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“Mental and emotional challenges may arise or worsen among people living with cancer. This is particularly true for anxiety and depression, which are common among people with cancer. Anxiety and depression can affect quality of life and make it harder to cope with or finish cancer treatment.
“While most people with cancer feel anxious from time to time, it is important to talk with your health care team if anxiety is interfering with your daily life or won’t go away.
“Similarly, feelings of sadness, grief, and fear are common after a cancer diagnosis, but if these feelings interfere with your daily life or continue for several weeks, it may be a sign of clinical depression. It is important to get diagnosed and treated for clinical depression as part of your cancer care.
“As you navigate cancer treatment, be sure to monitor for symptoms of anxiety and depression and talk with your health care team if these symptoms arise. Your health care team will also check in with you during treatment to screen for these conditions.
“Symptoms of anxiety can include feelings of fear or dread, detachment, a rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath. Symptoms of depression can include feeling sad or hopeless, a loss of motivation, difficulty focusing or making decisions, and fatigue.
“Remember, you are not alone. If you are experiencing anxiety or depression, there are many resources available to help.”
—Dr. Jyoti D. Patel, Cancer.Net Editor in Chief
Although American, a lot of the information on the Cancer.Net Managing Emotions website is relevant to people in the UK.
If you or your loved ones are finding it difficult to cope, we are always here to support and help you through the difficult times.
Please ring our helpline for a chat on 0800 121 8721 or
Email us at support@actionkidneycancer.org or
You can join our community forum for mutual support from other people and families living with kidney cancer: Action Kidney Cancer Community Forum
