Nearly any treatment can cause late effects, and these late effects are specific to the treatment you received. While some chemical imbalances can be a factor in certain symptoms of mental health conditions, they do not tell the whole story. Spiegel D. Minding the body: Psychotherapy and cancer survival. PsychCentral has an article available that details adjustment disorders, and how they reduce the ability to handle traumatic situations. He or she may be able to prescribe medication for you to alleviate these symptoms. If you have concerns about damage to your nervous system or if you are experiencing anxiety, depression, anger or other mental health problems, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor. An article by the American Cancer Society shows the link between depression and chemo brain, and identifies that both should be considered. Scientists said chemo prevented neurogenesis - the birth of new cells in the brain - which could cause depression and anxiety. Here are some tips to help you take care of your physical health after chemotherapy: Take care of your mouth. The symptoms can differ depending on the type, location, and stage of the tumor. Online Grief Support Forums also provide peer support to these individuals. Effects can become overwhelming. Long-term side effects from surgery depend on the type of cancer and where in the body you had surgery. 2013 Mar 14.5. de Vries M, Stiefel F. Psycho-oncological interventions and psychotherapy in the oncology setting. But chemo drugs can damage normal cells, too, which can cause short-term and long-term side effects. Generally, medications are chosen if depression or anxiety is protracted and does not dissipate after two to four weeks. Chemo brain is a common term used by cancer survivors to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur during and after cancer treatment. Chemotherapy can cause damage to your nerves, which can affect your brain’s functions and cause confusion. Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma, especially those diagnose… Many online communities exist to help these caring individuals deal with the loss of their loved one. Some patients may lose the ability to be independent. 2013 Aug;10:.4. A licensed therapist or psychologist who is trained to work with cancer patients will be able to provide guidance and a listening ear to the patient, right from the start. The trauma of having cancer and going through treatments can also cause mental health problems. Some symptoms can be quite general. Tips to manage mental health for cancer patients Benzodiazepine drugs have also shown some ability to reduce the side effects found within chemotherapy. Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. For depression, Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and Prozac are commonly used. About MHG. 2014;197:121-35.6. Each chemotherapy affects patients individually depending on the of type of chemo and the dose given. If your depression or anxiety is severe, you might want to discuss receiving treatment in a mental health facility. J BUON. A lot of patients need to receive one or the other for infusion, mainly due to small veins. It is important that caregivers and family members seek support as soon as a diagnosis of cancer is given. Is this true?" Some people may suffer from depression. As many as 3 out of 4 people with cancer say they're not as mentally sharp. Managing mental health needs is a crucial part of the treatment process, and may even impact prognosis. Because anticancer medicines are made to kill growing cells, they also affect normal, fast-growing cells elsewhere. It might. Others find that energy levels plummet and activities that were once a source of enjoyment are no longer possible. Each patient will require an assessment to determine which approach, if either, will work best for them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) have both been used to treat mental health issues successfully. Br J Health Psychol. Depression5. Nervous System Side Effects of Chemotherapy. Anger3. The trauma to nerves and the nervous system can include reduced mental alertness, numbness or tingling in the extremities, a burning feeling in the extremities, and in severe cases, seizures. Whether it’s the symptoms associated with cancer or the side effects due to chemotherapy, cancer impacts the way patients feel about themselves. It is also worth noting that the cancer patient and caregivers or family members grieve in different ways; while preparatory grief can be helpful to the family member, it can be detrimental to the patient as outlined in this article. This is a direct result of traumatic experiences associated with the disease, and because the potential for a fatal prognosis is high. The chemicals used in chemotherapy attack and kill healthy cells along with cancer cells. Medications used to treat the side effects of chemotherapy (such as sleeping aids and anti-nausea medications) can