed as bipolarsince Spring 2008- I am on meds that work for me right now.  I am sorry that you have had trouble with your meds- I had that prob in the beginning and it was no fun.  My mood is stable now and my hubby, me, and my psych. are watching me as I go thru this.  Right now I take seroquel and lamictyl.  I stressed with my oncologist, surgeon, etc. that I needed to take my meds to stay stable.  I have been told that missing the lamictyl only one day can cause dangerous side effects- my husband will help me insist that I get my meds!  They are saying it not a prob. but we are only at the first stage of the process.  I was diagnosed last week and my lumpectomy is on 10/14.  I guess I am a little long winded.  Please let me know how you are doing and good luck with your meds.

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  • mj50withca
    mj50withca Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2009

    Thanks for your info.  I have been stable for a year and my first thought after hearing I had BC was how it would effect my bipolar.  I am worried I will go either way- do not want to be in a psych unit ever again!  Did you have to change or adjust your meds?

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  • kdavis1163
    kdavis1163 Member Posts: 24
    edited July 2011

    I am having a right breast mastectomy next Tuesday (13th).  Then my oncologist wants me to take time to heal, mentally and physically, before she starts me on Tamoxifen.  She is also having me go do a blood test to see how I metabolize Tamox.  She is worried I might be a weird metabolizer because I always seem to have problems with prescription drugs, so I might not even be able to take it.  But if I can, she is going to start me out on a really low dose, 10mg, 3 days a week, to see how I tolerate it.  I will have to come off the Prozac I take before I can start Tamox.  I am going to work with my psychiatrist to get me started on another antidepressant before I start the Tamox.  

    I have definitely had a LOT more depression since my cancer diagnosis.  And I suspect that will only get worse after the mastectomy. I am truly worried about how I will emotionally deal with it. I too, never want to end up in a psych unit again!! It's a scary, scary place.  

    Good luck to you!! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    I have been on Effexor a number of years. Originally it was used to treat depression and PTSD.  I slowely weaned down to 37 1/2 mgs and have continued with that. I've heard it's good for treating hot flashes, and my onc told me to up it to 75 because I will be starting Arimidex.

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  • pshurtz
    pshurtz Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2009

    what amazing bad luck--not only do i have bp2 but i got bi-lateral breast cancer...no more b diseases--but i digress...i flipped out when the tamofixen i was taking levelled my mood...thats all im taking now--eliminated the lamictal and ssri...oncologist didnt get it...but google it and you find that my experience is supported by the literature...

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  • BipolarIDC
    BipolarIDC Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2017

    whilst some literature seem to support tamoxifen is effective for bipolar mania, I've had manic episodes while on it although recounting my past manic phases not everything is clear.

    I want to say though that going through breast cancer and being exposed to slight stresses my manic episode occurrences have increased to about once a year. Up to a certain point I didnt think I was truly bipolar ( hence being off meds the times I was starting to be manic ) but now I have accepted the diagnosis.


    Still working some kinks out of the meds ( such as omitting seroquel since too strong of a sleep inducer ) and sticking with risperidol, amisulpride etc which seems to have anti depressant effects.


    I believe tamoxifen contributes to depression ( may explain why I have begun having severe depressive symptoms on the first year of tamoxifen)

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