Few people in the United States have not been touched by cancer—whether a loved one has faced the illness, or you’ve been personally diagnosed. The American Cancer Society reports that while cancer-related death risk has declined in the last 30 years, incidents of cancer are increasing.
In fact, 2024 is projected to be the first year in which U.S. cancer cases will surpass 2 million, equating to nearly 5,000 diagnoses daily. Deaths, meanwhile, are expected to reach more than 611,000, or 1,600 daily. Those numbers make clear that a multitude of people are living with cancer, including active cases and those in remission.
However, physically surviving with, through, and beyond cancer is only part of the battle. As with any potentially life-threatening illness, cancer can wreak havoc on your mental health and emotional stability. Being a caretaker for a loved one with cancer can also cause you to struggle.
In this blog, we’ll explore the link between cancer and mental health, providing insights and strategies to help you stay mentally strong while navigating a cancer diagnosis.
THE LINKS BETWEEN CANCER AND MENTAL HEALTH
People with pre-existing mental health conditions may be more prone to experiencing symptoms like anxiety and depression after being diagnosed with cancer. Conversely, mental disorders can negatively impact a cancer patient’s health outcomes.
For example, a 2016 study in the Lancet found that men who were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder had more than double the risk of cancer mortality.
Cancer and mental health conditions often overlap. In 2010, researchers performed a meta-analysis of eight studies and found that, of 1,448 cancer patients assessed, 456 were diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Rates in different populations varied from 23-53%, adding up to an overall estimate of 32% prevalence.
Others have noted a lack of research on the links between cancer and mental health. A 2013 study found a total of 1,463 research papers on this topic over a 10-year period. While that may sound like a significant number, it represents only 0.26% of cancer research and 0.51% of mental health research over that time frame.
Evaluating these studies, they researchers reported that:
- 80% of the studies were concerned with the effects of cancer on mental health, rather than the reverse
- 5% looked at post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suffered by patients’ caregivers
- The area of mental health most studied in cancer was unipolar depression
Still, various links between cancer and mental health issues have been established. In 2018, a systematic review of 60 studies found that, among 38 studies of depression, 33 observed more depression in breast cancer survivors. In 21 studies of anxiety, 17 noted more anxiety in breast cancer survivors.
These studies also showed survivors had “statistically significantly increased symptoms/frequency” of other mental health issues, such as:
- Neurocognitive dysfunction (18 of 24 studies)
- Sexual dysfunction (5 of 6 studies)
- Sleep disturbance (5 of 5 studies)
- Stress-related disorders/post-traumatic stress disorder (2 of 3 studies)
- Suicide (2 of 2 studies)
- Somatization, or mental health-related physical symptoms (2 of 2 studies)
- Bipolar disorder (1 of 1 study)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (1 of 1 study)
By 2020, an editorial published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences estimated that mental health conditions affect at least 30-35% of cancer patients. These conditions can occur at any stage of the disease, and they can vary according to the cancer’s stage and type.
The editorial added that other mental health side effects—apart from diagnosable disorders—are believed to be present in another 15-20% of cancer patients. These effects can include demoralization, anxiety about health, loss of meaning, and existential distress.
The ties between cancer and mental health struggles are clearly numerous and complex. Further research will be helpful to examine these associations more closely. But it’s understandable that cancer might trigger or aggravate symptoms related to clinical depression, anxiety disorders, chronic stress, and more.
MENTAL HEALTH SIDE EFFECTS OF CANCER
According to the American Cancer Society, depression affects 1 in 4 people who have cancer or who have had cancer in the past. It can start anytime—from initial diagnosis until after treatment ends. Certain risk factors can increase its likelihood, such as social isolation, a history of abuse or trauma, and substance use disorder.
Meanwhile, since the illness creates significant uncertainty, anxiety is likely to occur in conjunction with cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that several aspects of the recovery process can contribute to anxiety, including:
- Treatment and side effects of treatment
- Changes in relationships
- Navigating family, jobs, and responsibilities
- Fear of death or confronting mortality
Specific cancer-related phobias may also develop as a result of anxiety, like fear of tests or scans (“scanxiety”) and fear of the cancer recurring.
Caregivers should also make sure to protect their mental health. Survey results published in 2024 found that they also struggle with adverse effects as a result of their role, including:
- Grief (30.5%)
- Mental health issues (28%)
- Negative physical impacts (33%)
- Financial stress (43.5%)
- Lack of social support or lost friends (35%)
Overall, 75.6% of cancer caretakers reported a negative impact on their mental health in the survey, including anxiety (37.29%), depression (33.9%), and other conditions (4.41%). The number who face “overwhelming or high stress” was nearly quintupled from a baseline amount, from 13% to 59.5%.
Cancer patients, as well as their loved ones and caretakers, should seek help from mental health professionals when needed, especially if these disruptions interfere with their daily life. Ongoing symptoms like persistent low moods or panic attacks can benefit from proper treatment—and possibly even improve health outcomes for cancer patients.
COPING WITH CANCER-RELATED STRESS
As noted above, cancer patients and their caretakers can struggle with adverse effects that are not mental health conditions but are nonetheless stressful. The National Cancer Institute notes that a variety of troubling feelings can accompany cancer, such as overwhelm, fear, worry, anger, guilt, sadness, and loneliness.
On the other hand, positive emotions, like hope and gratitude, can help negate some of these negative feelings. Whether you have been diagnosed with cancer or are coping with a loved one’s diagnosis, it’s important to acknowledge and work through any difficult emotions that arise while maintaining an overall positive attitude.
Here are some helpful steps cancer patients and their loved ones can take to feel better throughout the process of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and its aftermath:
- Question any automatic negative thoughts (ANTs).
- Seek help through cancer support groups, hotlines, and websites.
- Obtain psychotherapy services for mental health conditions.
- Try to stay present and focus on what you can control.
- Eat a well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet to help promote better mental health.
- Calm anxiety with simple meditations, breathing exercises, or positivity bias exercises.
- Stay active as much as possible to help improve mood—even if it’s just taking a walk.
MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH DURING CANCER
Cancer, like any serious illness, can turn your world upside-down—and your loved ones’ lives as well. Remaining vigilant about mental health symptoms when they appear, seeking help when necessary, and maintaining open communication and support systems will help ease this burden.
As cancer treatments advance, more and more people will be living with (and after) cancer—and enjoying an extended lifespan is a good thing. But this also means we must be more mindful and proactive about preserving our mental health in the process. Doing so may even improve the chances of remission and recovery.