also cause these problems. Chemo brain is most commonly connected with chemotherapy, but other treatments, such as hormone therapy, radiation, and surgery may be associated with it also. As the national statistics for diagnosed mental health conditions is approximately 26 percent, this points to a noteworthy increase in patients. Terms of Use | Depending on the prognosis the patient has received, it may not be possible to simply encourage a positive attitude, and it may not be possible to remind the patient that it will eventually get better. Learn more about the myths and facts here. Serious mental illness diagnoses can affect a person’s cognitive and executive functioning, and as such, the lack of understanding of a cancer diagnosis may act as a … Sponsored by Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC. It is not necessary or advisable for the loved one to wait until the loss has occurred in order to reach out for support. How Can Hypnosis Help In Mental Health Therapy? People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Acceptance. Anxiety is experienced at some time by all human beings, but the cause is very different for each person. Psychooncology. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. This can increase the amount of bacteria in your mouth which can cause an infection. For breast cancer–specific mortality, the HR was 1.20 (95% CI, 0.82–1.74). Additionally, some patients may prefer to keep their feelings to themselves, rather than engage in constant discussion. Because mental health conditions are believed to be underdiagnosed in cancer patients, it is wise to take a proactive approach to detecting these conditions. Finding the cause is important so their doctor can choose the best treatment. Yes, chemotherapy can cause or worsen depression. A condition known as preparatory grief is common, according to a 2012 study9. Medications that can cause mental confusion include: Chemotherapy drugs. Talk with your doctor about any concerns you have about a specific late effect.Problems from surgery. Palliat Support Care. Other treatments (like surgery) can be painful and may require rehabilitation. For patients, caregivers, and their loved ones, going through cancer can be a devastating experience. Privacy | Care must be given to allow the cancer patient to experience their disease in whatever manner is best for them. Cells in the digestive tract. The trauma to nerves and the nervous system can include reduced mental alertness, numbness or tingling in the extremities, a burning feeling in the extremities, and in severe cases, seizures. Akechi T, Okuyama T, Sugawara Y, et al. In both the cancer patient and their loved ones or caregivers, this process may not be fluid from start to finish. Particularly in the case of those who are acting in a caregiver role, proactive support to preserve mental health and cope with stress should be enacted. Cancer treatments can also cause depression and anxiety. Singer S, Szalai C, Briest S, Brown A, Dietz A, Einenkel J, Jonas S, Konnopka A, Papsdorf K, Langanke D, Löbner M, Schiefke F, Stolzenburg JU, Weimann A, Wirtz H, König HH, Riedel-Heller S. Co-morbid mental health conditions in cancer patients at working age – prevalence, risk profiles, and care uptake. 1. A Genetic Mutation That Can Affect Mental & Physical Health ... including antidepressants and some chemotherapy drugs. Online support groups like WhatNext by the American Cancer Society, PsychCentral by Dr. John Grohol, and the Caregiver Action Network can all be an excellent way for the family member to gain support. Chemotherapy is strong medicine and it can cause damage to a person’s nervous system. Preparatory grief refers to going through the stages of grief before a loss event occurs. Radiation can also lead to fatigue, nausea, and depression. I've heard that chemotherapy can cause changes to the brain, such as 'chemo brain' and mental illness. A side effect of chemotherapy known as chemo brain can cause fatigue, depression, mental fog, and other forms of cognitive impairment. 2012 Sep;10:205-11.3. Any serious illness can impact mental health. In this Mental Health Guide article, you will learn about chemotherapy,  what you can expect when going through treatments and if treatments can cause mental illness issues. Your medical profile and diagnosis is different from those of other people. So is your reaction to treatment. Age and genetic factors may also play a role. This is especially true if a person is weak or very sick. An article by the American Cancer Society shows the link between depression and chemo brain, and identifies that both should be considered. "More severe side effects may include confusion, disorientation, or hallucinations." Grief tends to happen at a very personal rate for each person that experiences it. While many cause hair loss, sterility, and nausea, others do not. Chemobrain is a symptom reported by many cancer patients with difficulty processing