How Illness Can Affect Depression

Illness and Depression Depression often tags along with another serious illness such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s Disease and more. So often doctors will treat the illness but not treat the depression which follows along. This is sad because if you are so dejected and pessimistic about being sick, chances are your recovery won’t be the best. Cancer Can Scare You to Death Millions of people are living with a current or past diagnosis of cancer. Just the word ‘cancer’ causes people to panic, become overcome with fear of dying, and think they are forever ruined. There is an immediate fear of death, life plans upset, change in lifestyle, medical bills to face, and a fight to survive. So often your doctor, your family, friends, and cancer specialists think that it is normal for you to be depressed when you have cancer and don’t think it needs to be treated. But how can you really participate in your treatment plan if you are expecting the worst, and knowing it will happen? I have sat with people and their families when the diagnosis of cancer is given. The reaction is always disbelief, even if the person was suspecting this to be true. I have held the hand of women who have been told that their husbands have prostate cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, and many more. I have sat silent with husbands who have just been given the news that their wife has breast cancer, uterine cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer. Men tend not to talk but their pain can be felt through the looks on their faces. Cancer scares people and sometimes it scares them to death before their time. Depression can and should be treated right along with any treatment for cancer. Antidepressant medications are usually well tolerated but there may be some side effects and problems with other medications taken. It is very important to make it clear to your doctor that you need help for your depression as well as your cancer. It is also very important that if you are the husband, wife, sibling, or child of someone who is dealing with cancer to do the same thing. Please ask your doctor for antidepressant medication if you are suffering with cancer and are depressed. Depression Can Break Your Heart People with heart disease tend to suffer from depression more than healthy heart people. Flip that coin and people with depression are at greater risk for getting heart disease. If you have heart disease and are depressed you have a bigger risk of death after a heart attack. After having heart surgery, it’s very important to follow through with necessary rehabilitation. This is more difficult for someone who is depressed. Depression can increase blood pressure and affect clotting. It can also lead to elevated insulin and cholesterol levels. It can increase stress hormones, those fight or flight impulses we have when faced with danger. Again, a chemical imbalance in the brain sends the wrong messages to the body. Depression and heart disease are deadly companions and can lead to each other. They are a frightening hand in glove combination. Despite the real connection between these two dangerous illnesses, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Persons with heart disease, their families and friends, and even their doctors and cardiologists may miss depression’s warning signs. And when treatment is given it is often not enough. They think that these feelings just go along with heart disease. When my husband had emergency open heart surgery, there was never any discussion about depression which went along with heart problems. I was on top of it and worked to make sure my husband was able to get all the support he needed. Others may not know what to do and they get no help from the doctors. The impact of depression and heart disease is enormous. Depression is the leading cause of disability and heart disease is by far the leading cause of death in the US. One in three Americans will die of some form of heart disease. So it is very important that we all become aware that depression and heart disease are associated with sickness and death and proper treatment must be given. Newer anti depressants don’t have the negative complications that the previous ones did. Treatment for depression helps you manage heart problems better and have a better quality of life. It should be made very clear to people with heart problems complicated by depression that exercise is one of the best treatments for both. Treatment for depression helps people manage both diseases, making survival and enjoyment of life possible. Keep your heart and mind safe and sound. Total health is in your future.

Use Vitamins and over the counter procducts to treat cancer and improve the quality of life.

No word in the English language invokes such fear and dread as the word Cancer. When the control system that governs a cell%26#8217;s reproduction is damaged Cancer may be the result. It is the job of the immune system to detect and then kill them.

A mutation of the cell is the first step in the development of a tumor cell and is usually a small change in the DNA, which leads to a genetic instability of the cell. During Mitosis (cell division) the cell mutation is passed on to the daughter cells. Cancer cells continue to multiply in an unregulated manner. A single cancer cell is invisible to the naked eye but can continue to divide until a tumor is formed. Cancer is, ultimately, a disease of genes.

Tumors develop when uncontrolled cell division occurs and then spreads by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system).

Among the distinguishing traits of tumors is a large number of dividing cells, variation in nuclear size and shape, variation in cell size and shape, loss of specialized cell features, loss of normal tissue organization, and a poorly defined tumor boundary.

Although advanced cancer may cause pain, it is often not the first symptom. A cancer may be suspected for a variety of reasons, but the definitive diagnosis of most malignancies must be confirmed by histological examination of the cancerous cells by a pathologist.

Because “cancer” refers to a class of diseases, it is unlikely that there will ever be a single “cure for cancer” any more than there will be a single treatment for all infectious diseases.

Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body or invade other tissues, and they are rarely a threat to life unless they affect some other vital structures of the human body.

Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy or other methods. Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells, most normal cells can recover from the effects of radiation and function properly. Studies have shown that high body temperatures can affect and often kill cancer cells. Perhaps taking aspirin to reduces the body temperatures at the first sign if an illness is not the wises course of action. More studies in this area are needed.

Based on epidemiological evidence, it is now thought that avoiding

excessive alcohol consumption, being physically active, and maintaining recommended body weight may all contribute to reductions in risk of certain cancers. Most cancers are thought to be linked to known lifestyle factors.

