Cancer causes depression! Psychological consequences of cancer

Depression is a mental disorder known to affect more than 300 million people worldwide. We can all feel sad and drained from time to time due to the life events we face. Sometimes we return to our core when the problem disappears, and sometimes we are able to cope with new circumstances. But when it comes to depression, it’s more than just feeling bad for a while. For this reason, it is very important to get the support of a specialist in cases of unmanageable and unmanageable mood. Especially when such a sensitive disease as cancer is mentioned, one should not ignore the fact that the disease can cause many different emotions.

As part of World Cancer Day February 4 psychological effects of cancer Clinical psychologist Damla Ozkan of Moodist Hospital claims that depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in cancer patients. Here is how she explains the link between cancer and depression:

“Despite the fact that a cancer diagnosis is considered a diagnosis of a physical illness, it has many negative consequences for the psychosocial life and daily life of the patient. Therefore, the diagnosis of cancer also includes disability and negative situations that arise in the psychosocial sphere of a person’s life. Cancer, being one of the chronic diseases, has a relapsing and recurrent pattern and can cause anxious, anxious and hopeless thoughts about the future. When a person has difficulty coping with these thoughts, a depressive mood occurs. Physical pain in people during the oncological process, side effects of the treatments used, hospitalizations that are on the agenda from time to time, and changes in body image are some of the factors that make up the link between cancer and depression.

“Both the patient and family members suffered”

Cancer affects both the patient and family members physically and mentally. This situation can be quite challenging for a person diagnosed with cancer in terms of managing and controlling emotional stress. Ozkan stated that certain personality traits, coping methods, the importance he attached to the cancer process and his view of the process are very important in terms of mental disorders. “The presence of family members and friends, whom we may consider as the patient’s external resources in this process, whether existing external resources have a supportive and empathetic approach or not, are risk factors for the depression process to recur. Another important risk factor is the communication of the patient with the treating team, with whom he is in frequent contact. Because at this point it is very important that the care team treat themselves with confidence, support and cooperation. speaks.

“Depressive symptoms to be considered”

Clinical psychologist Damla Ozkan said that the depressive symptoms seen in people with cancer are sometimes accepted by the treatment team and those around them as a completely natural part of the process. “In a clinical sense, the presence of depression, which can also be observed in a person observationally, certainly cannot be considered natural, as if it were part of the process. In order to protect his mental health and strengthen his psychological resilience, he should incorporate activities related to his old routine into his current life. The environment should guide and support them in psychosocial activities. The person should be reminded that he has a social life outside of the healing process and he should be encouraged to this social life. Initially, people may state that they do not get interest and pleasure from activities. It should not be forgotten that the first goal and task is to act in the direction of activity, and not pleasure and pleasure. It is very important for cancer patients to manage the treatment process, receiving psychotherapeutic support from the very beginning of the treatment process, in terms of the possible ups and downs of the treatment process and in terms of strengthening the psychological resilience of the person. In cases where treatment is considered clinically necessary, it should be carried out simultaneously with a psychiatrist and psychologist, and the physical health of the patient should not be considered independently of his mental health. speaks.

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