What is cancer treatment-related depression?

Depression is a negative mood accompanied by feeling sad and/or a loss of interest in most activities. It can happen to anyone, especially to people who have surgery, radiation treatment, or other forms of cancer treatment.

How do people describe cancer treatment-related depression?

Individuals with cancer have described depression as feelings of sadness, despair, low self worth, discouragement, hopelessness, helplessness, and lack of pleasure or interest. Depression is also described by some people as feeling "blue" or "down in the dumps."

What happens when you experience cancer treatment-related depression?

Depression can affect the way you think as well as how you feel. You may experience a lack of energy and/or become withdrawn and have trouble talking with family and friends. You and lose interest in daily physical activities. You may experience changes in, sleep, appetite, and weight.

What causes cancer treatment-related depression?

The experience of having cancer often causes people to feel depressed. Problems like low blood counts, sleep disruption, stress, and other factors contribute to depression. Some cancer medications may also cause depression.

How do people cope with cancer treatment-related depression?

Everyone experiences depression and treatments differently. You may not feel discouraged while someone else does, or your depression may not last as long as someone else's does.

Here are some tips that may help you cope with depression:

• Talk about your feelings with your partner or a trusted other.
• Write in a journal daily or try some other form of creative expression (painting, music. dancing, exercise, or woodworking).
• Exercise daily (walking is great).
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
• Following your treatment, take time to think about your goals and values and about what is important today.
• Identify a pleasurable activity and do it every day.
• Avoid thinking negatively:
  • When you realize you are having negative thoughts, yell "Stop" to yourself
  • Place a rubber band on your wrist and snap it (to remind you to stop) when you begin to have negative thoughts.
  • Move to a different area of your house to stop the negative thinking.
  • OR control your negative thoughts:
    • Find a negative thinking area ... make this the only place where you allow yourself to think and feel negative.
    • Schedule a time each day for negative thinking, but allow no more than 15 minutes of negative thoughts each day, this time should not be scheduled near bedtime or mealtime.
    • Practice visualizing a scene that has been calming to you in the past.

What can family or significant others do to help with cancer treatment-related depression?

Ask your family or friends to help you with tasks you find difficult or taxing. Join in activities with family or friends. Reminisce about past family achievements and experiences. Develop meaningful conversational themes that reflect love and need. Depression is an emotional response experienced by cancer patients, and families can help by allowing the individual to express his grief. This helps the individual to move beyond his depression and adjust to the disease.

How can I talk with my partner about my cancer treatment-related depression?

• Be open and honest with your partner.
• Talk in a place where you are both comfortable (like the bedroom, kitchen, yard, out on a walk, sitting on the porch, etc.)Make sure there are no distractions.
• Try to calmly share with your partner why you feel depressed. Share your concerns. Ask if your partner has ideas to help you.
• Ask about your partner's thoughts and feelings about your depression.
• If your partner understands your concerns, develop a plan together to combat your depression such as calling the doctor, visiting a mental health specialist, or joining a support group.

What symptoms should you report to the nurse?

• A decline in daily physical activity.
• Thoughts of hopelessness.
• Not wanting to get out of bed or get dressed.
• Thoughts of doing harm to yourself.
• Experiencing no relief after trying the suggestions listed earlier.
• Recurrent thoughts of death.
• No sleep for 2 consecutive 24 hour periods.
• Weight loss of 5% or more of your weight.

Who can I call to get more information?

If you continue to have problems with depression, discuss your feelings with your doctor. Your doctor can:

• Determine whether or not there is a physical cause for your depression.
• Provide you with treatment options/more information.
• Refer you to a mental health specialist for further evaluation and treatment, if necessary.

This information was conducted in affiliation with the Walther Cancer Institute, Indianapolis, IN