Alleviating Depression in Cancer Patients Assignment

Alleviating Depression in Cancer Patients - Assignment Example The depression interferes with the entire body of an individual and impacts heavily on one’s daily routine and quality of life. Depression instigates a feeling of hopelessness and despair and has its effects on both men and women alike with little or no noted disparities for the different genders; this is in regard to its severity and prevalence effects (Hopko & Lejuez, 2007). In most cases when a patient is diagnosed with cancer, thoughts of fear and despair are experienced almost immediately. During the treatment and/or post-treatment stages, depression becomes an important component in a patient’s recovery. The depression determines the after-effects of cancer and also has an influential ability to dissuade a patient from participating in a treatment program. Depression causes impairment to the normal body functions and a disruption to the psychological makeup of a person and in extreme cases might be an impediment to treatment plans for the patients (Hopko & Lejuez, 2007). Depression impacts both on the patients diagnosed with cancer and to their respective families. These groups of people, both patients and their families faced with a cancer diagnosis; undergo varying degrees of emotional breakdowns and its associated stress. Children and spouses alike get traumatized with the invasion of cancer and its effects, and this has been a major contributor to the behavioral changes in such children (Yeung, 2007).