Depression and Herceptin? Treatments?

[Susan M(PA)]

Hi Sue,
Thanks for replying to my question about the Lexapro.
I'm also just starting to see some better days from it,
and it's been 5 mg daily since 7/6/07, so I'm just at two weeks.
I had Herceptin yesterday and expected to feel worse
today, but not too bad. I notice I have less of the
negative intrusive thoughts and more focus. Maybe
fewer night sweats, and better sleep.
I tried the 10 mg, but felt a little agitated, may split
the 10 if I need to later.

Glad you beat the Lyme! I still do a little Lyme support work
so if you ever have a question, be glad to help.
I've co-directed a Lyme support groups for several years,
and also participated in awareness, education, and activism.
So strange to be so connected in one health area, and a
fish out of water in another. Two totally different
worlds of medicine, without any connection.
Doesn't help the mental state!
Please keep in touch!

Susan

[R.B.]

Depression and herceptin.

HI everybody. This is a very useful thread as it is highlighting what might be another side effect of Herceptin. I am sorry for what you are going through. I have been reading about omega three and six for almost two years now. It is obviously important to have a reasonable varied diet too etc see "Greek Diet" post.

Long chain omega threes (EPA DHA) and depression.

Herceptin by one of its mechanisms works in the fats pathways. I have asked does herceptin block the ability to make long chain fats. I dont know and searches about a year ago did not produce any answers.

Your brain is more than 60% made of fat. The cell walls are made of fat. Fat is the primary building material of the brain. Substandard or wrong building materials = less effective brain. At the most basic level it is that simple.

Your brain needs DHA to function properly. There are a number of trials linking lack of DHA to various forms of diminished neurological function including depression, bi polar disorder etc.

Omega threes reduce the BC risk profile - so inversly BC is assocaited with low omega three as is depression.

There is lots on the NCBI site and you will find quite a few posts on this site using the search above.

Smart Fats M Schmidt, or his newer book are almost compulsory reading. You can find them on Amazon, bookfinder, etc. This is the UK link. S/H is cheaper if an issue.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Buildi...796776&sr=1-27

Finally (and the "shout" is deliberate)

OMEGA THREES CAN ONLY BE GOT FROM DIET.

IF YOU DONT EAT IT YOU AINT GOT IT.

IF YOUR CONVERSION PATHWAYS FOR LONG CHAIN FATS ARE BLOCKED THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN GET THEM IS FOOD. (prime source oily fish of fish oil or veggy supplements. 2 grams a day of DHA is reported in a trial in women as the level at which uptake of DHA drops off.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT LONG CHAIN FATS PARTICULARLY OMEGA THREES YOUR BODY CANNOT WORK PROPERLY. IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

Please talk to your doctor about dietary change. Fish oil thins blood and may have side effects for a very few.

RB

[MarieJZ]

dear rentrac thanks so much for your contribution, i especially like your "battlefield " take on depression. if anybody got hold of the PDR or the manufacturer's package insert for herceptin, she may have noticed under adverse effects "mania" which is a psychiatric "mood" disorder. granted those with a predisposition would be the most vulnerable, and that we all here are on the battlefield, it's not too supprising that depression is an issue. this support group is kitchen table to so many,as well as a resource.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hi Susan!
I hope you find a good solution for your depression. I do know that the herceptin can make us feel depressed, but I had a goofy experience with antidepresants years ago and just would prefer to "walk it off". My dogs take me for at least one long walk a day! When needed, two or even three! Not sure why the walking works better for me but it does! My little mother in-law has taught me to walk in Walmart when bad weather prevents other walking. I have gone several times at 5:30 in the morning when I waked and just knew I needed some "mood therapy"! But, I do know that we are all so different. I hope you find just the right thing very soon.

[MAB1943]

hello I am on herceptin I started it w/taxol and now have been on it solely since June my question is does anyone out there on herceptin have neurapathy of the feet. My feel really hurt like I have blisters on the ball of both feet. I don't see anything but after walking any length of time my feel burn and feel like they are swollen but they aren't. I can not bend my toes when this happens. I also have clogged ears and runny nose. Constantly. I had a mast in Nov 06 and started chemo Dec 06. My cancer was invasive and I also had dcis and pagets nipple invasive. No lymph involvement. Her2 positive 3+.
thank you
Mary

[rentrac]

Dear Mab,
what you are describing sounds like peripheral neuropathy. It's a common side effect of several chemos. It can show up in the form of pain, needles&pins, tingling or even numbness, and it comes and goes. I developed some in my fingers toes from different chemos (I don't even quite remember all of them, there have been too many! Definitely take it easy on the parts that are affected, and if it is affecting your feet, make sure you check them carefully every day. It's a common problem for diabetics as well, and I saw too many cases of folks who developed horrendous injuries and infections in their feet because they couldn't feel!

Unlike many diabetics, though, many, many folks who have neuropathy thanks to drugs like chemo usually recover full sensory nerve function once the offending drug has been stopped and the nerves have time to heal.

But take heart, there is a new drug on the market called Lyrica. I tried it and it helped me a lot while I was on Herceptin. In fact, I'm developing neuropathy again thanks to Tykerb and Xeloda, so I'm planning to ask my onc about starting it again. (I may be an MD, but I'd be an idiot of a doctor if I tried to treat myself! Besides, my specialty is child psychiatry, though cancer is getting close thanks to this home study school of medicine I found myself in.) Hope that helps.

With warm wishes but not burning feet,
Rentrac

[weezie1053]

Mary, although I have been a member since last fall, I only recently started reading the posts and threads in the past couple of months. There have been numerous comments regarding neuropathy which is quite common following Taxol. I had horrific neuropathy at the end of my 16-week Taxol cycle (completed in Feb 07). Both my hands and my feet throbbed. My Oncologist prescribed Neurontin after I read about it on this website. It did, however, make me drowsy. I later switched to Lyrica which really relieved the pain. I had a very rare side affect to Lyrica which was itching in the mid-stomach area. Don't know of anybody else with this side affect, but I, of course, got it. The itching finally stopped when I quit taking the Lyrica. I would recommend it vs. Neurontin. Do not be hard on yourself about your ankles feeling like they are swollen. This too is a side affect of these drugs. I only recently could walk down the stairs normally without placing two feet on a step. I didn't see the veins in my feet for months due to puffiness. Other than a little numbness in my toes, my neuropathy is finally waning. It took 6-7 months, however, before I felt like I could walk normally. Today, I walked three miles with my grandson with no lingering tiredness or pain, so the light is at the end of the tunnel.

The sun will soon shine on you as well.

Hang in there!

Louise

[MAB1943]

thank you Louise just hate to take another drug. Feel like my body won't handle it.
My goal is to be able to walk every day without fail. Between my feet and knees, I am going to be a while to see this goal, but I will I am sure of that!
Mary

[MAB1943]

Thank You For Your Response. It Helps To Know There Are Others And Hope That The Neuropathy May Disappear. And There Is A Drug To Help Too!
Mary