How To Deal With Cancer Depression

When To Contact Your Care Team

• If you experience symptoms of depression for two weeks or more, contact your care team.
• If you are uncertain about your mood, emotions, or coping, contact your care team to request a further assessment.
• If you would like to talk with someone about self-care techniques to manage distress, ask to speak with your oncology social worker.

If you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself, contact your care team immediately. If you are a family member or support person of an individual who is experiencing thoughts of suicide, contact your care team, or call 911.

How People React To Your Cancer

Dealing with the emotions and beliefs of other people about cancer can also be challenging. For example, those closest to you might worry about losing you. They may be concerned about how the changes in your life might affect them. It can be hard to deal with the fears of others while you are facing your own.

Sometimes people are not sure what to say when they learn you have cancer. Even as they try to offer support, some might say or do things that hurt your feelings or offend you. Some people are uncomfortable thinking about the possibility of cancer in their own lives. Because of their own fears, they may not know the best way to help you with your illness.

People can also pass on incorrect information, false beliefs and myths about cancer. For example, although we donât yet know what causes most types of cancers, people might try to tell you a reason for your cancer. They might give their opinion about the best cure for cancer. Their ideas and beliefs could be different from your own.

If this happens, speak up and let them know that you appreciate their concern. However, feel free to tell them if they aren’t helping you. If the comments of others concern you, talk with someone you trust about what has been said. Discuss any medical advice with your health care team.

Be Open & Build Trust With Your Team

Cohan states, Open communication is key to beginning to deal with a tough diagnosis, treatments, and difficult conversations. It is important to build trust with your treatment team and your family/caregiver support system. Educating yourself on your disease, and what to expect with treatments and how side effects will be managed, can help ease anticipatory anxiety related to treatment.

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# 2 Physical Activity:

Exercising regularly is helpful in treating depression as it releases endorphins which are helpful in stabilizing mood. The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week.

It may be difficult for some cancer patients to do exercise, so these patients should practice gentle stretching and deep breathing to increase blood circulation and boost mental health.

Stress Can Be Caused Both By Daily Responsibilities And Routine Events As Well As By More Unusual Events Such As A Trauma Or Illness In Oneself Or A Close Family Member When People Feel That They Are Unable To Manage Or Control Changes Caused By Cancer Or Normal Life Activities They Are In Distress Distress Has Become Increasingly Recognized As A Factor That Can Reduce The Quality Of Life Of Cancer Patients

Cancer patients often get depressed simply because having cancer can be a depressing experience.

If you are dealing with cancer, there are many reasons that you may feel depressed from time to time, or at least feel in danger of becoming depressed. Cancer confronts us with our mortality and all of the fears and losses associated with it. It can turn your world upside down, disrupting your life and threatening the roles, purposes, and goals that give you meaning and satisfaction. Cancer therapies may have debilitating side effects and in some cases may cause irreparable damage to your body. Cancer affects not only you but also your loved ones, and this causes you additional emotional distress.

Many cancer patients go through episodes of depression. Depression makes your entire experience with cancer more difficult, weakens your resilience, and may hamper your overall adjustment. It also can undermine your will to live and compromise the courage, fortitude, and determination that you need to face cancer and to endure the necessary medical treatments.

Depression is the exact opposite of what you need: energy and stamina, a vision of a brighter future, hope that inspires and sustains you, and the motivation and commitment to travel through the arduous road of cancer therapy. Depression is therefore a serious threat for anyone dealing with cancer. Fortunately, you can protect yourself from depression, and if it does occur, there are effective remedies for it.

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Treatment And Management Of Depression And Anxiety Among People With Cancer

To effectively manage and treat depression and anxiety among people with cancer, symptoms must first be identified. However, several social and clinical barriers have been reported. A key issue is the lack of physician time for assessing symptoms. There can also be a normalisation of distress and attribution of the somatic symptoms of depression and anxiety to the cancer. Patients may not disclose psychiatric symptoms because of the stigma surrounding mental health conditions . Screening for depression and anxiety among patients with cancer is also only of value if it leads to effective treatment and support that is able to improve patient outcomes. Patients may be more reluctant to discuss their mental health needs if they perceive a lack of effective treatment options.

Final Thoughts On Dealing With Cancer & Depression

What you are feeling as a cancer patient is unique to you, but remember that you are not alone. Patients that are diagnosed with cancer displaying symptoms of depression need to receive counseling after being diagnosed, during their treatment, and after treatment is over.11 Depression may develop at any of these stages.

