Many people find that having cancer, needing chemotherapy treatment and the effect that both of these may have on their lives can sometimes make them feel anxious, afraid or depressed. Often these feelings can be prompted by something seemingly trivial, such as having to change your usual daily routine to fit in with the treatments, or something more obvious, such as the side effects of the treatment, or the risk of infertility. If you do feel low or worried, for whatever reason, it is important to know that you are not alone. You can be sure many cancer patients have felt as you do at some time during their treatment and that, like them, you can overcome feeling fearful or discouraged. One of the first steps to solving problems successfully is to find out exactly what is causing the problem in the first place.
Depression can set in as the drugs start to work on the cancer.
Side effects, especially hair loss and tiredness which are caused by some of the drugs, can make you feel less happy about your appearance. Having to change your normal routine to make time for the treatments can also be upsetting. Sometimes, if the cancer is taking time to respond to the drugs, you can start to become discouraged and feel depressed. The greatest fear of all is fear of the unknown. Many cancer patients feel afraid of the future and what it might bring.