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According to an American study, the detection and treatment of depression are essential to the health of women affected by breast cancer. Indeed, triggering depression before or after a diagnosis of breast cancer has one. direct impact on patient survival.
Mental health plays a fundamental role in our well-being and even more in the face of illness. Indeed, according to a study conducted by American scientists, women affected by depression before or after the announcement of breast cancer have a reduced survival compared to others.
What is the impact of depression before and after diagnosis?
For this work, Prof. Bin Huang of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center and colleagues analyzed data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry, a database in the state of Kentucky, to identify women diagnosed with breast cancer. primary invasive breast between 2007 and 2011. Based on the information provided in this register, the team classified the 6054 patients selected into four groups:
- Those with no diagnosis of depression, which is the majority of women;
- Those with a diagnosis of depression only before the diagnosis of cancer, which were 3.7%;
- Those with a diagnosis of depression only after the diagnosis of cancer, which were 6.2%;
- Finally, those with persistent depression defined as depression before and after cancer diagnosis, which were 4.1%.
In this American study, 29.2% of the women had not received the treatment suggested by the recommendations for good practice and during the 4-year follow-up, 26.3% of the women had died.
Poorer survival for women with depression
According to the researchers’ conclusions, women affected by depression before or after diagnosis had a greater risk of death. In details :
- Women who had depression before diagnosis were 25% more likely to not receive recommended treatment. According to the authors, this result should lead to other research even if the statistical data are at the limit of significance because this group of women ran a risk of death more than doubled (+ 118%) compared to those who had received recommended support;
- Women with persistent depression (before and after diagnosis) had no greater risk of death than women without depression;
- Women with pre-diagnosis depression only had a 26% higher risk of death than those without depression;
- Women affected by depression after diagnosis had a 50% increased risk of death!
These findings suggest that diagnosing and treating depression at the time of breast cancer diagnosis and beyond may be critical to patient care and survival.
Mental health needs to be better taken into account
To explain the lack of impact of persistent depression (before and after diagnosis), Dr. Huang puts forward a hypothesis: “Since underdiagnosis and undertreatment of depression is common in cancer patients, persistent depression could be an indication that patients’ depression may have been well managed. Therefore, this particular finding suggests the importance of screening for and managing depression throughout the care of cancer patients.”
Even if these results will have to be confirmed by studies not concentrating on this care center alone, the study pleads in favor of better care for the mental health of women treated for breast cancer.
The point of view of Isabelle Huet, director of the Rose Up association, for women affected by cancer
“These figures are not surprising, we have already observed that women spend less and less time in hospital, which means both that they can find themselves isolated and in psychological distress, but also that doctors see them less and are therefore less likely to detect depression. What is important for us at Rose is to make them understand that they are not alone. This goes through our magazine, which relays testimonials from women who are going through or have gone through the same thing and who have come out of it. But also through meetings, in groups, in order to exchange views to reduce their anxieties and bring down the pressure they may be experiencing. Finally, they have the possibility, through a discussion group, of discussing with an oncopsychologist, which also encourages them to let go. It is essential to offer these women this type of supportive care, which is not yet sufficiently supported.“.