Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental disorders in cancer patients. They can affect anyone, regardless of age. How to cope with anxiety in cancer? There is increasing talk of a holistic approach to patient health. Psychological support is becoming an integral part of patient treatment.
Emotions in cancer
A cancer diagnosis is accompanied by a spectrum of emotions. Initially, there is shock and disbelief. Over time, these give way to anger. Anger is accompanied by a question that is difficult to answer: why me?
A decline in mood and negative emotions after a cancer diagnosis are normal phenomena seen in every patient. This is part of the process of adapting to the disease and accepting the new reality. The problem arises when fear of cancer intensifies, which can lead to the development of mental disorders in the patient.
How to recognize symptoms of anxiety in a person with cancer?
Anxiety in cancer significantly affects the patient's quality of life. Every day, they experience anxiety, a sense of danger, and fear for their own health or life.
Anxiety disorders are accompanied by physical symptoms. These include rapid heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath, and excessive sweating. Anxiety can be associated with panic attacks. During such an episode, the somatic symptoms intensify and the patient thinks they are dying.
Persistent anxiety and fear in cancer patients may continue even after treatment has ended. Patients fear a recurrence of the disease or the development of another condition.
How to cope with anxiety in cancer?
Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises can help you manage your emotions. It is important to establish a daily routine and remember to engage in physical activity to the extent that your health allows (exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, or happiness hormones).
It is very important for patients struggling with anxiety in cancer to seek emotional support. The presence of loved ones, family, and friends, talking to a psycho-oncologist, or participating in support groups is of great importance in the daily struggle with illness and stress. Patients often feel lonely, misunderstood, and neglected. This does not have to be the case, nor should it be. Some patients struggling with anxiety need to start therapy. Untreated anxiety disorders can lead to the development of depression. It also happens that both disorders co-occur.
Knowledge can help in the fight against anxiety. Information about the disease, prognosis, and available treatment methods not only allows you to prepare for the next stages of therapy, but also makes you feel that you are regaining control over your own life.
To minimize stress in patients, their daily needs must also be taken care of. Perhaps their anxiety stems from a lack of financial security for their children or an inability to access modern therapies? At Cancer Fighters, we carry out aid campaigns for cancer patients. Join one of them or organize your own for someone close to you.
Why is cancer often accompanied by depression?
Depression in cancer patients is the body's reaction to a new situation and illness. Patients experience severe stress and feel uncertain about the future. In many people, their mental state is worsened by concurrent life events, such as job loss related to their illness and, consequently, fears about their family's well-being.
Check out: fundraisers for cancer patients.
Financial problems, lack of support from loved ones, poor communication with medical staff—all of these factors affect the patient's mental well-being. The risk of developing depression after a cancer diagnosis is higher in people who are addicted, have a recurrence of the disease, or have had a traumatic experience with previous therapy. Much is said about the young age of patients, but it is worth adding that depression in cancer is also diagnosed in older patients. It is estimated to occur in 13-45% of elderly patients.
What are the symptoms of depression in cancer patients?
Depression after a cancer diagnosis can manifest itself in feelings of meaninglessness and hopelessness, guilt, and seeing the future only in black and white. The patient experiences a noticeable decrease in energy and chronic fatigue. There is a loss of appetite and sleep disturbances. Patients with depression isolate themselves socially and show no interest in things that they previously enjoyed. Untreated depression in cancer, as in any other case, increases the risk of suicide.
If you are struggling with a mental health crisis, please call the 24/7, free, and anonymous helpline: 800 70 2222.
How can you help a loved one with depression during cancer treatment?
Depression is an illness that requires treatment. Therapy is supplemented with medication, but it is also very important for the patient to receive support from their loved ones. How can you help a cancer patient with depression? Start by being there for them and listening without interrupting or repeating that everything will be fine. Do not downplay the patient's fears. If you don't know how to show support to someone with depression, ask a psycho-oncologist. Also, remember that in order to help someone, you must first take care of yourself. Many oncology organizations offer psychological support not only to their patients, but also to their loved ones. You can also take advantage of this at our Cancer Fighters Foundation – psychological help.
Does psychological support improve cancer treatment outcomes?
Psychological support helps patients understand the emotions that accompany cancer and has a positive effect on their motivation to undergo treatment. A psycho-oncologist supports patients in the process of adapting to their illness and helps them through its various stages. Properly conducted therapy reduces feelings of anxiety and stress, teaches patients how to respond to the physical symptoms accompanying their emotions, and helps them communicate with medical staff and loved ones. Each of these elements indirectly affects cancer treatment and the daily comfort of the patient.
Until recently, mental health was a taboo subject. Patients with anxiety disorders or depression after a cancer diagnosis did not seek help from psychologists. Why? They were driven by shame, sometimes a lack of knowledge about treatment options or a lack of access to specialists. Currently, psychological support is provided in hospitals and oncology centers, as well as in foundations. It is worth taking care of your mental well-being as soon as you receive your diagnosis. The fight against cancer is often a long process that requires strength from the patient. Including inner strength.
Have you been diagnosed with cancer? Contact us and become a beneficiary of the foundation. We provide mental, organizational, and financial support. We support patients and their loved ones in their daily fight against cancer. We are here for you.
Bibliography
- Ewa Humeniuk et al., Severity of depressive disorders among oncology patients [in:] Social Dissertations 2018, Volume 12, No. 3.
- How to understand the diagnosis?, onkologia.org.pl, accessed on December 1, 2025.
- Dr. Marta Porębiak, Mental disorders and problems of oncology patients, mp.pl, accessed on December 1, 2025.
- Mikołaj Musiał et al., Depression in elderly people with cancer. Literature review [in:] Geriatria 2025; 19: 183-188.
