Indeed, similar to “chemo brain” in adults, childhood cancer and its treatment may have harmful effects on brain development, causing problems with attention, memory, and language, and also leading to depression and anxiety.
Full Answer
Can a child with cancer be depressed?
As in adults, children with cancer may feel depressed but do not have the medical condition of depression. Depression lasts longer and has specific symptoms. The doctor may assess a child for depression if a problem, such as not eating or sleeping well, lasts for a while.
How does depression affect cancer patients and families?
Individuals and families who face a diagnosis of cancer will experience varying levels of stress and emotional upset. Depression in patients with cancer not only affects the patients themselves but also has a major negative impact on their families.
What is the treatment for depression in children with cancer?
Talk therapy is the main treatment for depression in children. The child may talk to the counselor alone or with a small group of other children. Talk therapy may include play therapy for younger children. Therapy will help the child cope with feelings of depression and understand their cancer and treatment.
What are the psychological effects of childhood cancer?
Understanding the Psychological Effects of Childhood Cancer. The study also identified childhood trauma as major risk factor for physical and mental health problems including cancer, heart disease, depression, and suicidality. These are major causes of death and disability around the globe.
How does depression affect cancer patients?
Depression affects treatment participation, causes poorer outcomes and results in higher mortality (4,5). Depression causes a greatly diminished QOL in cancer patients by worsening physical symptoms, and increases the negative impact on patients and their families throughout the course of the disease (2,43).
How does mental health affect cancer treatment?
Emotional distress and mental health disorders can have profound impacts on patients, beyond their emotional and mental wellbeing. Research has shown that cancer patients with mental health symptoms have poorer health outcomes, including decreased adherence to treatment.
Is there a relationship between depression and cancer?
Overall, depression and anxiety were associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer incidence (adjusted RR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.06–1.19), cancer-specific mortality (1.21, 1.16–1.26), and all-cause mortality in cancer patients (1.24, 1.13–1.35).
Can cancer treatment make you depressed?
After cancer treatment Depression can happen soon after your cancer diagnosis. But it is also quite normal to become depressed after finishing your treatment.
What helps with depression during chemo?
Lower your risk for chemotherapy-based depression:CALL YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE and describe how you are feeling. ... Ask for an appointment as soon as possible. ... Let someone in your family or friends know how you are feeling. ... Lower your risk where possible (for example, avoid using alcohol to relieve symptoms of depression).More items...
How common are depression and anxiety in cancer patients?
Our findings showed that the prevalence of depressive and anxious symptomatology among cancer patients was 23.4% and 19.1–19.9%, respectively. Increased likelihood of depressive and anxious symptomatology was detected among patients in the inpatient setting (37.1% and 35.6–37.6%, respectively).
What is the link between cancer and mental health problems?
Having both cancer and a mental health condition is related to poorer quality of life, increased risk of death (including by suicide), poorer treatment adherence and outcomes, and higher healthcare costs.
How many people with cancer are depressed?
Overview. Depression is a comorbid disabling syndrome that affects approximately 15% to 25% of cancer patients.
Can chemotherapy cause depression and anxiety?
Coping with Chemo Brain Emotional and mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, and having trouble sleeping can add to that foggy feeling. Chemo brain can also intensify feelings of frustration or anger. That's OK. These feelings can be managed.
Why do cancer patients experience depression?
Understanding depression in cancer patients It's normal for cancer patients to experience sadness and grief for a variety of reasons, such as changes in life plans, changes in self-esteem and body image, disruption of social roles,financial challenges and end-of-life issues.
Is depression common during chemotherapy?
And a major life event like a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment – whether your own or that of a loved one – can trigger it. In fact, as many as 25% of cancer patients are dealing with depression.
Is depression normal during chemotherapy?
Feelings of depression are common when patients and family members are coping with cancer. It's normal to feel sadness and grief. Dreams, plans, and the future may seem uncertain. But if a person has been sad for a long time or is having trouble carrying out day-to-day activities, there is reason to be concerned.