information. Pain medications They cannot differentiate. Cancer Invest. Men and Mental Health, Mental Health Issues Most Common to Men, Mental Health After Brain Injuries, What To Expect, Military Families and Mental Health, How To Get Support, Bipolar and Seasonal Affective Disorders, Differences and Causes, Top 5 Places You Can Receive Free Mental Health Counseling, 8 Tips to Help You Prepare For Therapy or Counseling Sessions. These are common when fighting cancer. If possible, psychotherapy can be initiated prior to the loss, so that the chances of clinical depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders is reduced. When prognosis is poor, or cancer is identified to be terminal, family members will require immediate and continued support. J Clin Oncol 22 (10): 1957-65, 2004.7. That’s because the drugs can harm cells in the bone marrow, where red blood cells are produced. NEW YORK(Reuters Health) - Years after receiving chemotherapy, survivors of breast cancer and lymphoma score worse on some tests of mental ability than those who had only surgery or radiation therapy, researchers say. 2013 Aug 26.2. Will chemotherapy affect your mental health? This includes both anxiety and depression, as well as several different stress adjustment and coping conditions. This does not mean that treating cancer patients with mental health conditions is not valuable or necessary. Many cancer patients may develope depression or have anxiety problems while going through treatments. Chemo can literally burn the skin and veins so either one is inserted for avoidance. Side effects may be severe, mild, or absent. The CareGiving community is also an excellent resource for family members and caregivers, as is Cancer Support Community’s “Living Room.“. What causes mental confusion? There is evidence3 to support the existence of PTSD within both cancer survivors and cancer patients. Palesh O, Koopman C. Deconstructing the complexity of PTSD in cancer. With modern medicine, psychotherapy, and peer support groups, neither the patient nor their loved ones need to suffer in silence. Too, mesothelioma likely involves chemotherapy, which can cause significant mental side effects like depression and anxiety. Chemotherapy will often slow down the amount of testosterone produced. Mental health treatment should be an integrative part of caring for both the patient and those around them. Common side effects of chemotherapy treatments include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disruption, and many symptoms of depression and anxiety. Triozzi PL, Goldstein D, Laszlo J. Treatments can also cause changes in how things smell or taste, leading to eating disorders in some patients. Bargaining4. Since a large component of sexual health is mental, anxiety and depression may negatively affect your self-esteem, and prevent you from being able to attain an erection. Treatment strategies may include breathing exercises, discussion therapy, behavioral modification, medication for depression or anxiety, or even coping skills development. Radiation can also lead to fatigue, nausea, and depression. Mental Health Effects of Cancer and Chemotherapy. The most commonly diagnosed comorbid mental health conditions for cancer patients are conditions that fall on the affective or adjustment scale6. Depression during chemotherapy needs to be treated by a competent professional that has knowledge in the treatment of this special case of depression. Blood cells forming in the bone marrow 2. Caregivers will be better able to fulfill their own personal needs and the needs of those they care for. Mystakidou K, Parpa E, Tsilika E, Panagiotou I, Galanos A, Sakkas P, Gouliamos A. Posttraumatic stress disorder and preparatory grief in advanced cancer. Get your free mesothelioma guide and learn about your treatment options. It is a legitimate, diagnosable condition that can be caused by chemotherapy treatment, the cancer itself, or secondary medical conditions such as anemia. It is natural to feel ongoing anxiety and concern about whether your treatment will be successful. By seeking treatment for mental health conditions, patients will be able to better focus on the healing process. A person in chemotherapy has many factors that can produce depression, such as knowing that they have cancer or a family history of depression. This damage can lead to hospitalization for treatment and therapy. You may also get worried, stressed, or anxious about your looks and your health. 2013 Sep;45:226-33.9. We can help you file a claim for VA benefits. Call Us for Patient Support (888) 708-5660, Mesothelioma patients have access to over $30 billion in financial aid. The website DBTSelfHelp details several such exercises for the public. Chemo brain is often described as feelings of not remembering things, feeling vague or having trouble concentrating. Contributions of benzodiazepines to cancer therapy. The combination of recovery and physical discomfort can wreak havoc on mental health. Testimonials | The sooner you make your physician aware of your concerns, the sooner you can be treated effectively. Psychological stress describes what people feel when they are under mental, physical, or emotional pressure. Disclaimer: The information provided by MesotheliomaGroup.