Partners Of Cancer Survivors At Risk For Depression

When a loved one battles cancer watch out for your own depression.

A new study being published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) reports that partners of cancer survivors experience equal levels of mental health impairment as the survivors themselves. In the study, 20% of partners and 22% of cancer survivors suffered from clinical depression. Furthermore, depressed partners were less likely than depressed survivors to receive mental health treatment (34% vs. 58%), and received less social support, spiritual well-being, marital satisfaction, and more loneliness than survivors. Finally, partners reported little "post-traumatic growth" (positive personal change occurring as a result of the cancer experience).

According to Michelle M. Bishop, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, University of Florida, and the study's lead author:

"These findings highlight the importance of addressing the needs of family members who care for cancer patients, and who may be suffering in silence. We need to acknowledge that cancer occurs in the context of a family that is profoundly affected by the experience, and that needs intervention for their own well-being."

The study focused on partners of cancer survivors who received blood and marrow transplant(BMT) and the authors noted some evidence in the literature to suggest that partners of other cancer survivors may face similar issues.

Source: Science Daily reporting on a press release from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

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