Breast cancer patients’ emotional problems ‘untreated’

Almost half of breast cancer patients may be suffering from previously undiagnosed psychiatric disorders, a new study says.

US researchers claim that upon being diagnosed with breast cancer, 47 per cent of women develop unrecognised and thus untreated problems such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Today’s report from the journal of the American Cancer Society says that all women admit to experiencing some level of emotional distress when they are told they have breast cancer, with the same problems affecting survivors up to 20 years after they have received treatment.

Lead study author Mark Hegel of Dartmouth Medical School writes that very little is presently known about the psychological status of newly-diagnosed patients.

To arrive at their findings scientists evaluated 236 women who had been told they had breast cancer, with 21 per cent being found to suffer from either major depression or PTSD.

“This study has at least two important implications,” Dr Hegel claims.

“First, we need to do a better job of getting the word out about how well we can treat breast cancer. These emotional disorders are almost certainly due in part to the fear and helplessness that continues to result from receiving a cancer diagnosis.

“Second, we need to assess for and provide adequate intervention for the women meeting criteria for these severe but very treatable psychiatric conditions,” the author concludes.