Depression and Metastatic Breast Cancer
Feeling sad is normal with any illness, especially metastatic breast cancer. But clinical depression is more than feeling sad for several days. It doesn't go away, and it can take over your life. More than 25% of people with advanced cancer are also diagnosed with depression. If you're depressed, you may have these symptoms:
- ongoing, overwhelming sadness and hopelessness
- no interest in activities or people you used to enjoy
- difficulty sleeping or sleeping all the time
- feeling worthless or guilty
- thoughts of suicide
Chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and pain medicines — especially opiates — can contribute to depression.
If you think you're depressed, talk to your doctor. It's important to figure out what's causing the depression. If one of the medicines you're taking to treat breast cancer is contributing to the depression, you may be able to switch to another one. You also may want to talk to an accredited psychotherapist. Antidepressant medicines and certain complementary and holistic medicine techniques can help you feel better.
Learn more about depression.
Can we help guide you?
Create a profile for better recommendations
-
Breast Self-Exam
Breast self-exam, or regularly examining your breasts on your own, can be an important way to...
-
What Is Breast Implant Illness?
Breast implant illness (BII) is a term that some women and doctors use to refer to a wide range...
-
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV) is breast cancer that has spread to another part...
