WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment for depression and anxiety is nearly twice as common among U.S. cancer survivors as it is for those who never had the disease, a new study finds.
Among more than 3,000 adult cancer survivors, 19 percent reported taking medication for anxiety, depression or both, researchers found.
But when the research team looked at nearly 45,000 adults with no history of cancer, they found just one in 10 used these medications.
"Overall, these findings are sobering," said lead researcher Nikki Hawkins, a behavioral scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We've come a long way in treating cancer medically, but these data tell us cancer can take a serious psychological and emotional toll for many years, even after treatment is complete," she said.
Hawkins said it's remarkable that nearly one in five cancer survivors is taking medications for anxiety and depression. This adds up to approximately 2.5 million survivors in the United States taking these drugs, she said.
"We know very little about how or when these rates got so high, whether these survivors' mental health needs are being adequately treated, and how these rates of medication use will affect survivors' health and well-being in the long run," Hawkins said.
The American Cancer Society said it was unaware of this high rate of mental health treatment.
"This is important information that we didn't have before," said Kevin Stein, vice president of the cancer society's Behavioral Research Center.
Anxiety and depression can have a significant effect on a patient's quality of life "and even survival," he said.
"We can manage anxiety and depression with a combination of medications and interventions like stress management training," Stein said.
However, "we need to do a better job of understanding who's at risk for anxiety and depression, and we need to intervene early," Stein said.
He added that physicians can screen patients for anxiety and depression simply by asking, "How distressed are you?" Then they can refer patients to appropriate mental health services, Stein said.
"It should be asked about at every visit," he added.
Patients also should speak up, Stein said. "It's not uncommon to feel anxious or depressed after you have cancer, but it's OK to ask your doctor for help."
That's how you can learn about options for support and treatment, Hawkins said.
"Survivors might feel uneasy or stigmatized talking about the toll cancer takes on their emotions, but their psychological health is as important as their physical health and deserves the same level of attention," she said.
Using data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey for 2010 to 2013, Hawkins and her colleagues analyzed more than 48,000 records to estimate the number of cancer survivors taking medication for anxiety or depression.
Patients most likely to use antidepressants included those under 65, whites, people with public insurance and a usual source for medical care, and those with multiple chronic health conditions, the researchers found.
The report was published Oct. 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
For more on anxiety and depression among cancer patients, visit the American Cancer Society.


I am so excited to be sharing our home decorated for the holidays!! Last year was our first Christmas in our new house. Because we had just finished part of a remodel and I wasn't quite sure how all of our old decor would fit, I didn't decorate as much as I had in years past. It is one of my greatest wishes to create a home that is warm and cozy and full of holiday traditions for our family. And how the feel of our home decorated for the holidays plays a big part in that for me. I wish for my kids to always remember a festive, warm, and cheerful house as well as me and Aaron enjoying how it looks and feels. I took all of this into consideration when deciding the look I wanted for the new house.
I definitely have more of a traditional home and traditional style. That being said, I love some of the trends you are seeing right now, liked flocked greenery. I wanted the main rooms to feel coordinated and deliberate rather than a scatter of Christmas decorations. I achieved that by repeating some of the same styles or patterns in these rooms. Hayneedle was my one-shop-spot for the start of my shopping.
I found the tree, garland, and wreath to start. They all have a similar feel and help me tie the entry, dining, and living rooms together. One thing to consider when placing your greenery and trees – to create more of a personal and full look, add sprigs or fillers. I love the flocked look, but to mix in my traditional style and make it more full, I added some green sprigs. What a difference it makes! The pre-light greenery gives everything such a cozy glow.
I love the pop that the wreaths on the windows add to the dining nook. I have them hung with command strips. The entry wreath has battery operated lights which makes hanging it so much easier. The wreaths have berries similar to the garlands and trees – again, tying them to the rest of the decor.
With the fireplace garland being such a statement piece, I kept our bookshelves minimal. An important thing to remember, is to remove some of your usual items you have out to avoid it feeling too cluttered. The fireplace and tree are my favorite parts of this room.
The dining room is a very traditional, so I added a potted tree to the buffet. The height of the tree helps compliment the high ceilings. By adding a plaid ribbon and greenery to an existing hurricane lamp, it instantly became festive! Small touches, like adding a plaid pillow to the captain chairs also add a festive pop.
I hope you all enjoy seeing our home decorated for the holiday! I am so happy with how it turned out and really think I accomplished my wish of creating a home that adds to our lasting holiday traditions. If you are in search of the perfect tree, garland, wreath, or decor, be sure to check out Hayneedle – they have so much to choose from!!
This post is sponsored by Hayneedle. Product selection, staging, and opinions are my own! Thank you for following along!


Studied Grays School of Art Aberdeen 1953-58. Hospital field 1958 and 1959 and abroad.
Education officer Council of Industrial Design Glasgow 1963-68.
Director Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums 1968-1989. Aberdeen City Arts and Recreation Officer 1989-96. Secretary Royal Scottish Academy 1990-1998.
President Royal Scottish Academy 1998.
Born in Montrose, Ian McKenzie Smith (b. 1935) studied at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen and at Hospitalfield from 1953 to 1958. After a period of teaching he became Director of Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums in 1968.
Now retired he continues to live and paint in Aberdeen. His work, although based on landscape and other forms, is broadly abstract. As a young man he was influenced by the Danish, Dutch and Belgian artists of the COBRA Group that were active in the late 1940s and 1950s. Later he became interested in the philosophies Zen Buddhism.