Imagine going for a routine mammogram and your doctor calls you into the office and announces you have breast cancer. Imagine the shock of those words. You may cry, you may deny it, or you may be in shock and numb all over. As of this point onward your life is turned upside down with tests and treatments and life style changes. It is often at this time, after the testing begins, that the full impact of your condition and whether or not the cancer is manageable sets it. It is also at this point depression also sets in. The uncertainty of the success of the treatment, the fact that treatment is necessary and the grueling affects of the treatment make breast cancer patients at risk for depression. It is normal for anyone to have a depressive episode at some period in life. The statistics show that one depression episode will be experienced in at least ten percent of the population. These depressive episodes are severe enough to merit treatment.

The World Health Association (WHO) indicates that major depression is the number one cause of disability. The World Health Association also lists major depression as second after heart disease for contributing to a premature mortality rate because of disability. The statistics also reveal that men and women afflicted by breast cancer are twice as likely to suffer from major depression; doubling the odds.

Unfortunately, major depression is often left undiagnosed, partially because the sufferers are too depressed to seek therapy. Major depression is a crippling disorder, which affects every aspect of a person’s life. Major depression affects how a person behaves and how he or she thinks. A breast cancer patient suffering from major depression is liable to think the worst of the diagnoses and not see that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. The affects of major depression may cause the breast cancer patient to unnecessarily ruminate about death when their breast cancer is easily treatable. Ruminating about death and having a negative attitude towards treatment, may affect the outcome of treatment by causing them to disregard the helpful lifestyle suggestions from the breast cancer team of specialists or they may refuse treatment altogether.

Undiagnosed depression

Usually the early signs of major depression start out as innocuous symptoms such as fatigue and gradual diminishment of mood and sense of well being. These symptoms are often considered to be the side effects from chemotherapy treatments. Life becomes less satisfactory, breast cancer patients stop doing the things they normally like to do and everything they do becomes a chore. They may minimize the symptoms of depression thinking they are symptoms of the cancer treatment they are receiving and because of that they do not report the depression symptoms to their doctor.

Sleep disorder is a major hallmark of major depression. Breast cancer patients often have trouble falling off to sleep and lay awake half the time ruminating about their condition. When they wake up in the morning they are anything but rested and feel tired and sluggish all day. Breast cancer patients often loss their appetite as all foods appear bland and tasteless. Depressed breast cancer patients have trouble concentrating and keeping their thoughts in order. They also report that their memory is diminished.

As the depression worsens, breast cancer patients lose all hope for life. They don’t care anymore about anything. They isolate themselves shutting out family and friends and they often stay in their beds, not doing much of anything except ruminating on their condition. At this point they might hate themselves for feeling this way but they just do not seem to know how to shake the feelings of hopelessness and despair. Family and friends do not understand the major depression episode or even the breast cancer and they often feel powerless to help. Breast cancer patients can entertain thoughts of suicide associated with their depression

If you are breast cancer patient and you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not delay, contact your doctor immediately before it worsens. There is treatments available that can help you feel better.

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