How is depression different from ordinary sadness during cancer?

Depression is different from normal sadness. It is more than feeling down from time to time. Depression is a medical problem marked by ongoing feelings of sadness, despair, loss of energy, and difficulty dealing with daily life.

A key difference is how long the feelings last and how much they affect you. If you feel this way most of the day for longer than 2 weeks, it may be a sign of depression. Other signs include losing interest in things you used to enjoy, changes in eating or sleep, unexplained tiredness, feeling worthless or hopeless, and frequent thoughts of death.

It is worth knowing that some of these symptoms can have physical causes, such as pain, poor sleep, anemia, or side effects of certain drugs. That is one reason to share your symptoms with your doctor, who can help sort out the cause and discuss treatment. Depression is common in people with cancer, and it can be treated.