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Could My Throat Tightness And Anxiety After Breast Cancer Treatment Be Stress-related, And Is Taking An Antidepressant Advisable?
Hi, I was recently diagnosed with Stage 1A breast cancer. I was very fortunate as it was caught early and only required a lumpectomy, radiation and taking Letrozole - my prognosis is excellent. I found this out one month prior to retirement, which caused me an extreme amount of emotional stress. However, the stress of these past couple months has left me feeling anxious, resulting in extreme tightness in my neck and shoulders and how I'm experiencing a tightness in the front of my throat which has me worried sick. My PCP checked me out and said there were no swollen glands and that I had a lot of postnasal drip. She wants to prescribe an anti-depressant. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
posted on
Sun, 21 Oct 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 15 Nov 2025
Answered on
Mon, 1 Dec 2025
Last reviewed on
Hello,
It is very good that it was in the first stage, and it is very good that we finished the treatment. We have gone through all the difficult stages. What is coming is a very easy stage, which is hormonal treatment.
Your treatment makes you feel some symptoms like premenopausal as hot flushes, chest tightness and vaginal dryness and some stress so no problem to use antidepressant like SSRI or SNRI. It will give you stable feeling I also advice you to join group therapy as it may be helpful.
I wish you good health and full recovery. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Shimaa Abdelatti Osman, Oncologist
It is very good that it was in the first stage, and it is very good that we finished the treatment. We have gone through all the difficult stages. What is coming is a very easy stage, which is hormonal treatment.
Your treatment makes you feel some symptoms like premenopausal as hot flushes, chest tightness and vaginal dryness and some stress so no problem to use antidepressant like SSRI or SNRI. It will give you stable feeling I also advice you to join group therapy as it may be helpful.
I wish you good health and full recovery. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Shimaa Abdelatti Osman, Oncologist
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