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The evidence for emotional problems and cancer

Improvements in diagnosing cancer and cancer treatment have meant more people are living with cancer than ever before. It is estimated that there will be 4 million people living with and beyond cancer by 2030.1 However, many people will live with significant ongoing problems relating to their cancer:

  • Nearly half of people diagnosed with cancer will live with fatigue.2
  • Over 30% of people living with cancer have moderate to severe pain.3
  • Over 60% of people with cancer have sleep disturbance.4

Research conducted at the University of Southampton followed 1,000 people with bowel cancer over five years from shortly after their diagnosis. This showed that while 70% of people did well, 30% had poorer quality of life than they did at the start of treatment. This remained the case five years later.5

Evidence for emotional problems and cancer

People with a previous history of depression, who had low confidence to self–manage their problems, and people living with other health problems are more likely to have lower long-term quality of life than others.6 Our research found that 21% of people with bowel cancer had clinically significant levels of depression before their surgery, which reduced to 15% five years later.7

What the evidence shows is that emotional distress is experienced by many people living with cancer. Left unsupported, these problems can last years after treatment has ended. However, it is possible to know who are more likely to have emotional problems. Spotting problems early, telling others about difficulties faced and getting timely access to effective treatment and support help limit and prevent these long-term emotional and psychological issues.

This resource provides information on how you can cope with your emotional problems relating to cancer and how you can discuss these with others.

References

  1. Maddams J, Utley M, Møller H. Projections of cancer prevalence in the United Kingdom, 2010-2040. Br J Cancer. 2012 Sep 25;107(7):1195-202. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2012.366.
  2. Al Maqbali M, Al Sinani M, Al Naamani Z, Al Badi K, Tanash MI. Prevalence of Fatigue in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2021 Jan;61(1):167-189.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.07.037.
  3. Snijders RAH, Brom L, Theunissen M, van den Beuken-van Everdingen MHJ. Update on Prevalence of Pain in Patients with Cancer 2022: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Jan 18;15(3):591. doi: 10.3390/cancers15030591.
  4. Al Maqbali M, Al Sinani M, Alsayed A, Gleason AM. Prevalence of Sleep Disturbance in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Nurs Res. 2022 Jul;31(6):1107-1123. doi: 10.1177/10547738221092146.
  5. Wheelwright S, Permyakova NV, Calman L, et al. Does quality of life return to pre-treatment levels five years after curative intent surgery for colorectal cancer? Evidence from the ColoREctal Wellbeing (CREW) study. PLoS One. 2020 Apr 9;15(4):e0231332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231332.
  6. Foster C, Haviland J, Winter J, et al. Pre-Surgery Depression and Confidence to Manage Problems Predict Recovery Trajectories of Health and Wellbeing in the First Two Years following Colorectal Cancer: Results from the CREW Cohort Study. PLoS One. 2016 May 12;11(5):e0155434. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155434.
  7. Calman L, Turner J, Fenlon D, et al. Prevalence and determinants of depression up to 5 years after colorectal cancer surgery: results from the ColoREctal Wellbeing (CREW) study. Colorectal Dis. 2021 Dec;23(12):3234-3250. doi: 10.1111/codi.15949.