A cancer diagnosis is often unexpected and always upsetting. Many of us find ourselves not only struggling with our new reality of doctors, surgeries, and treatments but also with depression. Depression is a serious problem for most people, for a cancer patient it is even more so.

Despair and hopelessness are not unusual feelings for a cancer patient. We may feel like we've just been handed a life sentence and there's nothing we can do to change the outcome. This thinking can be dangerous for us as cancer patients. Fear of treatment and depression induced by a cancer diagnosis can make us feel like there is nothing we can do to fight our disease. If left untreated, depression might prevent us from seeking the treatment we need to combat the cancer. Symptoms of depression include (from the NIMH):

• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability

So what should you do as a cancer patient faced with depression? First, it's important that you are treated for the depression. Treating the depression will improve your quality of life as a cancer patient, which will in turn help you take the steps necessary to treat the cancer.