By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cybersecurity
    4 Helpful Tips on How to Protect Your Medical Practice Against Cyber Attacks
    October 24, 2021
    Health Check Diagnosis Medical Condition Analysis Concept
    6 Health Woes With Online Remedies
    January 19, 2022
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    April 24, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    healthy nursing school habits
    Healthy Habits for Nursing Student Nursing School Students
    May 24, 2024
    High Deductables
    High-Deductible Insurance and Rising Bad Debt
    July 24, 2015
    How People Are Taking Advantage of Health Deals in the Recent Recession
    February 5, 2021
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Managing Mental Health In Cancer Patients: A Holistic Perspective
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Managing Mental Health In Cancer Patients: A Holistic Perspective
Health careSpecialtiesWellness

Managing Mental Health In Cancer Patients: A Holistic Perspective

Larry Alton
Last updated: April 14, 2019 11:42 am
Larry Alton
Share
6 Min Read
Managing Mental Health In Cancer Patients: A Holistic Perspective
SHARE

 

Contents
Be DirectSee The Whole PatientOffer Alternatives

Cancer is stressful for patients, families, and doctors and because it’s painful and potentially deadly, many people assume that it’s normal for patients to be depressed. Cancer patients, they think, have every reason to suffer low mood and lack of motivation. What many overlook, though, is that cancer and depression aren’t inherently linked. In fact, one meta-analysis of cancer patients showed a mean prevalence of only 8-24%. In other words, the majority of cancer patients aren’t depressed.

When doctors encounter cancer patients with depression, then, it should not be treated as normal; it’s important that they thoroughly address the issue. By providing holistic treatment options, cancer patients can experience improved quality of life, regardless of their physical prognosis.

Be Direct

Americans with depression and anxiety are prone to hide their problems because of stigma around mental illness, so the first step toward supporting cancer patients with mental health needs is to be direct. For example, some patients think that treating their depression will require delaying cancer treatment. What many don’t understand is that “Depression can affect recovery and your ability to fight illness,” according to Dr. Glenn Currier.

More Read

Bacteriophages: A Ray of Hope in the Fight against Antibacterial Resistance?
Modern Teeth Whitening Technologies Used by Clinics in Ireland
6 Surprising Things Online Therapy Can Help With
Overlooked Factors That Affect Skin Health
5 Serious Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

If doctors provide mental health assessments a standard part of cancer treatment, then, they make it clear that all bodily processes work together. This ensures that patients receive professional care and treatment as needed and aren’t left to suffer mental distress because they’re preoccupied with managing cancer treatments.

See The Whole Patient

Though depression is inherently a chemical process, certain personal inclinations can make some people more likely to experience it or worsen the severity of the conditions. That’s why The Gawler Cancer Foundation emphasizes the power of the mind when working with patients. When patients participate in programming at Gawler, they’re asked to evaluate their core beliefs and values so that the mind can fully aid the body in the healing process without negative, subconscious hindrances.

Doctors should also be encouraged to be mindful of the emotional challenges of depression and not assume that all sadness is depression. Depression and low mood are not the same thing and people with cancer naturally tend to experience some sadness or anxiety about their prognosis shortly after diagnosis. Doctors need to look for extended signs of mood alteration, including irritability, loss of pleasure in favorite activities, and trouble sleeping. Just as grief isn’t the same as depression, sadness about a cancer diagnosis is a natural part of adjustment so long as it isn’t persistent.

In addition to assessing patients’ beliefs and attitudes, doctors should also be attentive to social supports and community engagement. This can include small details like what family members attend appointments with them to whether or not they visit with friends or continue attending religious worship or community group meetings. While abandoning some activities may be a side effect of pain and fatigue, losing touch with friends and family can be a clear indicator of depression.

Offer Alternatives

Many cancer patients respond well to traditional antidepressants, but that shouldn’t be the only course of treatment offered – and this applies to all individuals with depression. In the UK, for example, some doctors recommend specific books as part of a broader depression treatment protocol in a process called bibliotherapy. Typically fiction titles, the books are intended to provide a venue for identification and emotional catharsis. Cancer patients may benefit from an even more specific subset of books.

Another alternative or supplement to antidepressants is art therapy, which has been used for many years in hospitals and by psychologists. Recently, though, Florida Hospital launched an art therapy program for cancer patients through their Cancer Institute’s Integrative & Creative Arts Therapies program. This new program embraces a broad set of arts programs, including visual arts, choir programming, and writing. Patients find that creative outlets help them process emotional issues and communicate their needs more effectively to loved ones.

Finally, all cancer patients can benefit from talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or support groups, so all treatment centers should be certain these services are available on site. The easier it is for patients to access mental health services, particularly those designed for cancer patients, the more likely it is that they will actually take advantage of them.

For the quarter of cancer patients who are likely to suffer from depression, addressing emotional needs is as important as treating the physical illness and can inform everything from how much social support they receive to what treatment options they pursue. We don’t ignore other co-occurring illnesses in cancer patients; why do we ignore depression?

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

holistic medicine
Health care

What distinguishes functional medicine from holistic medicine?

May 7, 2021
Image
OrthopaedicsTechnology

Small Bone Innovations Addresses Unmet Needs in Joint Replacement

June 8, 2011
Image
Specialties

The Financial Hardship of Cancer

June 9, 2013

Wellness, Nondiscrimination and Evidence-Based Public Policy

June 2, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?