People with cancer and their caregivers are under a lot of pressure. Coping with treatments, side effects, and related anxieties can be hard.

No matter the type of treatment, most caregivers deal with stressful issues at every stage of their loved one’s cancer. You may feel vulnerability, sadness, and fear of recurrence or death. You may struggle with problems that are more disabling, such as clinical depression, intense anxiety, or panic. While many emotions fade over time, some may develop into depression. Having a loved one with cancer does not mean that you should accept feeling depressed all the time.

Overwhelming sadness or depression can make it hard to carry out daily activities. You may struggle to participate actively in your loved one’s treatment.

People’s reactions will differ and change over time. Please know that you are not alone. It is important to talk about feeling sad or depressed with someone else. This person can be a family member, friend, clergy, and/or health care professional.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression¹:

• Ongoing sad, anxious, or empty feelings
• Feeling hopeless, guilty, worthless, or helpless
• Feeling irritable or restless
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once enjoyable, including sex
• Feeling tired all the time
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or sleeping all the time
• Overeating or loss of appetite
• Thoughts of death and suicide or suicide attempts
• Ongoing aches and pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease with treatment

What You Can Do to Manage Sadness And/or Depression:

• Talk with your family, friends, or your health care team about what you are feeling. Don’t wait until you are so depressed that you can’t function in your daily life.
• Ask your health care team about medications that may be helpful.
• Join a support group to hear how other caregivers are managing their emotions.
• Seek professional help from a therapist experienced in working with people impacted by cancer.
• Use humor—find something to laugh about every day.
• Consider prayer. Many people have shared that prayer helps manage the roller coaster of emotions.
• Keep a journal to record and release your feelings.

If you or your loved one have thoughts of suicide, please call 9-1-1 or go to a nearby emergency room. You can also contact the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 to be connected to help.

1From the National Institute of Mental Health, Depression and Cancer, 2014

Cancer Support Community Resources

The Cancer Support Community’s (CSC) resources and programs are available free of charge. To access any of these resources call the Cancer Support Helpline below or visit http://www.CancerSupportCommunity.org/.

Cancer Support Helpline®—Have questions, concerns or looking for resources? Call CSC’s toll-free Cancer Support Helpline (888-793-9355), available in 200 languages Mon-Fri 9am-9pm ET and Sat-Sun 9am–5pm ET.

Open to Options®—Preparing for your next appointment? Our trained specialists can help you create a list of questions to share with your doctor. Make an appointment by calling 888-793-9355 or by contacting your local CSC or Gilda’s Club.

Frankly Speaking About Cancer®—Trusted information for cancer patients and their loved ones is available through publications, online, and in-person programs. http://www.CancerSupportCommunity.org/Get-Educated-Inspired.

Services at Local CSCs and Gilda’s Clubs—With the help of 170 locations, CSC and Gilda’s Club affiliates provide services free of charge to people touched by cancer. Attend support groups, educational sessions, wellness programs, and more at a location near you. http://www.CancerSupportCommunity.org/FindLocation.

MyLifeLine—CSC’s private, online community allows patients and caregivers to easily connect with friends and family to receive social, emotional, and practical support throughout the cancer journey and beyond.

Sign up at http://www.MyLifeLine.org/.

The Cancer Policy Institute’s (CPI) Grassroots Network—Become a part of a network of cancer advocates working to help improve the lives of cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones.

Get up-to-date information on key issues that are important to the cancer community and opportunities to make your voice heard by U.S. policymakers on issues that affect people impacted by cancer.

As a Grassroots Network member you will also receive a monthly CPI newsletter, full of important information about current issues impacting patients, advocacy stories, upcoming events, resources, and more.

Sign up at http://www.CancerSupportCommunity.org/Become-Advocate.

Cancer Experience Registry®—Help others by sharing your cancer patient or cancer caregiver experience via survey at http://www.CancerExperienceRegistry.org/.

The Cancer Support Community provides this information as a service. This publication is not intended to take the place of medical care or the advice of your doctor.

We strongly suggest consulting your doctor or other health care professionals to answer questions and learn more.