We can greatly improve the effectiveness of our immune system to detect and then destroy these cancerous cells by taking the right nutrients. The correct nutrients can both reduce our chances of getting cancer and improve our chances of recovery if we have already contracted it.

Vitamin A - Vitamin C - Vitamin E

Selenium - Soy Isoflavones - Calcium

Flaxseed Oil - Green Tea Extract - M.S.M

Vitamin A is an important immune system stimulant. DR. Nauss reported a reduced T-cell immune response in patients with a Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency may increase the risk of cancers of the lung, larynx, bladder, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum and prostate. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Vitamin C reduces the risk of cervical dysphasia, a precancerous condition. It is essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the immune system.

Vitamin E may have a role in reducing the risk of lung cancer, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. It supplies oxygen to the heart and other muscles of the body and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Areas with low Selenium in the soil and water have more deaths from cancers of the esophagus, stomach and rectum.

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant and inhibitor of cancer initiation and development.

Studies also suggest that Soy Isoflavones can help protect against cancer as well as heart disease.

In 1985 Dr. Shekelle and his co- workers reported a strong link between ample calcium intake and low risk of developing colon cancer.

Green tea extract contains natural antioxidant compounds know as polyphenols useful in fighting tumors as well as helping prevent and treat rheumatoid arthritis.

M.S.M is a natural supplement that is getting a lot of attention due to its role in tissue healing at the cellular level. It is a natural organic sulfur that comes from rain fall and is found naturally in the human body.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/

Elaine Williams ©2008

I remember vividly the day my husband was diagnosed with cancer. We sat in the doctor’s office, not saying anything after the doctor confirmed the lesions on Joseph’s esophagus were malignant. Even though we had asked for the truth, it was still an incredible shock. I had never actually thought to hear the word “cancer.” Perhaps we really thought he was going to say it was something that a pill could easily treat and make go away.

The entire office scenario felt incredibly unreal and out of sync, as if it was someone else getting this terrible news, or it was a television show we were watching. I had this incredible denial in my head my husband did not have end stage esophagus cancer.

Emotion took me on a great, overwhelming ride. I started crying, noisily and I had no control to stop it. The nurse who was also in the room put an arm around me. I had wondered why she was there; now I knew why. I was so overtaken by emotion that my body shook. The doctor put an arm around me next, saying it would be all right. Joseph just said to me, “It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay, Hon.”

Vividly, I can still see that moment. Totally engulfed in grief, sadness and fear I cried so hard my entire face was wet and my body heaved with loud, wracking sobs. I stared at my husband who stood silently across from me, taking it all in. It took me a long time to calm myself, and at some point Joseph put an arm around me. That was the beginning of the never-ending numb confusion. The doctor tried to reassure us, murmuring that it would be all right. I almost felt bad for him, having to deliver the news.

Later, I recalled his words and the concern on his face. I wondered, what does it really mean when they say it will be all right? Was everyone’s idea of “all right” different?

It took a long time to figure out what those words meant to me and my family. “Everything will be all right.” To me, it came to mean a slow, methodical healing as we walked from beneath the shadow of loss.

Everyone is shocked when they first hear the word cancer. Some people may feel they know the test results before they hear them, but it’s still a shock to hear the words spoken out loud. It’s usually very difficult to hear or remember anything else after hearing that your loved one has cancer.

For many people, the first few weeks after diagnosis are the most difficult. After you hear the word cancer, you may have trouble listening to what is being said, and asking questions that you may have. When you are at home, you may have trouble thinking, eating, or sleeping. Remember, you are not always going to feel this way. We all struggle to figure out how and why this happened. What went wrong? We want answers, and it can make you crazy. Every cancer is different and there just aren’t any answers.

You and your loved one will have many feelings after you hear the word cancer. These feelings can change from day-to-day, hour-to-hour, or even minute-to-minute. Some of the feelings you may both go through include:

Anger

Once you accept that your loved one has cancer, you may feel angry and scared. It is normal to ask Why us? and be angry at:

The cancer

Your healthy friends and loved ones

If you are religious, you might even be angry with God

Anger sometimes comes from feelings that are harder to show–such as fear, panic, frustration, anxiety, or helplessness. If you feel angry, don’t pretend that everything is okay. Talk to someone about your anger. Most of the time, talking will help you feel better. A lot of times caregivers don’t feel like they have the right to these feelings, that only the cancer patient does. Cancer definitely affects the entire family, and you must acknowledge these feelings and work through them, for everyone’s sake.

Fear

The word ‘cancer’ frightens everyone I know! You may be afraid or worried about:

Taking care of your loved one

Taking care of your family

Paying your bills

Keeping your own job while taking care of your loved one

Losing your loved one

Most people feel better when they know what to expect. You will feel less afraid when you learn more about the specific kind of cancer and its treatment….so read as much as you can and learn as much as you can about your loved one’s cancer. Don’t let the word cancer disempower you. Knowing the facts, and recommended treatments will reduce your fear, and make you a stronger partner for your loved one.

