Depression and UC

Hi first time posting here. Having a bad day with depression and reading about increased risk of bowel cancer with UC. I was in hospital in October 2015 (diagnosed 2001) discharged on Humira and Salafalk Granules and tapering prednisolone. Depression got particularly bad on the prednisolone taper. I seem to be having a crisis today I live alone and feel quite weak today and it's freezing outside and I just can't snap out of this low mood, I am feeling like I need more social support but it is so hard to ask for it on the spare of the moment. I have read a few posts on here and have never joined a forum about UC before so I thought I'd give it a go and maybe meet some supportive friends. Hello all.

Steroids make many of us depressed and low. In addition, having a disease is scary. I was just watching something last night presented at a conference for continuing medical education for gastroenterologist (yes I am a big nerd who finds these things fascinating)
And basically it was talking about how colorectal cancer is on decline in IBD patients. Because of better therapies that reduce inflamation more effectively. And because we have better surveillance. Often they don't even need to do proctocolectomy with dysplasia because they can just remove the affected area and do effective monitoring.

Some of the data about colorectal cancer is from when there were no biologic therapies.

Don't get yourself worries about the cancer because you have an excellent chance of not developing it.

For the depression I know it stinks I have been there and struggled with it. In fact I still do. But within weeks of getting off steroids it got much better. Hang in there and know you are not alone.

Tell your doc how you have been feeling. Maybe he can recommend a therapist who can help. Illnesses can be isolating sometimes

Pred had the exact opposite effect on me. It cheered me up far more than any antidepressant managed to. Personally I'd have stayed on 40mg pred for the rest of my life if it had been a viable option.

I'm not currently on any steroids and just about more depressed than I have ever been in my entire life. Terminal cancer would actually provide a solution to all of my woes; the only thing I'm scared of is yet more pain and sickness, otherwise I'd happily say to cancer, 'bring it on'.

My flares are preceded by slight depression and it continues until I am in remission. In my case I don't think the depression necessarily is present because I'm depressed that I'm in a flare, but rather something that is symptomatic of my flare. However, once on prednisone that all changes. I, like NCOT, am very uplifted on pred. I don't experience any depression on it at all, but am more euphoric. However, I think that is atypical since I see many here get depressed and moody on it. Matter of fact, i was prescribed Lexapro when first on pred not for the depression, but rather the hyperness I experienced while on pred. The doctors called it anxiety from the pred. I just felt super hyped up.