Women who become depressed after a diagnosis of breast cancer seem to run a slightly increased risk of dying from their disease.

The link between depression and cancer continues to be controversial. A new study from researchers in Copenhagen, Denmark, reveals once more how complex the relationship can be. In a survey of over 20,000 women, they found that women with small tumors had a slightly decreased change of survival if they became depressed after their diagnosis.

On the other hand, women with late stage cancer, with larger tumors, were more likely to die if they had been depressed before their diagnosis. It is not possible to say if depression makes cancer worse, from this study, or if cancer makes women depressed. More research is needed to understand how depression and cancer are really related - if at all. But it's clear that good psychological support is necessary for women with breast cancer, from diagnosis onwards, so that depression can be effectively treated.

Source

Psychosomatics January/February 2003