Depression
Common symptoms of depression can be things that you think or feel and things that you have. These might be:
feeling sad, anxious or ‘empty’ all of the time
sleep problems - including waking early and difficulty getting to sleep, or sleeping too much
not being able to get out of bed in the morning
loss of interest or enjoyment in doing day to day things
loss of interest in seeing friends and family
feelings of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness
weight loss or gain
loss of appetite
feeling tired and lacking in energy
difficulty concentrating, making decisions or remembering things
loss of interest in your appearance
feeling restless and irritable
wishing that death would come quickly or that life could be over now
having thoughts of taking your own life (suicide) and attempting suicide
Discuss what might be causing your symptoms with your doctor or specialist nurse if you are unsure. They will be able to advise you.
Not everyone with cancer has suicidal thoughts. But it is important that we mention it for those few people who do. Having suicidal thoughts does not mean people intend to act on them, but they are sign that support is needed.
Some people are more likely to think about taking their own life than others. This includes:
people with very advanced cancer
people who are in a lot of pain
people whose cancer has made them lose their independence
people with previous experience of suicidal thoughts
You may have thoughts about wanting to die if your cancer and treatment become too much to cope with. You may wish that death would come quickly and your life would be over now.
Doctors call this having passive suicidal thoughts. Although this is very distressing and you need to still seek medical help, it is different from actually planning to take your own life (suicide).
If you feel that life is not worth living anymore, or you can see no way out of your situation, you may think about taking your own life.
You must try to get medical help immediately if you feel like this or try to harm yourself in any way. It is also important to identify the protective factors in your life, what keeps you going, and hold on to those.
Your outlook on life is likely to be distorted when you are depressed. So you may not be seeing the true picture. Situations can look and feel far more hopeless than they really are. These moments often pass, though they do not feel that way when they happen.
Things may not look so awful if you get the treatment that you need. You may find that you have more resources to cope with your situation. Sometimes we cannot see those because of depression. This is why seeking help is so important.
Read more about treating depression
Sometimes people feel too sad and low to even think about getting help. But people around them may notice that they are acting strangely, hear them talking about ending their life or see them making arrangements as if they are about to leave.
If you know someone like this, then you need to try to encourage them to get help. Consider contacting their GP if you are really worried about someone. The GP can’t give you any information about their patient without the patient's permission. But you can still tell the GP about your worries. It’s important not to ignore someone’s threat or mention of taking their own life.
Talking about suicide to someone who is thinking about taking their own life will not increase the chance of them carrying it out. In fact, it is more likely to actually help them. It shows them that you are concerned about their feelings. This can give them permission to talk about their fears and worries. It can also reduce the shame that they feel about these thoughts.
For many people, this helps to give them back a feeling of control over their lives.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are thinking about taking your own life because you are in pain or suffering from other symptoms. They can do a lot to control the symptoms and side effects of cancer, especially when it comes to treating cancer pain.
Once your symptoms are under control, you may feel a lot better, and your suicidal thoughts may disappear.
The most important thing is to seek professional help and talk to people who know the best way to help you.
Read more about treating cancer pain
Maudsley Learning, part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, has a set of cancer and mental wellbeing videos for people affected by cancer.
The videos have information and advice on what to do if a cancer diagnosis affects your mental health. They cover several topics, including:
breaking bad news
managing anxiety
common reactions to a diagnosis
relationships
Last reviewed: 24 Mar 2026
Next review due: 24 Mar 2029
Talking therapies and antidepressants are ways of treating depression. Some people use herbal remedies to help them feel better.
Being depressed is much more intense than feeling down or sad. Feeling sad now and then is part of life, but depression is a much stronger feeling.
After a diagnosis of cancer, you might have a range of feelings including fear, sadness, anxiety and depression. These are normal responses to a stressful life experience.
Counselling can help you come to terms with your cancer. Understanding what it is and how it can help, can help you decide if it is right for you.
There are a few ways to go about finding a counsellor.
Whether you are someone with cancer or a carer for someone with cancer, we want you to know that it is common to struggle with your mental health when dealing with a cancer diagnosis. But there are people who can support you during this time and things you can do to help yourself.
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
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Connect with other people affected by cancer and share your experiences.
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