Feeling low or depressed

When you're ill, there are many reasons why your normal mood may change.

Your cancer may cause you to feel fear, sadness, anxiety or uncertainty. Physical symptoms such as sleeplessness, tiredness or pain may sap you of energy. You may be worried – about your family, your job or your finances, for example.

Most patients with cancer have times when their mood is low and it becomes harder to enjoy life. The feelings usually pass after a little while, and the mood lifts.

If you're feeling low

Here are some simple things you can try for yourself, to help you feel better:

• take some gentle, regular exercise and get some fresh air
   
• look after yourself and eat as well as you can
   
• make time for yourself and give yourself some treats – things you especially enjoy
  
  try different ways of recharging your batteries – relaxation exercises or a complementary therapy are helpful for some patients
   
• tell your friends and family how you are feeling. Alternatively, you may prefer to talk with someone impartial. This could be a nurse or chaplain, for example, or you could try one of the many cancer helplines if you're happy to speak with someone over the telephone
   
• think about trying a local support group – it may bring you the friendship of others who understand what you're going through
   
• tell your doctor if your illness or treatment is causing you problems – for example, if you have pain or you feel very tired. They may be able to offer you a treatment to the problem and make you feel better
   
• if you're worried about something in particular – money, for instance – tell your doctor or nurse. They can arrange for another member of your healthcare team (such as the social worker) to see you. Having some help with your practical problems may make you feel better.

What if you don't start to feel better?

If your low mood persists, you may be suffering from clinical depression.

Depression is an illness, just as much as cancer is. It is caused by chemical changes in the body, and probably affects one in four cancer patients at any one time.

Signs that you may be depressed include:

• a low mood that doesn't go away
   
• loss of interest in the things or people around you
   
• not feeling better, even when you do things you normally enjoy
   
• irritability
   
• constantly feeling on the point of tears
   
• feeling worthless.

If you have any of these symptoms, please tell your GP, hospital doctor or nurse. If you are depressed there is no need for you to suffer, because you have an illness that can be treated.

Your doctor may give you some antidepressants to help you feel better. Modern drugs can be very successful, although it takes a little while for them to start working.

Your doctor may suggest that you see a counsellor – a person who is trained to help you sort out and cope with your feelings. S/he may refer you to a psychologist, who can help you look at how you might change the way you think and act, so that you can start to feel better. Other people who may be able to help include psychiatric nurses, who are trained to support those with a mental illness.

Your doctor will talk with you about the possible treatment options and help you find the right one for you.

For more information

Depression
A section of the Cancerbackup website. It explains what depression is, what you might be able to do to help yourself, and what treatments are available.

Depression Alliance
Includes information about depression, its symptoms and treatments. Includes sources of further information, information for carers, and contacts for local Depression Alliance support groups.

Sadness and depression
The Livestrong website (Lance Armstrong Foundation) in the USA has several pages of resources for cancer survivors who experience sadness and depression.

If you'd like to find a national or local support group, you can search for one in our database of support organisations.