Cancer exacts a physical toll that can compromise the energy levels of anyone. According to the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, bone loss, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, and nausea and vomiting are just a handful of the physical side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. But cancer also can affect mental health.
A 2024 study published in the Galen Medical Journal found that the emotional and psychological effects of a cancer diagnosis can be significant. Those effects can impact a patient’s overall well-being and quality of life. Authors of the study noted that approximately 30 percent of patients experience cancer-related psychological disorders. The American Cancer Society adds that the mental health side effects of cancer can remain even after treatment has ended. The ACS notes it’s important that cancer patients and their families recognize the mental health changes that can occur during and after treatment, as recognition of each may encourage patients to seek the help they need.
• Anxiety: The ACS indicates a person is at greater risk of developing anxiety if they have, or have had, cancer. There are different types of anxiety, but each is marked by feelings of worry that can make daily life difficult. Cancer-related phobias may affect cancer patients, who may develop a fear of tests or scans, anxiety about their own death, and/or a fear of recurrence. Anxiety may produce feelings of nervousness or of being on edge, and people may not be able to stop worrying or control their concerns. Difficulty relaxing and being so restless it’s hard to sit still are some additional signs of anxiety.
• Depression: The ACS notes feelings of sadness, grief, or distress, each of which are associated with depression, are a normal response to having cancer. Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, and persistent depressive disorder (PDD), are the most common types of depression in people who have or have had cancer. Risk of depression may be greater in people who have pancreatic or head and neck cancers. Teens and young adults diagnosed with cancer may be at an elevated risk as well.
• Distress: Cancer-related mental distress is a general term referring to a wide range of feelings that may emerge among people who have or have had cancer. Sadness or depression, anger, hopelessness, lack of certainty regarding purpose in life, or a sense of mental numbness are all feelings associated with cancer-related mental distress. The ACS notes this distress can make it difficult to function, compromising a person’s ability to make appointments or even take medicines that are a vital part of their treatment.
• Social isolation and loneliness: The risk for social isolation and loneliness is greater among people who have or have had cancer. The ACS notes it’s normal for cancer patients to feel they cannot relate to other people during treatment, which can add to the loneliness people feel while fighting the disease. Some cancer patients may feel other people are uncomfortable being around them. It’s also not uncommon for cancer patients to be fearful about sharing how they feel while combatting their disease.
The physical side effects of cancer and cancer treatment are well known. But patients and their families also should recognize cancer can produce mental side effects that can feel just as debilitating as the physical symptoms of the disease.
