A new study has found that cancer survivors who are constantly depressed are more likely to die a premature death than survivors that are not depressed
According to a new study by Floortje Mols and colleagues from Tilburg University in the Netherlands, cancer survivors that face constant depression are twice more likely to die a premature death than survivors who are not depressed.
The number of cancer cases has been rising drastically over the last few decades. However, thanks to the advancement of medicines and technology, so is the number of patients surviving this fatal illness. Nonetheless, even after recovery, many cancer survivors face a lot of problems owing to their illness and its treatment, depression being at the top of this list.
To see whether depression in patients between the first and tenth year of being diagnosed with cancer had anything to do with a premature death, Mols and colleagues conducted a study. Most of their participants for the study were survivors of colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, lymphoma or multiple myeloma.
Researchers analyzed data collected from several large population-based surveys in 2008 and 2009. A total of 3,080 cancer survivors completed questionnaires to identify symptoms of depression. It was found that depression did lead to premature death. Researchers observed higher levels of depression symptoms in cancer survivors who had died than in those who had survived.
The researchers conclude: "Paying attention to the recognition and treatment of depressive symptoms in this patient group is key. The next step is to investigate the possible mechanisms that might explain the association between depressive symptoms and death from cancer. We also need to better understand whether treatments for depressive symptoms in cancer patients have life-prolonging effects."
