Do all cancer survivors need help with sadness and mild depressed mood?

The professionals who treat cancer understand that feelings of sadness or a mild depressed mood are common reactions to some of the stresses and changes associated with cancer. Talk to your health care team about how you are feeling.

You may find ways to deal with your feelings on your own or with the help of family and friends. Feelings of sadness or mild depressed mood in any given situation may come and go, or disappear altogether, but these feelings should not keep you from normal activities or from enjoying life.

If ignored, your feelings of sadness or mild depressed mood can cause a great amount of stress for your mind and body. You might not realize that this stress is building up until you are overwhelmed by it. Finding ways to work through the sadness or mild depressed mood may become difficult, and you might start making unhealthy decisions.

If your feelings are becoming overwhelming and are keeping you from enjoying life, you may be experiencing a medical condition called "clinical depression." This is a more serious condition that requires the help of health care professionals.

Do all cancer survivors need help with sadness and mild depressed mood?
The professionals who treat cancer understand that feelings of sadness or a mild depressed mood are common reactions to some of the stresses and changes associated with cancer. Talk to your health care team about how you are feeling.

You may find ways to deal with your feelings on your own or with the help of family and friends. Feelings of sadness or mild depressed mood in any given situation may come and go, or disappear altogether, but these feelings should not keep you from normal activities or from enjoying life.

If ignored, your feelings of sadness or mild depressed mood can cause a great amount of stress for your mind and body. You might not realize that this stress is building up until you are overwhelmed by it. Finding ways to work through the sadness or mild depressed mood may become difficult, and you might start making unhealthy decisions.

If your feelings are becoming overwhelming and are keeping you from enjoying life, you may be experiencing a medical condition called "clinical depression." This is a more serious condition that requires the help of health care professionals.