Lung cancer patients with mental health issues die sooner: study

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Lung cancer patients who suffer from anxiety or depression tend to die sooner, according to a new study by UBC and the BC Cancer Agency.

Researchers followed 684 patients undergoing treatment in Vancouver and Surrey and found those who reported feeling anxious and depressed following their diagnosis had a shorter length of survival.

Senior author Dr. Robert Olson says the findings of the study are already being acted upon. “I think it’s important that we’ve taken this seriously at the Cancer Agency and we have agreed to start trialing, introducing screening of anxiety and depression more often, not just at the first interview.”

As a result, Olson adds the agency has already started screening for anxiety and depression more often. “It’s enough evidence that we should look to see if we can intervene and help improve survival. So an intervention that tries to improve anxiety or depression actually help patients live longer.”

Researchers are now conducting a similar study on survival rates for patients with prostate cancer.

The study is published this month in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

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