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Why Mental Health Screenings Should Be A Regular Part Of Cancer Care

02, May 2022



Having to wait years for treatment for cancer, heart disease, or diabetes is the last thing on our minds. Prior to Stage 4, we are trying to resolve these concerns. We begin with the simplest forms of prevention. Aiming to reverse symptoms as soon as possible is a priority for those suffering with recurrent coughs, high blood pressure, or excessive blood sugar levels. The mental health screening melbourne florida based services are the best there.

The Mental Health Concerns

There is a higher likelihood of developing mental health concerns among those suffering from life-threatening physical conditions including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, was this ever brought to your attention?

  • The importance of mental health screenings cannot be overstated for cancer patients who are having difficulty adjusting to their new reality.
  • According to research, ranging from 8 to 24% of cancer patients are also depressed. As a result, those with long-term health conditions are more inclined to end their lives.
  • In contrast, patients and their loved ones tend to overlook the warning signs because they think that gloominess is a normal part of coping with significant health issues.

There are far too few cancer patients who are evaluated for possible mental health problems as part of their treatment. More than eight out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer are unaware of the harmful impact cancer may have on their mental health, according to new study. The CANCER SCREENING melbourne florida is important there.

mental screening

Finding the Issues

When it comes to diagnosing mental health issues, some doctors and nurses are just inexperienced. When it comes to diagnosing and treating depression, there is a lot of ambiguity in the oncology community. To make matters worse, oncology clinics encounter a lot of patients who have mental health issues, and the expense of cancer treatment is prohibitive for many people to take care of their emotional well-being as a first priority.

Symptoms including weariness, lack of sleep, and decreased appetite are common with both cancer and depression. Other people find it difficult to tell the two apart. People who are often exposed to life-threatening circumstances may have a hard time distinguishing between expected emotions to a cancer diagnosis and treatment, and signs that they are suffering from a mental health condition.

Cancer patients who fail to address their mental health issues may be at greater risk of acquiring the illness

  • Many cancer-related medical outcomes have been linked to depression, such as longer hospital admissions and a reduced chance of sticking to treatment regimens.
  • According to the Mental Health Association's Online Screening Program, over 10,000 people who had been assessed for mental health issues had self-reported having been diagnosed with cancer. Self-reporters of cancer were more likely to indicate a wish to enhance their psychological well-being when compared to the general population.
  • The sooner a cancer patient gets therapy for their mental health difficulties, the sooner they can focus all of their energy on fighting the disease.
  • People are becoming interested in whether psychological pain might affect cancer growth, and there is solid data to support this claim! There is evidence that cancer patients who get mental health screenings are more likely to survive the disease.

One such study found that patients with metastatic breast cancer who received treatment for depression and saw improvement in their depressive symptoms within the first year had an average survival time that was 28.5 months longer than those who saw their depressive symptoms worsen during the same time period.


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Dr. Sue Mitra and her staff strive to offer their patients the best care, advice and services available in the medical field with the goal to keep patient healthy & happy.