Women under 65 more upset by cancer than older women or men

By April Clarkson, June 21st, 2013 | Health | 0 Comments

Younger women are more likely to suffer emotional distress if they have cancer, according to a study.
A diagnosis of cancer, and the treatment that follows, can be emotionally distressing. But the level of that distress varies from one person to the next. Doctors in Edinburgh now report on a survey of over 3,000 male and female cancer patients attending outpatient clinics who were given a questionnaire about their levels of anxiety and depression.

They found that 22 per cent of the group was experiencing significant emotional distress. This was most common among women under 65 with active disease, less so among those who had had successful treatment. These factors were more relevant than the type of cancer the patient had. The researchers say that it is important to monitor levels of anxiety and depression in cancer patients from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. Those with high levels of distress can then be offered earlier, and ongoing, treatment and support.