Hi, I have written a blog everyday from the start of chemo for my husband and it is now a whole year from the end of chemo and radiotherapy so don't give up, he's stage 4 lung cancer so the prognosis was not good.  A little advice , take it one day at a time and try to enjoy something in that day.   Watching the birds, talking to a friend , a nice cake or pastry as a treat, read a good book, listen to lovely music there is joy in everyday life somewhere.   Post again if you are feeling down and someone will try to help.  Take care, Carol 

I'm sorry for the way you're feeling at the moment Waquarr66. I think some of the thoughts you are having at the moment are understandable and completely natural but if some of these become more prominent over time then it may be worth speaking to someone about this.

Your GP or medical team would be the best port of call but if you find yourself needing to speak to someone over the weekend then do give the Samaritans a call. We have some information on our website about cancer and depression which I hope will be of some help to you at this time but do keep chatting to us here on the forum because as you've found, many members will understand what you're going through.

As Carol has mentioned, try to take things a day at a time if you can as thinking too far ahead can make things seem very difficult and scary.

I'll be sending strength and positive thoughts your way for the start of your second round of chemo on Thursday.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Waquarr,

I'm so sorry you're going through all this.  I just want to ask that you seek help from mental health resources near you, whether it be the Samaritans (they have saved my life more than once) or your GP, a local Recovery College, or whomever it may be.  Please know that this is an illness, not your state of being.  This feeling is temporary and it will pass.  Permanent actions are never a good solution to temporary problems!

Cancer is a strain, so don't be too hard on yourself, how your feeling is to be expected, it can lead people to become depressed.  Unfortunately if you haven't had depression before the cancer then you won't have built up the skills to deal with it, so you'll be dealing with it on top of the cancer and that makes it doubly difficult for you.  Which makes it all the more important for you to seek help.  A year of chemo seems like a lot when you're at the start of it, but it will go by so quickly.

There is little more I can say, but as someone who has suffered from severe depression for over 20 years I totally understand where you are currently at, and I cannot recommend the Samaritans enough, if you find your mind going down a dark road then please phone them, that is what they are there for and they really can help.

Best wishes,

Lorna