ResearchWhat I discovered: Depressive and anxiety symptoms affect around 40% of breast cancer patients. Women with breast asymmetry had increased fears of cancer recurrence and were more self-conscious. More pronounced asymmetry led to a higher incidence of depressive symptoms. Chemotherapy, particularly at high doses, is a risk factor for depression as well. Women with depression often experience increased side effects from cancer treatments including hot flashes, cognitive impairment, and pain. |
Depression often worsens over the course of cancer treatment, persists long after cancer therapy ends, and worsens patients’ adherence to cancer treatment, survival, symptom management, and quality of life. Breast cancer patients are at a high risk of developing depression, and a new treatment study has proved effective. Interpersonal psychotherapy is influenced by and affects the patient’s psychosocial environment. The goal of this treatment is to help the patient solve a crisis in his/her social environment, which leads to improvement in depressive symptoms. |