HomeBlogPatientDepression, Cancer and Chronic Illness: How do they relate? Depression, Cancer and Chronic Illness: How do they relate? This material has been reviewed for accuracy by: Renee Albers, PhD October 2, 2024Patient The symptoms involved with a variety of chronic conditions–rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer, –may require some serious lifestyle changes. And one of those symptoms may be depression. In fact a recent study presented at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2024 concludes that both depression and anxiety can negatively impact survival rates and reduce the quality of life for breast cancer patients. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and a leading cause of death globally. Depression is also a common symptom of chronic disease. In fact, people with a chronic illness are at a much higher risk for clinical depression: approximately 25-33 percent of those who have been diagnosed with chronic disease will admit to having depressed feelings. That percentage may even be higher in individuals who have a history of depression. But this coupling, or co-morbidity, of disease presents a big chicken-and-egg problem: Do people simply have low energy and sadness due to the lifestyle changes linked to managing their illness? Or are those feelings of depression a separate condition that require more medical assistance? Michael Groat, Chief Clinical Officer at Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason, Ohio, says it can often be difficult to tease apart—especially because sometimes the treatments used to fight chronic illnesses can have depression-like side effects. “There are a large range of chronic issues that you can see that may co-occur with a psychiatric illness like depression. It’s very common,” he says. “So if you are having symptoms of depression, it’s very important to talk about those feelings with your physician. Because some of those symptoms might be explained by a certain condition, or some by the treatments or medications your doctors are administrating. Patients need to talk to their doctors, so they can do a thorough evaluation to see what might be behind those feelings.” Groat says that the combination of collaborative care and diagnosis, with a few simple lab tests, can often pinpoint whether depressed feelings may just be a byproduct of one disease or something that may warrant separate psychiatric care. And he stresses that it is important for that analysis to happen, especially since many individuals with chronic conditions are dealing with polypharmacy, or taking multiple drugs simultaneously, to manage their symptoms. “Today, we can do pharmacogenomic testing so we can better understand how a patient’s body may process medications,” he says. “We’ve learned that some people are very rapid metabolizers of particular kinds of medications. Others are very slow to metabolize medications. That matters because it affects dosage, as well as how medicines might interact and work together. It can help us do a thorough medication review to see what kind of side effects or interaction effects might be going on.” But none of that can occur until you speak to your physician about how you are feeling. Groat says there’s no need to try to appear strong or to downplay those symptoms if you have them. “This is important clinical information and can help your doctor get you the right treatment,” he says. “So it’s smart to speak up and talk about it.” The information on this website is provided as a general information resource only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is provided “as is”. Assurex Health makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the information on this website. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! 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Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more
Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more
Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more
Patient Cyberbullying: Unique Challenges and Impacts ‘We lost our daughter to cyberbullying.’ McKenna Brown was an accomplished hockey player and scholar, known for her kindness, when she became the target of int... Read more
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Healthcare Provider Top 5 Reasons Patients Stop Their Mood Disorder Treatment Mood disorder treatment for depression can be challenging – and patients may become frustrated when treatments don’t work. In fact, when people with depres... Read more
Patient The Impact of Gratitude on Depression and Anxiety “Say ‘Thank you,” a mother reminds her young kiddo. “T.G.I.F.!” we cheer at the end of a long week. We know it’s important to be thankful. But do we ... Read more
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Patient How to Talk to Your Doctor about Anxiety Medication “When I was 27, I felt bad all the time,” writes Joanna Goddard on the popular Cup of Jo blog. She describes her initial experience with anxiety in detail. ... Read more
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Healthcare Provider It’s time to talk suicide: addressing stigma around a difficult topic Trigger Warning: This webinar discusses suicide. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. ... Read more
Patient Stress Relief Methods for Family Caregivers Caring for a loved one can be a rewarding and meaningful experience. However, the day in and day out of taking care of someone who is unwell also can be challen... Read more
Healthcare Provider Healthcare Professional Burnout and Links to Depression When Dr. Lorna Breen, an ER doc in Manhattan, died by suicide in April 2020, it opened up a public discussion about the burdens faced by healthcare professi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Antidepressant Withdrawal or Depression Reoccurrence? What Healthcare Providers Should Know People who stop taking antidepressants may do so for many reasons: they may feel like it isn’t working, may feel unable to cope with side effects, or may not fe... Read more