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice. PsychCentralhas a grief and loss forum available. What Happens When You Are No Longer on Top? Express your concerns to your friends, family, other cancer survivors, and your doctor or a counselor. Psychotherapists can be a great resource to someone who is dealing with a very abnormal situation like cancer, and can help the caregiver to process their emotions and feelings around the diagnosis. Similarly it can be administered in many different forms: intravenously, topically, injected, or received orally. Psychological and emotional trauma are, for the most part, secondary effects of dealing with the primary side effects of chemotherapy. Both the cancer itself and the chemotherapy can lead to neurological problems. Many cancer treatments can cause side effects years later. Lim SM, Kim HC, Lee S. Psychosocial impact of cancer patients on their family members. Benzodiazepines may be used to treat short-term anxiety or sleep issues, but they are addictive. Receiving a potentially fatal diagnosis, going through treatment protocols, and learning to live with limitations can cause depression in many patients, as can side effects from the treatment itself. According to this article by Julie Axelford at PsychCentral, there are five main stages of grief: 1. Meditation may be an appropriate choice for some patients. Severe anxiety cause physical effects such as nausea, diarrhea, irritable bowel, and may even affect your immune system (lowering your resistance to illness). Recent Results Cancer Res. Nerve damage can happen in both, but the Piccline can cause it from the chest all the way to the toes, as mine did. Always tell … Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Jan-Mar;17:155-9. Basic self-directed mindfulness exercises are a large portion of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Brain tumors can cause both physical and mental symptoms. Opioid medications are another common cause of … Without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues, you may experience anemia.Symptoms of anemia may include: 1. fatigue 2. lightheadedness 3. pale skin 4. difficulty thinking 5. feeling cold 6. general weaknessChemo can also lower your white blood cell count (neut… This is often called “chemo brain,” and although experts don’t know exactly what causes this mental cloudiness, it’s a very real thing that happens to some people. Treating mental health conditions in the cancer patient requires several special considerations5. Mental confusion may have more than 1 cause. : Major depression, adjustment disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder in terminally ill cancer patients: associated and predictive factors. Anxiety can be mild, moderate, or severe. Medications. Below is a list of some of the more common late effects. Contact | Psychotherapy with an experienced therapist or psychotherapist can be helpful, even to patients who have not yet been diagnosed with a condition. Can The Internet Affect Your Mental Health? Chemo brain can also be called chemo fog, cancer-related cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction.Though chemo brain is a widely used term, the causes of concentration and memory problems aren't well-understood. In a 2013 study8, researchers identified that family members of cancer patients were at an increased risk of depression for a variety of different reasons, including changes to socioeconomic status due to the inability to work. After those adjustments, those with severe mental illness had a hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality of 2.19 (95% CI, 1.84–2.60) compared to those without mental illness. These mood disorders might show up at any time, from the time when you begin to suspect that something is wrong, to the first diagnosis, to during treatment, to following treatment when all that has occurred begins to sink in while you’re trying to gain some semblance of normalcy in your life again. Chemotherapy can cause dry mouth or sores. Medical Information Disclaimer | Routine blood count monitoring is a crucial part of chemotherapy. Here are some possible causes. Ask your doctor about creating a plan to look for late side effects of the cancer therapy. Patients frequently experience a process similar to grieving after diagnosis and during palliative or end-of-life care2. Family members and patients with comorbid anxiety disorders or mood disorders were more likely to have a difficult time grieving. Be sure to discuss with your cancer care team possible side effects of treatment before the treatment begins. 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