My husband finished chemo for Stage 3 colon cancer about 6 months ago. He’s NED, which is wonderful, but his mood has been so low. He seems withdrawn, irritable, and resistant to talking about it or seeking any support (like therapy or support groups). He just wants to “move on,” but he clearly hasn’t. It’s hard seeing him like this and hard feeling helpless. Any other caregivers experience this? How did you handle it?
From the patient side, there can be a lot of pressure (internal and external) to just be “grateful” and “back to normal” after treatment. Sometimes acknowledging the trauma and the lingering mental stuff feels like admitting weakness. Maybe gently encourage him to talk to his oncologist about it? Sometimes hearing it from a doctor helps. There can also be hormonal changes or lingering physical issues impacting mood.