Depression and anxiety
Depression and anxiety
Overview
Some symptoms of anxiety and stress include:
- Excessive worrying, or restlessness
- Trouble sleeping, tiredness and exhaustion, or excessive sleeping
- Muscle tension
- Fast heartbeat, trembling, chest tightness, high blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath
- Trouble concentrating, irritability, or impatience
Some symptoms of depression, especially in older people, include:
- Feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, anger, and irritability or frustration
- Problems with memory, concentration, confusion, or personality changes
- Sleep problems
- Losing interest in going out and socializing
- Loss of self-esteem
- Isolation
- Suicidal thinking
If you find that your symptoms last for most of the day, every day, for more than two weeks, you should speak with your doctor and get help.
What causes anxiety and depression?
It is important to understand that it isn’t a sign of weakness or failure, or your inability to cope with your diagnosis. Anxiety and depression can be different for everyone.
About 40–45% of men require psychosocial counselling at some point during their treatment for one reason or another.
- Fear of recurrence
- Long-term side effects of treatments
- Anxiety and dealing with recurrence
- Anxiety and accepting death
- Depression
Psychological counselling should be an integral part of your treatment
- To prevent and treat the impact of the disease on the patient and their loved ones
- To find ways to help you get through this difficult time
For more information take a look at our Coping with cancer and I have advanced cancer sections.
Tips for managing your mood
Knowledge is power
Some people feel less anxious knowing everything about their cancer treatment, while others get stressed out with all the details. Figure out where you feel the most comfortable to help control treatment‑related anxiety.
Identify your triggers
Use a journal to write down your feelings and help you identify the events that make you feel the most anxious or depressed—then you can figure out how to deal with them. Don’t forget to record good things too!
Talk it out
Start by talking with just one person about your feelings—it could be a family member, friend, or someone who’s lived through a similar cancer experience. All it takes is one conversation to open up and start feeling better. Visit our Support for you section and call 1 855 899‑2873 to speak to one of our uro‑oncology specialists.
Surround yourself with positivity
Whether it’s people, events, or pets, surround yourself with things that make you happy and do things that you enjoy.
Eat well and stay active
A healthy diet helps maintain proper nutrition and exercise releases natural mood boosters called endorphins. Try low‑impact and stress‑relieving activities like yoga.
Cut down on caffeine
As part of a healthy diet, monitor the amount of caffeine (a stimulant) you consume in drinks like coffee, tea, or coke. You can easily start cutting back by switching to a decaf version of the same drink.
The first person who can give you psychological help is your urologist. He will be assisted by your radiation oncologist if you need or are undergoing radiation therapy and your hemato-oncologist if chemotherapy becomes necessary.
So when distress or difficulties arise, many hospital staff can help you. The choice of a health professional is primarily based on the nature of the problems, but also according to your preferences. In order to make an informed decision, it is important that you discuss this with your doctor (urologist, radiation oncologist, hemato-oncologist) or with any other member of the team who accompanies you in your medical follow-up. Do not neglect your family doctor, because he can, like your specialist, help you; he will take into consideration your overall state of health and will refer you, if necessary, to the right specialist.
You can take advantage of the contribution of several health professionals at the same time or successively during your medical journey. Visit the Resources section of our site for more information or contact us at 1-855-899-2873. Other health professionals for you:
The psychiatrist
The psychiatrist is a medical specialist who can diagnose psychosocial problems, evaluate underlying physical disorders, and prescribe medication. They can also treat patients for pain. A psychiatrist can help the patient both physically and psychologically.
The psychologist
The psychologist can help in coping with emotional or psychological reactions to the disease and its treatments. They can also help in understanding the reaction of family members. Psychiatrists can help improve your quality of life, psychological health, and the family’s coping abilities.
The sexologist
A sexologist can help the patient and his partner overcome or adapt to the changes in their sexuality that take place after treatment. For example, the sex therapist can help patients cope with erectile dysfunction naturally without medication. They can also help patients explore other sides of their sexuality and find different ways of expressing affection.
Sexuality can take on different forms yet still remain equally fulfilling for both spouses. When hormone therapy causes a drop in libido, the sexologist can assist both the patient and couple in coping with the situation to avoid suffering, discouragement, and guilt.
The social worker
The social worker focuses on the social well-being of the patient. The social worker works with the patient and his family and assists the patient with the procedures for obtaining financial assistance required during cancer treatments. The social worker also works with the healthcare team organize the patient’s discharge from the hospital with the help of community resources (CLSC, rehabilitation centres, etc.)
The spiritual advisor
The spiritual advisor offers religious and spiritual support to people who are hospitalized and their loved ones.
Working with your healthcare team
It is very important to keep your healthcare team up‑to‑date on your mood as you progress through your cancer treatment. Open and honest communication about how you’re feeling is imperative if you want your healthcare team to be able to help you.
Other pages that might interest you
Additional Information - Side effects
How I coped with prostate cancer
A man with prostate cancer shares the challenges of his cancer experience.
Urologist’s advice: Treatments and information on prostate cancer
Learn more about the role of the urologist and the importance for a patient to gather adequate information after receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Prostate cancer: Tests, imaging and biomarkers
Discussion about the variety of approaches available to monitor this disease before, during, or after treatment.
Symptoms, risk and screening
Are you over 50 or experiencing urinary problems? Discover why early screening for prostate diseases is important.
Diagnosis and treatment
Recently diagnosed with cancer? Educate yourself to fully understand your situation.
The role of hormone therapy
Has your doctor recommended hormone therapy? This video is for you!
External radiation or Brachytherapy?
Explore the benefits and considerations of each treatment option for prostate cancer to determine which might be right for you.
Q-A – New therapies for advance prostate cancer
In this interview, we answer patients’ questions about new therapies for advanced prostate cancer.
Genetic predisposition to prostate cancer
Although rare, some hereditary genetic mutations can increase your risk of prostate cancer.
Active surveillance in 5 points
As surprising as it may seem, your doctor may prefer to wait before starting treatment.
States of prostate cancer post-treatment
Gentlemen, you’re being treated for prostate cancer, and your latest blood tests show an increase in PSA levels?
Your role as a patient
Have you been diagnosed with prostate cancer? Your role as a patient is essential throughout your journey.
Sources and references
Last medical and editorial review: April 2024. See our web page validation committee and our collaborators by clicking here.
