Is it normal to feel depressed after a cancer diagnosis?

Many people with cancer feel sad—it's a common response to any serious illness, as you deal with a sense of loss of your health and the life you had before. For some people these feelings lessen over time.

But for others, the painful feelings don't get better and start to get in the way of daily life. This may mean depression, which can be common in some people with cancer. Often people don't realize that depression is a medical condition that can be treated. For some, cancer treatment may add to it by changing the way the brain works.

The National Cancer Institute advises that if you have signs of depression for more than 2 weeks, you should talk to your doctor about treatment. Signs include lasting sadness, feeling hopeless or worthless, losing interest in things you enjoy, sleep or appetite changes, trouble concentrating, and thoughts of hurting yourself. Some of these can also come from physical problems, so it's important to discuss them with your doctor.

You don't have to control these feelings on your own—your doctor may offer medicine or refer you to other experts. If you have thoughts of suicide, dial 911 in an emergency, or call, text, or chat 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day.