Learning You Have Cancer: Sadness & Depression

Many people with cancer feel sad or depressed. This is a normal response to any serious illness. When you're depressed, you may have very little energy, feel tired, or not want to eat.


Depression is sometimes a serious problem. If feelings of sadness and despair seem to take over your life, you may have depression. The box below lists eight common signs of depression. Let your health provider know if you have one or more of these signs almost every day.

Early Signs of Depression Check the signs that are problems for you: a feeling that you are helpless and hopeless, or that life has no meaning no interest in being with your family or friends no interest in the hobbies and activities you used to enjoy a loss of appetite, or no interest in food crying for long periods of time, or many times each day sleep problems, either sleeping too much or too little changes in your energy level thoughts of killing yourself. This includes making plans or taking action to kill yourself, as well as frequent thoughts about death and dying.

Depression can be treated. Your doctor may prescribe medication. He or she may also suggest that you talk about your feelings with a counselor or join a support group with others who have cancer.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. --Maori Proverb