I’ve been on SSRI’s for a decade, the last 4 of which I have been Lexapro/escritalopram and then Celexa/citalopram. Long story short they did more harm than good and so several months ago I took myself off them and went cold turkey and I’m feeling so much better!
What’s worrying me most however is the link between ceratin SSRI’s - specifically lexapro and celexa - and cancer (which I only found out about today completely by accident), especially cancer of the breast. Breast cancer runs in my family and as I’ve been on these drugs for such a long time I’m worried about the consequences. For the record I do not have any symptoms of breast cancer, but over the last year or so I’ve been get pains in my left breast.
Could anyone give me any advice (other than go see a doctor) or enlighten me somewhat? I WOULD go to my doctor but I have asked for mammograms before (just to check, not because I was concerned) but was refused due to being under the age of 40. I’m still under 40 now and classified as too young, and in the absence of any symptoms my argument holds no weight.
I hope no-one thinks I’m wasting my or their time by coming here, considering that I don’t even have any symptoms of breast cancer (yet). Hope I’ve not put anyone’s backs up!
I think (but please do check as i’m not a dr) that the reason mammograms are not used on under 40s is that the breast tissue is too dense for it to give an accurate result and there are a lot of false positive results. I don’t know what happens for younger women who are in an early screening programme. maybe ultra sound is used.
If you had a mammogram and the result was OK would this make you feel better or would you start thinking that maybe there was a tumour but it was so tiny the mammogram didn’t pick it up? This is the attitiude my oncologist took when I asked if i would have a CT scan after my chemo etc had finished. Who is managing your SSRis? If you are seeing someone other than your GP maybe you could talk to them? I was concerned as I also take an SSRi and I ahd read that it can make tamoxifen less effective. I raised this with the oncologist and the 1st time was dismissed with don’t believe everything you read on the internet. My BC nurse emailed them as the info I had was from the cancer research site. The junior oncologist still didn’t know any more but I’ve now been switched to another cancer drug.
Do remember that are many many things that we eat/drink/do that have at one time or another been implicated with cancer, dementia and other serious illnesses. If you need to take SSRis (which I do as well as I can’t risk having a depressive breakdown) you have to weigh this up with any anxiety this will cause you about side effects. I feel at the moment that I can’t undo things I have done in the past but I can try to eat sensibly, exercise enjoyably and do things that help my soul stay happy.
Give yourself a hug. Think of something you can do today that you will enjoy.
Take care
littlemrs, thanks for your kind reply I have quite taking the SSRI’s now as they have done considerable damage to my health. They were prescribed by various GP’s. I’ve heard about the mammogram producing false results, so I’ll have to press my current GP for all the available tests. He’ll probably refuse and tell me that I’m crazy though.
hi mindless
im the same as rach above and have been on ssris for many years. this is quite worrying to read there could be a link between them and breast cancer.
maria
I have quite taking the SSRI’s now as they have done considerable damage to my health. They were prescribed by various GP’s. I’ve heard about the mammogram producing false results, so I’ll have to press my current GP for all the available tests. He’ll probably refuse and tell me that I’m crazy though.