Handling Depression and Anxiety in Cancer Patients

Posted by Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology Group on March 24th, 2019

Receiving a cancer diagnosis takes a heavy toll on the patient’s body but it first begins to affect the mind. The stress and anxiety are normal and expected and can be crippling. Sometimes a patient can easily slip into depression. Thoughts of the diagnosis itself, what the treatment will be, how the treatment will affect their quality of life and general anxiety about the unknown.

It is essential for cancer patients to receive the right kind of support regarding stress, depression, and anxiety as this will affect their treatment and their life with the disease. As a result, cancer centers are required to offer screening for psychosocial distress according to a recommendation by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

The following are useful tips on managing depression in cancer patients.

•    Screening at varied time points – Since most of the anxiety comes from thoughts of the disease, patients are likely to be more anxious after diagnosis, when they complete a treatment or when the doctor advises a change in treatment. These are most likely their most vulnerable points and screening would not give a true picture of how they are really doing. Doing screenings at other times too would give a better idea of their emotional and psychological wellbeing.

•    Depression is said to impact a patient’s survival of cancer in various ways. It is possible that patients are not able to adequately participate in treatment for them to benefit fully. It is also a possibility that the patient is not doing the things required for them to stay healthy during treatment such as exercise and eating healthy. It has also been said that depression can also negatively affect the immune system thus making it more difficult for the body to fight cancer.

•    Patients need psychosocial support during this time whether it comes in form of physical support groups or telephone counseling. They need to know someone is willing to listen and they are not walking the journey alone.

Nurses and physicians handling cancer patients need to work closely with mental health professionals. This group is properly trained to handle this aspect of the cancer journey and would offer patients the right care when the need arises.

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Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group, a division of Choice Cancer Care – is an independently owned and operated oncology practice that is completely focused on unique, comprehensive patient care.