Depression and prostate cancer

Both you and your loved one are likely to have strong feelings of sadness when you first receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer—or if his cancer recurs. It’s also very common for men to feel sad about the loss of sexual function (impotence) loss of libido, or incontinence caused by treatment for prostate cancer.

But if that sadness continues and gets worse—and is accompanied by strong feelings of despair and hopelessness—your loved one may be suffering from depression.

It can happen to you too

Studies report that wives/partners may experience greater levels of stress and anxiety than their men with prostate cancer. Depression can cause very strong emotions such as anger and irritability. It can also cause intense mood swings that can make you or your loved one feel “out of control.” Persistent negative thinking can quickly spiral into fear and anxiety, which can sometimes become paralyzing.

Depression can also cause physical changes that can wreak havoc on your body, such as headaches, chronic body pains, and stomach problems. You or your loved one may have trouble sleeping—or perhaps sleep too much. You may overeat as a way of coping with your feelings, or hardly eat at all. You also may have trouble reading or concentrating.

Other signs and symptoms (that can come on suddenly or slowly) can include:

• Sadness that doesn’t go away
• Loss of interest in activities that used to bring you pleasure
• Not wanting to be around friends and family
• Not caring about how you look—or whether you wash or bathe
• Loss of interest in sex
• Feeling tired all the time, despite how much sleep you get
• Sleep changes, such as not being able to fall asleep, stay asleep, or waking up very early
• Having memory or concentration problems
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Drinking too much alcohol or using drugs
• Being quick to get angry
• Feeling nervous or anxious
• Feeling guilty, worthless, helpless, or hopeless
• Thinking about death or “ending it all” by suicide

Help is there if you need it

If you or your man experience any of these signs and symptoms, and have overwhelming feelings of despair or hopelessness that are making it hard to function at your best, you may want to seek professional help from a medical doctor or psychiatrist.

A medical professional can help you determine if you or your loved one’s feelings are “normal” for your situation, or if you may benefit from treatment for depression.

Updated 10/11

Always discuss everything you read on this web site with a qualified medical professional.

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Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 3rd edition. Litin SC, ed. HarperResource. New York, NY: 2003; 1220-1226.