Reaching out to a mental health professional or taking advantage of any of the many allied health programs and services available can help you feel more hopeful in terms of dealing with your illness and in other areas of your life. It is a great first step towards helping you to feel better.

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How You Can Help

We are incredibly grateful for the generous donors who help us provide all of our services completely free of charge to cancer patients and their loved ones. Because we do not receive any federal or state funding and are not supported by any large cancer organizations, we rely exclusively on the generosity of individuals, corporate sponsors and foundations to fund our programs. Your donation will directly support the community we serve.

$10,000Sponsors a new weekly group for an entire year, such as the Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer group

$5,000Can help 60 kids annually via sponsorship of the Kids Community, a twice monthly group that helps children cope with a loved ones cancer diagnosis

$2,500For one whole year, this donation assists 150 cancer patients by sponsoring their monthly cancer-specific networking group, such as Lung Cancer and Sarcoma

$1,000Can help 50 cancer patients annually by sponsoring their weekly exercise and nutrition classes offered here for an entire year

$500Helps fund a weekly support group for cancer patients and/or their families

$250Will pay for one month of weekly educational workshops facilitated by a physician or cancer expert

$100

Anxiety And Distress Can Affect The Quality Of Life Of Patients With Cancer And Their Families

Patients living with cancer feel many different emotions, including anxiety and distress.

• Anxiety is unease, fear, and dread caused by stress.
• Distress is emotional, mental, social, or spiritual suffering. Patients who are distressed may have a range of feelings, from sadness and a loss of control to depression, anxiety, panic, and isolation.

Patients may have anxiety and distress when:

• Being screened for cancer.
• Being treated for cancer.
• Worrying that cancer will recur .

Anxiety and distress may cause problems such as nausea and vomiting before each treatment, having more pain than usual, and sleeplessness. Patients may decide to delay cancer treatment or miss check-ups when they feel anxiety and distress.

Even mild anxiety can affect the quality of life for cancer patients and their families and may need to be treated.

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Reducing And Preventing Symptoms Of Depression

To measure the effects of CALM on symptoms of depression, Dr. Rodins team enrolled 305 patients recently diagnosed with advanced or metastatic cancer and an expected survival of 1218 months. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either usual care or usual care plus CALM . Usual care may include specialized psychosocial oncology services, but a previous study by Dr. Rodins team showed that less than 10% of patients with advanced cancer received any form of structured psychotherapy at the cancer center where the trial took place.

Participants in CALM were still being actively treated for their cancer, and most therapy sessions took place in outpatient clinics.

The team used a standard nine-item questionnaire, known as PHQ-9, to measure symptoms of depression when patients first entered the study and at 3 and 6 months. A PHQ-9 score of 59 points out of a 27-point maximum is considered mild depression and a score of 1014 is considered moderate depression.

The researchers also assessed other outcomes not central to the trial, including distress about death, via standard questionnaires that participants completed at the time they entered the study, and again at 3 and 6 months after study entry.

These analyses also suggested that not only does CALM reduce depression in some patients, it may also prevent the onset of depression in participants who were not depressed at baseline, Dr. Rodin said.

Anxiety Disorders Affect The Patients Quality Of Life

The diagnosis is based on how symptoms of anxiety affect the patient’s quality of life, what kinds of symptoms began since the cancer diagnosis or treatment, when the symptoms occur, and how long they last.

Anxiety disorders cause serious symptoms that affect day-to-day life, including the following:

• Feeling worried all the time.
• Not being able to learn new information.
• Not being able to “turn off thoughts” most of the time.
• Trouble sleeping most nights.
• Feeling afraid most of the time.
• Having symptoms such as fast heartbeat, dry mouth, shaky hands, restlessness, or feeling on edge.
• Anxiety that is not relieved by the usual ways, such as distraction by staying busy.

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Do I Need Help Ask Yourself:

• Has my mood been down on most days lately?
• Do I get angry easily?
• Do I find it hard to enjoy things as much these days?
• Do I feel sluggish?
• Do I feel hopeless about the future?

What The Patient Can Do

• Talk about feelings and fears that you or family members have. Its OK to feel sad, angry, and frustrated, but dont take it out on those close to you. It’s important to listen carefully to each other, decide together what you can do to support each other, and encourage, but do not force, one another to talk.
• Seek help through support groups and counseling.
• Use mindfulness, prayer, meditation, or other types of spiritual support.
• Try deep breathing and relaxation exercises several times a day.
• Consider working with a professional counselor to deal with the changes in your life.
• Ask about treatments for depression.

