Depression increases risk of breast cancer death

Depression increases the risk of dying for women with breast cancer, a study has found.

Depression: Increases breast cancer death risk. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Patients diagnosed with depression had a 45 per cent higher risk of death from all causes than those who were not depressed, the research, published in the journal ­Psycho-Oncology, showed.

The trend emerged after scientists followed the progress of 77,173 women in south-east England with breast cancer for up to ten years.

It remained after taking into account other factors that may have affected survival including age at diagnosis, the stage of cancer and socio-economic status.

Lead researcher Dr Elizabeth Davies, from King’s College London, said: “Low mood and depression are understandable reactions to a breast cancer diagnosis. Clinicians generally know to look out for this, but these findings emphasise the need to ask patients with cancer about their mood and for women to know it’s OK to ask for help.

“Greater social support or psychological interventions for women with breast cancer could help to reduce the negative effects amongst those most at risk of depression.”