Photo by Rhoda Baer
Cancer patient receiving chemotherapy
Cancer patients may experience lasting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published in the journal Cancer.
Approximately one-fifth of patients involved in the study experienced PTSD several months after their cancer diagnosis, and roughly a third of these patients continued to live with PTSD 4 years later.
Researchers say these findings highlight the need for early identification, careful monitoring, and treatment of PTSD in cancer survivors.
Caryn Mei Hsien Chan, PhD, of the National University of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, and her colleagues conducted this research.
The study included 469 adults with various cancers who were within 1 month of cancer diagnosis at enrollment.
Patients who had significant psychological distress (defined as a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale total cutoff score of 16 or higher) underwent
testing for PTSD at 6 months of follow-up. All patients were tested for PTSD at 4 years of follow-up (regardless of their Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score).
The incidence of PTSD was 21.7% at 6 months and 6.1% at 4 years. Although overall rates of PTSD decreased with time, roughly one-third of patients initially diagnosed with PTSD were found to have persistent or worsening symptoms 4 years later.
“Many cancer patients believe they need to adopt a ‘warrior mentality’ and remain positive and optimistic from diagnosis through treatment to stand a better chance of beating their cancer,” Dr Chan said.
“To these patients, seeking help for the emotional issues they face is akin to admitting weakness. There needs to be greater awareness that there is nothing wrong with getting help to manage the emotional upheaval—particularly depression, anxiety, and PTSD—post-cancer.”
Dr Chan also stressed that many patients live in fear that their cancer may come back, and they may think the cancer has returned with every lump or bump, pain or ache, fatigue or fever.
In addition, cancer survivors might skip visits to their oncologists or other physicians to avoid triggering memories of their past cancer experience. This can lead to delays in seeking help for new symptoms or even refusal of treatment for unrelated conditions.
“We need psychological evaluation and support services for patients with cancer at an initial stage and at continued follows-up because psychological well-being and mental health—and by extension, quality of life—are just as important as physical health,” Dr Chan noted.
