This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8246829.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Depression 'cuts cancer survival' | Depression 'cuts cancer survival' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Depression can damage a cancer patient's chances of survival, a review of research suggests. | Depression can damage a cancer patient's chances of survival, a review of research suggests. |
| The University of British Columbia team said the finding emphasised the need to screen cancer patients carefully for signs of psychological distress. | |
| The study, a review of 26 separate studies including 9,417 patients, features in the journal Cancer. | The study, a review of 26 separate studies including 9,417 patients, features in the journal Cancer. |
| It found death rates were up to 25% higher in patients showing symptoms of depression. | It found death rates were up to 25% higher in patients showing symptoms of depression. |
| "Cancer patients need not panic if they are experiencing depressive symptoms, but it is certainly reasonable to talk to their physicians about their mental health." Jillian SatinUniversity of British Columbia | "Cancer patients need not panic if they are experiencing depressive symptoms, but it is certainly reasonable to talk to their physicians about their mental health." Jillian SatinUniversity of British Columbia |
| In patients actually diagnosed with major or minor depression, death rates were up to 39% higher. | |
| The increased risks remained even after other clinical characteristics that might affect survival were taken into consideration. | The increased risks remained even after other clinical characteristics that might affect survival were taken into consideration. |
| However, the researchers said more research was needed before any definitive conclusions could be drawn, as it was difficult to rule out the impact of other factors. | However, the researchers said more research was needed before any definitive conclusions could be drawn, as it was difficult to rule out the impact of other factors. |
| They also stressed that, overall, the increased risk of dying from cancer due to depression was small - so patients should not feel they had to maintain a positive attitude to beat their disease. | |
| The studies looked at by the British Columbia team focused on a range of survival times, from one year to 10 years. | The studies looked at by the British Columbia team focused on a range of survival times, from one year to 10 years. |
| The researchers could find no firm evidence to show that depression impacted on the progression of disease - although the number of studies which specifically looked at this was very limited. | |
| Stress impact | Stress impact |
| Research on animals has suggested that stress can have an effect on tumour growth and the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. | Research on animals has suggested that stress can have an effect on tumour growth and the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. |
| It is possible that depression could have an impact on hormones or the immune system, or that depressed people tend to engage in behaviour which might affect how long they live. | It is possible that depression could have an impact on hormones or the immune system, or that depressed people tend to engage in behaviour which might affect how long they live. |
| For instance, depressed people may be less likely to comply with treatment regimes. | For instance, depressed people may be less likely to comply with treatment regimes. |
| However, at this stage there is no firm proof that depression actually causes cancer patients to die earlier than they otherwise would. | However, at this stage there is no firm proof that depression actually causes cancer patients to die earlier than they otherwise would. |
| Previous research has suggested that depression has a much bigger impact on mortality from heart disease. | Previous research has suggested that depression has a much bigger impact on mortality from heart disease. |
| Lead researcher Jillian Satin said: "It is quite remarkable that the presence of depressive symptoms or a diagnosis of a depressive disorder can predict mortality in cancer patients. | Lead researcher Jillian Satin said: "It is quite remarkable that the presence of depressive symptoms or a diagnosis of a depressive disorder can predict mortality in cancer patients. |
| "But it should be kept in mind that the increased risk is quite small. | "But it should be kept in mind that the increased risk is quite small. |
| "Cancer patients need not panic if they are experiencing depressive symptoms, but it is certainly reasonable to talk to their physicians about their mental health." | "Cancer patients need not panic if they are experiencing depressive symptoms, but it is certainly reasonable to talk to their physicians about their mental health." |
| Dr Julie Sharp, of the charity Cancer Research UK, said: "This research adds weight to the importance of identifying depression early in people with cancer and offering them appropriate support and care." | Dr Julie Sharp, of the charity Cancer Research UK, said: "This research adds weight to the importance of identifying depression early in people with cancer and offering them appropriate support and care." |
| But she added: "There are still many unanswered questions as the effects observed in this study are quite small and may be due to other factors. | But she added: "There are still many unanswered questions as the effects observed in this study are quite small and may be due to other factors. |
| "More research will be needed to explain whether these observations are true and if so why." | "More research will be needed to explain whether these observations are true and if so why." |