Depression affects one-third of cancer patients yet remains largely untreated in oncology care
By
Simar Bajaj
Master baker tier. Every paragraph earns its place on the tray.
Summary
This article highlights the significant gap in mental health care for cancer patients, focusing on how depression and anxiety affect about a third of cancer patients but often go undiagnosed and untreated. Through the personal story of Simone Webster, a 33-year-old breast cancer patient, the article explores the emotional toll of cancer diagnosis and treatment, the lack of integrated psychiatric support in oncology care, and experts' calls for better mental health screening and intervention as a standard part of cancer treatment.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThere must have been something I did. What did I do to cause this?
There's so much you lose. It feels really dumb to feel hopeful.
Depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions often go undetected and undiagnosed in cancer patients. The neglect takes a significant toll.
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