Most people do not link cancer with depression. despite many studies showing about 90% of cancer sufferers suffering depression.
I draw your attention to some extra reading on the matter
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/depression/Patient/page2
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/anxietyfearanddepression/anxiety-fear-and-depression-toc
In fact it is more worrying when someone has no emotional response to a serious medical condition. Cancer however carries an emotional load in the very word. This i think is due to the fact that 50 years ago, cancer was a death sentence. Luckily today, cancer is mostly manageable and sometimes curable. Early intervention, prevention, community education have worked well and Australia has the best outcomes for management of cancer in the world.
Depression however can be caused by more subtle processes than our cognitive/emotional responses to threat to life and fear of medical treatments. There is a reciprocal problem that stress and depression can lower the immune system, causing cancer.
\http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/stress
http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2009/05/19/us-research-suggests-that-cancer-cells-trigger-depression/
There is also evidence that depression lowers survival rates in cancer.
So the link between cancer and depression is important. Prevention is the best approach. I suggest that information about the risk of depression in cancer be given to all patients with cancer and their families. I also suggest that screening for symptoms of depression and offering early treatment is important. Maybe there is room for cognitive retraining for cancer sufferers although there has been little research in the area. I know clinically that many people benefit from cancer support groups- self help groups where you do not feel alone and people can get on with life and living.
There is also little research into the effects of cancer on family members, especially children. It makes common sense to understand that this is a major problem because these people have little control or decision making. They can often feel guilty for being well and give up their lives to support their family member, worrying all the time over them and there is a breakdown of communication about how people really feel.
Unfortunately i suspect that this area is under-serviced and lacks research and resources because we continue to divide the mind from the body and fail to understand how united they really are.
If you see depression, there is help. Call your doctor.
I draw your attention to some extra reading on the matter
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/depression/Patient/page2
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/anxietyfearanddepression/anxiety-fear-and-depression-toc
In fact it is more worrying when someone has no emotional response to a serious medical condition. Cancer however carries an emotional load in the very word. This i think is due to the fact that 50 years ago, cancer was a death sentence. Luckily today, cancer is mostly manageable and sometimes curable. Early intervention, prevention, community education have worked well and Australia has the best outcomes for management of cancer in the world.
Depression however can be caused by more subtle processes than our cognitive/emotional responses to threat to life and fear of medical treatments. There is a reciprocal problem that stress and depression can lower the immune system, causing cancer.
\http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/stress
http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2009/05/19/us-research-suggests-that-cancer-cells-trigger-depression/
There is also evidence that depression lowers survival rates in cancer.
So the link between cancer and depression is important. Prevention is the best approach. I suggest that information about the risk of depression in cancer be given to all patients with cancer and their families. I also suggest that screening for symptoms of depression and offering early treatment is important. Maybe there is room for cognitive retraining for cancer sufferers although there has been little research in the area. I know clinically that many people benefit from cancer support groups- self help groups where you do not feel alone and people can get on with life and living.
There is also little research into the effects of cancer on family members, especially children. It makes common sense to understand that this is a major problem because these people have little control or decision making. They can often feel guilty for being well and give up their lives to support their family member, worrying all the time over them and there is a breakdown of communication about how people really feel.
Unfortunately i suspect that this area is under-serviced and lacks research and resources because we continue to divide the mind from the body and fail to understand how united they really are.
If you see depression, there is help. Call your doctor.
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