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Cancer and Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression After Remission

Cancer and Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression After Remission

Cancer and Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression After Remission

A cancer diagnosis can cause significant stress and anxiety. Many people assume that once cancer treatment is over, these negative thoughts and feelings disappear, and normal life resumes. But for many cancer survivors, this is not the case. Cancer and mental health go hand in hand, even after remission.

It can help to know that you are not alone.

Research shows as many as 24% of cancer patients who have gone into remission have symptoms of clinical depression, and 10% show signs of clinical levels of anxiety. In addition, up to 75% of cancer survivors report decreased cognitive function, such as memory and concentration problems. However, seeking mental health support can help you understand the reasons behind these issues and how to work through them.

Understanding Your Feelings

It’s important to understand that the reasons behind your depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions after going into remission can be complex.

“Life before cancer and after cancer is very different. It changes a person,” said Rita Calzada, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. “Once you are in remission, it’s common to feel crippled by the fear that the cancer is going to come back. A lot of depression and anxiety comes from the fear of recurrence.”

As a cancer survivor, you may continue to see your doctor at regular intervals for years after going into remission to have CT scans or other imaging to ensure there are no signs of cancer. These visits can induce distress for many people.

“Your doctor may check on you every six months to a year, and it’s common to feel riddled with anxiety that the cancer will be back, and you will have to endure treatment again,” Calzada said. “Or if it comes back, it might not go into remission again.”

For some people, such as those who have had mastectomies as part of breast cancer treatment, looking different than before can trigger mental health issues.

“You might have body image issues or feel like ‘I’m not who I was before,’“ Calzada said. “You might feel like you need to redefine your identity.”

Additionally, worries about finances, long-term health needs, and family concerns can cause stress for many cancer survivors, as well.

For some, cancer-related anxieties and fears can cause symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Severe symptoms, such as nightmares, avoiding certain people or places, trouble connecting with others, problems sleeping, and losing interest in doing activities, can be signs of PTSD. If you have existing mental health problems, you may be at a higher risk for developing PTSD.

Asking for Help When You Need It

While experiencing cancer-related mental health issues is common, many cancer survivors do not seek mental health services.

“When people are in survival mode, they often don’t seek counseling. They’re just focused on getting through their day-to-day responsibilities,” Calzada said. “But seeing a counselor can be extremely helpful. It’s about coping, adjusting, and having self-compassion.”

And although friends and families can also be helpful, you may not be completely honest about your feelings with the people closest to you.

“It's important to receive outside support from an unbiased person that can actually hold the weight of that burden,” Calzada said.

In addition to counseling, other types of mental health treatment plans can help you have a better quality of life such as:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Exercise
  • Medications
  • Stress-reduction and emotional regulation techniques

If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you. If you need immediate help, call 988.

To learn more about free counseling services for patients with cancer at MHSC, call Rita Calzada at 307-352-8518.