What Causes Abnormal Behaviour In A Breast Cancer Patient?

Posted on Mon, 16 Feb 2015

Question: My brother is 45 and was diagnosed in September with stage 4 breast cancer. The outlook is very bad and they put him on Tamoxifen, one pill a day as well as monthly shots of some drug to strengthen his bones. In the last week or so his wife has reported he is acting out of character wanting strange sexual things, hitting her hard enough that she thinks her arm is broke, not paying the mortgage payment last month, taking $10000 of her money and spending it on unknown things, saying he had an affair. Is this side effect of tamoxifen or possibly a nervous breakdown or symptoms of the cancer?

Answered by Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Symptoms are related to possible nervous brekdown.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I understand your query and concern.

The symptoms currently shown by your brother are probably related to psychiatric implications to recently diagnosed Breast cancer stage 4.

This could be a possible nervous breakdown referred to as Adjustment disorder admixed with delusional psychosis/intense stress reaction to his recently diagnosed cancer state..

Such thought disturbances are common in patients with diagnosed terminally staged cancers.

There is also an element.although a small of these issues being complications arising out of breast cancer itself,known as Paraneoplastic symptoms.

Tamoxifen is not associated with such symptoms/side effects.

I advise you to consult a Psychiatrist in person.

Post your further queries,if any.

Thank you.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T