Cancer and mental health

You have cancer. Three of the most life-changing words anyone can hear.

And while that statement undoubtedly evokes visions of all the physical challenges a person with cancer is about to face—the tests, surgeries, medications, infusions, and more—a cancer diagnosis doesn’t just impact a person’s body. Cancer has a significant impact on mental and emotional well-being, too.

Exploring the overlap between cancer and mental health

Cancer is challenging in so many different ways. But, unfortunately, many people with cancer admit that the mental and emotional challenges are often overlooked. 58% of people with cancer feel their emotional needs are less acknowledged than their physical needs.

To adequately support someone dealing with cancer, you first need to understand how their diagnosis impacts their mental health throughout their entire journey: at the time of diagnosis, during their treatment, and long-term.

Cancer diagnosis: The emotional toll of receiving the news

An initial cancer diagnosis often feels like a gut punch. There’s shock at the prognosis, fear of the potential impacts of the treatment and how effective it will be, and anxiety over what the future holds.

Additionally, many people with cancer report being completely overwhelmed with information at the time of diagnosis, which makes it challenging for them to fully understand their disease, treatment options, and next steps.

And while their heads are spinning with their newfound diagnosis, resources, and medical terms, they grapple with a variety of other emotions including:

• Grief: A cancer diagnosis is a huge disruption and many people with cancer feel a sense of grief over losing their health, their sense of normalcy, their future plans, and sometimes even a shift to their entire identity.
• Isolation and loneliness: According to one patient experience survey, only 27% of patients with cancer felt they could receive adequate emotional support at home. That fuels feelings of loneliness. In a separate survey, more than half of people with cancer (including survivors) experience an aspect of social isolation at least some of the time and 31% say they feel lonely very or somewhat often.

Put simply, receiving a cancer diagnosis is an overwhelming time filled with a lot of emotional distress and uncertainty.

During treatment: Mental health challenges while navigating the disease

Even when the initial shock of a cancer diagnosis starts to wane, the treatment process is full of its own unique mental and emotional challenges.

Much of that is because cancer treatment itself is quite demanding. Many treatments cause fatigue, discomfort, and pain. Some chemotherapy drugs even cause confusion and delirium with 57% to 85% of people who undergo chemotherapy reporting that side effect.

People with cancer also often experience significant changes to their appearance—such as weight fluctuations, hair loss, and skin changes—that negatively affect their body image and self-perception.

And on top of those concerns, people also need to deal with the financial burden of paying for their treatments (especially as cancer care costs continue rising). In one study, nearly half of people with cancer experienced some level of financial hardship.

All of the above can majorly disrupt the daily routines and activities people previously enjoyed. Those major shifts can lead to depression, with rates of major depressive disorder reportedly up to three times higher in people with cancer than in the general population.

After treatment: Cancer’s long-term psychological effects

Getting through cancer treatments is a feat in and of itself, but that doesn’t mean all the mental and emotional effects just fade away. Many struggle with a fear of recurrence, feelings of guilt, and lingering self-esteem issues due to long-term changes to their body or physical abilities.

In short, whether a person is in remission or is living long-term with cancer, they continue to deal with the psychological impacts of their diagnosis and treatment:

• 54% of cancer survivors admit they still struggle with at least one psychological issue
• In a meta-analysis of over 200 studies, the prevalence of depression during cancer treatment was 14%, 9% in the first year after diagnosis, and 8% a year or more after treatment
• 20% of people who made it through cancer treatment had possible posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

It’s proof that people don’t always emotionally “bounce back” after cancer. Even when the treatment plan wraps up, the mental consequences can remain long-term.

Cancer care should be holistic

When it comes to adequate cancer care, there’s a lot of emphasis on treating and managing the physical health symptoms—and for good reason. There’s no shortage of physical challenges a person with cancer needs to deal with, and those need to be effectively managed.

However, plenty of research shows that a cancer diagnosis and treatment has far-reaching impacts not just on physical well-being but on a person’s mental state as well. That’s why the cancer benefits employers provide should be comprehensive. Physical needs matter, but mental and emotional needs do too.

Learn more about Carrum Cancer Care and how we provide holistic support to our members.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.