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Undiagnosed depression in cancer patients is one of the biggest gaps in treatment
Mental health is an essential aspect of our overall well-being, yet it can often be overlooked and stigmatized. Stigma in mental illness relates to unfair attitudes or beliefs about someone with mental health challenges, especially if they are suffering from terminal illnesses such as cancer. According to experts, the stigma of mental illness acts as a barrier to psychosocial services for cancer patients. Read on to know more.
This neglect comes at a high cost, as cancer patients with depression have a higher mortality rate 39
According to experts, most people with cancer struggle with depression, anxiety and other mental disorders, even though these conditions often go undiagnosed. Statistics say that about 30-35 percent of cancer patients suffer from various types of mental disorders during all stages of the disease.
Experts believe that oncologists do not prioritize the mental health of patients and do not want to waste money caring for psychiatric patients.
However, this neglect comes at a high cost, as cancer patients with depression have a 39 percent higher mortality rate than those without mental illness. Research says the risk of suicide is 13 times higher than average a week after a cancer diagnosis – and three times higher than average even a year later.
How are cancer and mental health linked?,
According to experts, it’s normal to feel fear and sadness about a cancer diagnosis, even though clinical depression and anxiety are different types. This leads to a loss of interest in things you love to do, such as changes in sleep patterns, food and potentially panic attacks over a long period of time and has a significant impact on daily life.
In a study conducted last year with more than 2,30,000 cancer patients, at least 10 percent of people with cancer had depression and anxiety even before they were diagnosed, while 22 percent were diagnosed later. The new cases were most common in people with metastatic disease.
Doctors say the affair is often caused by the psychological stress of a new cancer diagnosis, the existential fear of facing death, and the strain the disease places on relationships.
Other factors are the direct effects of cancer and side effects of treatment. Debilitating issues like uncontrolled pain can force people to give up everyday activities and give them sleepless nights. Additionally, hormone-blocking medications – commonly used for prostate and breast cancer – contribute to fatigue and mood changes, while cancer surgery can affect one’s body image and sense of self.
These can range from losing one’s ovaries and uterus to a total hysterectomy to needing to use a colostomy bag to collect waste.
Signs and symptoms of depression in cancer patients
Doctors say it’s important that patients take the time to identify symptoms that may mean they need professional help. Symptoms of depression may include:
- Loss of pleasure and interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits
- feeling worthless, feeling guilty
- decreased ability to concentrate
If you notice any of your symptoms that last more than two weeks or that are severe enough to cause noticeable problems with day-to-day activities, it’s time to seek professional help. Symptoms of anxiety may include:
- feeling anxious all the time
- inability to learn new information
- Not being able to “turn off thoughts”
- Have trouble sleeping most nights
- feel like crying again and again
- fast heartbeat
- dry mouth
- trembling hands
- Restlessness
- feeling on edge
Mental illnesses can be fatal in cancer
Experts say that for cancer patients, mental illness can be extremely devastating because it often undermines their ability to continue treatment and adopt healthy habits such as exercising, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol or drugs. .
And so, poorly managed health symptoms may reduce a patient’s willingness to begin treatment or their ability to tolerate side effects, leading some people to cut their dosage or discontinue treatment altogether. Can be done.
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