A breast cancer diagnosis rarely arrives neatly; it lands with a thud that reverberates through every part of life. Alongside scans, surgery dates and treatment plans comes a quieter, lonelier struggle with the mind. Anxiety and fear are common first responses. For some, the news stirs old traumas long buried.
Understanding this emotional terrain matters because recognising what’s happening is often the first step to getting help. It’s estimated that nearly one in four people with breast cancer experiences depression; many more report anxiety, exhaustion, insomnia, memory lapses, mood swings or symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
The signs can be subtle or stark. Sleep that won’t come, or won’t stay. A flatness that drains joy from previously loved routines. Appetite lurching in either direction. A fogginess that makes reading, work or conversation hard to sustain. Reaching for alcohol or drugs to blunt the edges. Aches and stomach upsets that defy easy explanation.
If any of this sounds familiar – whether newly diagnosed, mid-treatment or years into survivorship – support is available, and you don’t need a formal diagnosis to ask for it.
Not everyone will respond the same way. Mental health is shaped by our histories and circumstances. A past episode of depression or anxiety can increase vulnerability. So can earlier trauma, a diagnosis at a younger age, weak social networks, financial strain or limited education.
And the treatments that save lives can themselves take a toll. Chemotherapy is known for nausea, fatigue and appetite loss, but it’s also linked to low mood and disturbed sleep. Hormonal therapies can trigger abrupt menopause or joint pain that undercuts resilience. Radiation to the chest or neck and some immunotherapies may affect thyroid function, leaving people depleted and low.
None of this invalidates treatment; it underscores the need to treat the whole person.
Help comes in many forms. Many cancer centres now build mental health care into oncology, with automatic referrals to counselling. Talking therapies have a strong evidence base: cognitive behavioural therapy helps people challenge unhelpful thoughts; acceptance and commitment therapy teaches skills to sit with difficult feelings while still moving towards what matters. Psychologists and psychiatrists treat complex conditions, while psychiatric nurses and social workers bridge care and run support groups.
Complementary therpaies can also help: acupuncture, art therapy, journalling, biofeedback, guided imagery, meditation, mindfulness and yoga – can calm the nervous system and restore balance. If you, or someone you love, is struggling, reach out. Local support is available for complementary therapies. Contact Prity Farooq on 01274 307040 for a free counselling session.
