Support groups and psychotherapy are also available to the family and friends of people with cancer. People with cancer and their families can find psychosocial support though their hospital, cancer center or though support and advocacy organizations such as the American Cancer Society and Gilda’s Club. Also The Wellness Community and CancerCare offer online support groups led by health professionals.
Other options available to people with cancer include hypnosis and guided imagery, where you relax by focusing on a positive mental image. Biofeedback, a technique that helps people learn how to relax, works with bodily functions such as breathing and muscle tension. If it’s feasible, mild aerobic exercise can also provide energy and a mood lift. Some people, especially those who have had anxiety disorder or depression in the past, may need antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to help them cope.
Cancer is an isolating experience, Carlson says, but reaching out for support can help people living with the discomfort and uncertainties of cancer gain reassurance and a better quality of life.
National Cancer Institute's Symptoms of Depression
| Having a depressed mood for most of the day and on most days |
| Loss of pleasure and interest in most activities |
| Changes in eating and sleeping habits |
| Nervousness or sluggishness |
| Tiredness |
| Feeling of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt |
| Poor concentration |
| Thoughts of death or suicide |
