[Narrator]

Some cancer survivors find themselves getting anxious about their annual medical checkups or tests. The fear that cancer can come back is common, even years after a diagnosis. This is very understandable, and there are many effective ways to deal with this anxiety. Oncology nurses, social workers, and wellness programs are available to help assess your anxiety symptoms and teach you stress-management techniques. You can learn most of these techniques, such as focused breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery, in a few sessions. Some focused breathing and relaxation exercises are included later in this program. You can listen and practice them on your own to get an idea of how well these techniques can work for you. Other techniques, such as biofeedback training, yoga, and meditation, take more time to learn, but are effective in helping both survivors and caregivers take control of their anxiety symptoms. 

There are other people, too, such as clergy or certified massage therapists, who can also help you deal with spiritual or physical causes of anxiety. If you find that a single technique helps you control anxiety, but you still need more help, talk with your doctor about combining medicine, counseling, and relaxation training to get the added relief you need. Your healthcare provider can help you to find people and programs in your community that can help. All you usually need to do is ask and they will respond. 

Now, let’s talk about depression. Most people have felt at least mildly depressed at some time in their lives. Depression is a common reaction to cancer, in caregivers as well as survivors. 

[Joan]

As an oncology nurse, I often hear people say they’re sad or “feeling down,” or just “have the blues.” Some survivors feel isolated during or after treatment, because they feel that other people don’t really understand what they’ve been through. Survivors may feel angry about their situation. These feelings are a normal and expected reaction to the stress of having cancer. Cancer and its treatment can lower your self-esteem by affecting the way you lead your life or by changing the way your body looks and how you feel about these changes. Additionally, chemotherapy and some of the medicines used to treat side effects can also cause mood changes. These mood changes and feelings of depression usually get better as you get further away from your diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes, however, symptoms of depression may continue or go away only to come back and take you by surprise, even after you finish your cancer treatment.

A less common disorder, which mental health specialists call “major depression,” involves difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, and loss of pleasure in your usual activities. People with major depression may also have feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, and hopelessness. The good news is that there are many effective treatments for this kind of depression. Be sure to talk with your doctor about taking care of these feelings.

Individual or family counseling can also be helpful. In counseling sessions, a trained mental health professional can listen to your concerns and help you identify new ways of thinking about, and dealing with, the stresses that may be causing your depression. Some survivors find that short-term use of antidepressant medication helps relieve their symptoms. Support groups are also an excellent resource. They provide an opportunity to meet and talk with other survivors who understand what you are going through. These groups can give you suggestions and emotional support to help you get through tough times. If you’re feeling depressed, don’t wait to ask for help. Talk with a member of your healthcare team, and they can help you to find the right source of help for you.

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