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Feelings Of Physical Emotional Social Or Spiritual Distress Can Make It Hard To Cope With Cancer Treatment

Almost all patients living with cancer have feelings of distress. Feelings of distress range from sadness and fears to more serious problems such as depression, anxiety, panic, feeling uncertain about spiritual beliefs, or feeling alone or separate from friends and family.

Patients who are in distress during any phase of cancer need treatment and support. Patients are more likely to need to be checked and treated for distress during the following periods:

• At the start of treatment.
• At the end of treatment.
• During remission.
• If the cancer comes back.
• If the goal of treatment changes from curing or controlling cancer to palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

What You Can Do To Protect Yourself

There are four important ways to protect yourself from depression when you are dealing with cancer:

• Try to become aware of your emotions, and then acknowledge and express these emotions with someone you feel close to. Depression often results from the suppression of painful and upsetting emotions. Research has shown that cancer patients who openly express their feelings and obtain support from others are much less likely to become depressed.
• Maintain close connections and frequent contact with your loved ones and reach out for their support. Studies have demonstrated that interpersonal support is a strong buffer against feelings of isolation and depression.
• Become an active participant in fostering your physical and emotional well-being. Discuss the treatment options with your doctors so that you are informed and can fully embrace the treatment plan, and consider supplemental approaches as well . Your active involvement in your recovery will help to counter the feelings of helplessness and passivity that often characterize depression.
• Try to obtain as much exercise as possible. The physiological and mental benefits of exercise help to offset the depressing effect of a serious illness. One reason for this is that exercise increases the brain levels of endorphins, which are natural mood elevators

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Patients With Cancer Have Different Levels Of Distress

Some patients with cancer have a low level of distress, and others have higher levels of distress. The level of distress ranges from being able to adjust to living with cancer to having a serious mental health problem, such as major depression.

This summary describes the less severe levels of distress in adults with cancer, including the following:

S To Overcoming Depression

The depression that stems from cancer and its treatments can make you feel that you cant go on and that its not worth the effort. However, there are effective ways of combating and overcoming this depression:

• Do not blame yourself for being depressed.
• Identify what you are depressed about.
• Confide in someone you feel close to.
• Express your emotions.
• Become an active participant in recovery efforts .
• Do things that enhance self-esteem.
• Exercise as much as possible.
• Talk with your minister or rabbi.
• Deepen your faith or spirituality .
• Obtain help from a therapist.
• Explore antidepressant medication.

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When To Get Help For Depression

You may feel a lot of different emotions throughout your cancer care. Your healthcare team is here to support you. Its important to know when to get help.

If you have any of the following, tell your doctor, nurse, or social worker right away:

• Thoughts about death or suicide
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy doing
• Emotions that get in the way of your daily activities
• Feeling very restless
• Any other symptoms of depression that last for 2 weeks or longer

No matter how youre feeling, were here to support you and we have resources that can help. Depression is something that can be treated. If you ever find yourself thinking about suicide, get help as soon as you can. You can call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. You can also visit their website www.988lifeline.org to chat with a counselor online. You can contact the Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Each Patient Will Cope In Different Ways

The way patients cope is usually linked to their personality traits .

Patients find it easier to adjust if they can carry on with their usual routines and work, keep doing activities that matter to them, and cope with the stress in their lives. Patients who adjust well to coping with cancer continue to find meaning and importance in their lives. Patients who do not adjust well may withdraw from relationships or situations and feel hopeless.

Patients who are having trouble coping with cancer may find it helpful to talk with a professional about their concerns and worries. These specialists may include the following:

• Religious counselors.

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Look At What You Can Control

Some people say that putting their lives in order helps. Being involved in your health care, keeping your appointments, and making changes in your lifestyle are among the things you can control. Even setting a daily schedule can give you a sense of control. And while no one can control every thought, some say that they try not to dwell on the fearful ones, but instead do what they can to enjoy the positive parts of life.

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Adjustment Disorders May Cause Serious Problems In Daily Life

An adjustment disorder occurs when the patient’s reaction to a stressful event:

• Is more severe than the expected amount of distress.
• Affects relationships or causes problems at home or work.
• Includes symptoms of depression and anxiety or other emotional, social, or behavioral problems.

Stressful events for cancer patients include diagnosis, treatment, cancer recurrence, and when side effects occur. Patients who have trouble coping with these events may develop an adjustment order. An adjustment disorder usually begins within 3 months of a stressful event.

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