October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is arguably one of the most discussed cancers in the media. There is a large push to get those assigned female at birth to check themselves regularly for lumps or anything that may feel out of the ordinary. Regular breast screenings are incredibly important to your overall health as early detection of cancer is critical for the best outcomes with treatment. However, one thing that is often not discussed is how cancer and mental health can intersect.
Cancer and Mental Health
Receiving a cancer diagnosis of any kind can be absolutely life changing and devastating. This is not only true for the patient themselves but also for their loved ones. Many of the treatments can be difficult on the body and certain cancers carry with them lower chances of survival, especially if caught late.
Some of the most common concerns with cancer and mental health are anxiety and depression, with social isolation as a result of cancer being a risk factor for worsening mental health.
Many cancer patients experience fear, uncertainty, anger, and disbelief after a cancer diagnosis. There can be a sense of “why me” or “did I do something to deserve this?” This can be especially true for cancers such as lung cancer, which are often related to smoking. However, it is important to understand that no one deserves to get cancer and that doctors are still unsure as to why some people develop it while others don’t.
Because of the serious nature of a cancer diagnosis, it can be difficult to talk to others about it. This can help contribute to isolation and loneliness. Sometimes cancer patients avoid talking about it out of fear of making others uncomfortable and sometimes it’s because they themselves don’t want to talk about it. It can be helpful to broach the topic with those closest to you just to get their support, if you’re comfortable with it.
All the feelings someone could have around a cancer diagnosis are perfectly normal. There is nothing inherently wrong with feeling anxious, sad, angry, or any other negative emotion as a result of a diagnosis of this kind. However, when those feelings start to make life more difficult or are getting in the way of quality of life, it’s time to reach out for more support.
When to Reach Out
Some mental health disorders can be difficult to distinguish from symptoms of cancer or side effects from treatment. For example, depression. Sadness from a cancer diagnosis is perfectly normal and those feelings will wax and wane over time. Depression, however, is much more serious and could require treatment for the best outcomes.
- Signs to look out for:
- Fatigue
- Changes in appetite
- Weight loss or gain
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Irritability
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling worthless
- Extreme levels of guilt (out of proportion)
If you feel you may want to harm yourself or are thinking of killing yourself, reach out to your care team ASAP to get help with these feelings. There are many options available for help.
The standard treatments for depression are something we’ve covered in our blog post about major depressive disorder. However, it is important to know that when it comes to cancer and mental health, one needs to consider the specific ways in which depression can impact treatment and quality of life and how cancer can contribute to MDD.
Taking care of mental health is associated with better mental health outcomes, possibly because of the likelihood of adhering to treatment and being open to learning more about the diagnosis and what can be done. Being more proactively involved in your treatment plan can make a difference for long-term outcomes.
How Does Cancer Contribute to Depression?
There are many things about a cancer diagnosis that can impact the likelihood of developing depression. One of the major things is the sense of loneliness and feeling like there’s no one you can open to. It’s incredibly isolating to feel as if you have to hide large parts of yourself from loved ones.
Other factors include:
- Body image (self conscious because of bodily changes)
- Guilt (“Did I do something for this to happen?”)
- Change in daily activities and plans
- Change in energy levels
- Pain
- The fear of dying
- Anxiety and panic due to uncertainty and fear
- Fear of cancer coming back after treatment
- Fear of what will happen to family
- Anxiety over medical costs
- Not being able to work
- The need for others to help care for them (loss of independence)
- Long hospital stays
It is worth mentioning that these things can also contribute to worsening mental health of the loved ones of a cancer patient. If someone in your life has been diagnosed with cancer and you feel as if you may be becoming depressed, reach out to someone for more support.
What Can Help Support Mental Health?
There are many different things someone can do to help support or improve their mental health after a cancer diagnosis. With cancer and mental health support, it’s important that your cancer care team is part of some of these choices. Depending on your health and needs, some options may not be suitable, so get guidance from your care team before making any major changes.
Somethings you can do:
- Support groups
- Therapy
- Medication
- Mindfulness practices like
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Yoga
- Breathing exercises
- Eating balanced, nutritious meals
- Light exercise, if possible (check with your care team)
- Seeking out social support from loved ones
- Pastoral counseling, for those who are spiritual, can be very helpful
- Spending time with pets/animals
- Keeping to your normal routine within reasonable limitations
It can also be helpful to ask the care team where you go for appointments or treatment about what options they have at the facility to help support cancer and mental health together. It could be that there are options you’re not even aware of that are there!
Things to ask about:
- Therapy dogs at the facility you attend for treatment
- Counselors at the facility you attend
- Social workers who can connect you to counselors, especially those who specialize in the mental health needs of cancer patients
Cancer can be a life changing diagnosis, especially if caught in the later stages. However, people are living longer and with higher quality of life even with advanced cancer than they ever have before. While all feelings around cancer are valid, you don’t have to suffer with poor mental health, too. Make sure to seek out help, whether you’re the patient or a loved one. When it comes to cancer and mental health, you have options to take care of yourself and support the best quality of life for yourself.
Resources:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/survivorship/coping/support-service-animals.html
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/emotional-mood-changes.html