Breast Cancer and Mental Health: 5 Psychological Effects Seen in Survivors

Breast cancer is among the commonest cancers in women across the world, accounting for 16 percent of all malignant diseases. Although the mortality rates of breast cancer are quite low, survival is often at the cost of mental health of the survivors. According to a research review, breast cancer survivors may be more likely to experience mental health issues than the others. The team examined data from 60 studies on the topic and concluded that the survivors might have to deal with the psychological repercussions of the disease even after surviving it. Here are the commonest mental health problems faced by women who beat breast cancer.

1 Depression

The commonest psychological problem associated with breast cancer is depression. Widely seen in most survivor, depression negatively affects the patient’s quality of life. It is present in more than five to 40 percent of all the survivors, worsening the discomfort felt by the patients. Persistent depression is also linked to poorer cognition, family dysfunction, physical distress and substance abuse. This Picture of Lemons Has Been Helping Women Detect Breast Cancer on Time.

2 Anxiety

Anxiety is yet another associated psychological comorbidity seen survivors of breast cancer caused by the changes and uncertainties caused by the diagnosis. A review by Maass et al. revealed that there’s anxiety has a prevalence of 18 percent to 33 percent among breast cancer survivors. It acts as a stressor, further degrading the quality of life of the survivors.

3 Insomnia

Patients diagnosed with breast cancer often report insomnia. An estimated 30 to 60 percent of women with breast cancer report sleeplessness. The psychological distress that follows a cancer diagnosis and treatment leads to disrupted sleep. With the fall in the quality of sleep, survivors often also face fatigue, memory problems and irritability. Can Men Get Breast Cancer? Risks, Symptoms and Treatment -What Every Man Should Know.

4 Sexual Dysfunction

Personal relationships, especially conjugal ones suffer even after the survivor beats breast cancer. Procedures such as mastectomy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy can alter the patients’ appearances, impacting body image and confidence, leading to intimacy issues and reduction in sexual desire.

5 Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation

The risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation go up in survivors of breast cancer, according to the review. Two studies were able to conclude that the risk of suicide in survivors was between 37 and 60 percent compared to women in the comparison group.

Mental health issues are among the invisible side effects of breast cancer with far-reaching consequences. Familial support is important for these survivors to tide over the tough times. That and a  combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling can help them overcome the psychological challenges of surviving breast cancer.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 10, 2018 07:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).