Stress

Your body may react to the stress and worry of your loved one’s cancer. You can learn to handle stress in many ways, like:

Talking to people in the same situation as you are

Exercising

Listening to music

Reading books, poems, or magazines

Relaxing or meditating

Talking about your feelings with family and close friends

Writing your feelings down in a journal to get further clarity around them

The key is to find ways to control stress and not to let it control you.

Lack of Control

When you first learn that your loved one has cancer, you may feel as if your life is out of control. You may feel this way because:

You are now focused on doctor visits and treatments

You feel helpless

You feel like you don’t have time to do the things you normally do

Stay focused on what you can do, right now, to improve the situation. And remember, it won’t always be this way.

Loneliness

You may find that your friends or friends don’t know how to deal with your loved one’s cancer and they may not ask about it or know what to say. You may not have the energy or focus to take part in the hobbies and activities you used to enjoy. And sometimes, even when you are with people you love and care about, you may feel that no one understands what you are going through as everyone is focused on your loved one.

Consider joining a support group or talking to a close friend or family member that understands. It always help to know that you are not alone.

Hope

Once you have accepted that your loved one has cancer, you will often feel a sense of hope. There are many reasons to feel hopeful.

People with cancer can (and do) lead active lives, even during treatment

Your chances of your loved one’s living with–and living beyond–cancer are better now than they have ever been before Many doctors and most alternative practitioners think that hope may help the body deal with cancer. Scientists are looking at the question of whether a hopeful outlook and positive attitude helps people feel better. If you are hopeful, that will help your loved one be hopeful as well.

Here are some ways you can build your sense of hope:

Write down your hopeful feelings and talk about them with others

Plan your days as you usually have done

Don’t limit the things you like to do

Consciously look for reasons to hope

You will experience so many feelings as you learn to live with your loved one’s cancer diagnosis. It’s OK to take time to mourn and let the diagnosis sink in. It may feel like a loss of freedom and safety, but it won’t always be this way. Life moves forward, and your loved one’s cancer becomes just one more thing in your life that you have to deal with. Once you tackle this cancer head on, there’s nothing you can’t do!

Copyright (c) 2007 Jayne Hutchinson

I had never given a thought to ovarian cancer, and why would I? When it comes to gynecological cancers you hear about breast cancer all the time, uterine cancer, and cervical cancer when you go for your annual Pap smear, but you never hear much at all about ovarian cancer. I think it’s getting a little more noticed these days but several years ago I really didn’t give it a thought. I’m sure I probably heard the words before at some point but until I was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer I was pretty ignorant of signs and symptoms and had no idea what to look for. Not to mention I was a very healthy person - rarely even got the flu or colds - and the last thing I expected to hear from my doctor was the dreaded word, “cancer.” As it turned out, I had probably been having early warning signs for some time, possibly years, but I attributed them all as just regular old signs of getting a little older (but not that old! I was only 43) and entering that time in life where different things start to bother you or basically fall apart, kind of like a car that is reaching the end of your warranty. You know how that goes, your warranty runs out and you’re in the repair shop every other week.So I had been having very typical symptoms and had no idea, symptoms such as indigestion (never had that before), bloating, change in menstrual periods (heavier), and some pelvic pain shortly after my periods. The pelvic discomfort/painIt was really a strange symptom I thought because it wasn’t right along with that time of the month but several days after. But then it would go away and I would just figure, you know, getting older, et cetera.But then I started having this annoying leg pain. It was sort of a radiating pain, so I figured it must be something to do with a nerve. I have a little medical knowledge so I thought, could it be some sort of back issue like sciatica? No, I didn’t think so, because it didn’t follow the usual M.O. for that type of nerve pain. Instead of being alleviated by rest it was alleviated by getting up and walking. Maybe a muscle strain? How about fibroids? Yes, that was it, I decided, fibroids. I went online and researched all the symptoms and everything added up! A huge fibroid must be pressing on my sciatic nerve and causing this intolerably aggravating leg pain. I made an appointment with my gynecologist and she agreed, yes, that must be it. Whew, great, nothing that serious to worry about. My gynecologist sent me for an ultrasound where a large mass was seen, so I was immediately sent to a gynecologic oncologist. This was extremely scary but I was reassured by hearing this is the best person for any type of GYN problems (not only cancer but anything abnormal) that are out of the norm because these doctors are very specialized. However, it is very scary to be sitting in the oncologist’s office wondering if you may have cancer. You look around the waiting room and see all the obvious chemotherapy patients, and it’s quite overwhelming. As soon as I had my exam, my doctor scheduled surgery, and soon! My surgery was done six days later and the diagnoses was stage 2 ovarian cancer. I was then scheduled to begin chemotherapy. I did not want to hear this! All I could think of was losing my hair. In the grand scheme of things this is such a small thing, but believe me, when you are faced this it just seems so awful and dreadful.But there was good news hidden inside all of the bad, and that was that I only had stage 2 ovarian cancer and not a later stage which is most often diagnosed (due to the fact that no one realizes they are having any symptoms to be worried about). It is only a very very tiny percentage of diagnoses that are made at stage 1 or 2. The majority of all ovarian cancer diagnoses are made at stage 3 or 4. These later stages are a lot different in terms of prognosis (but not hopeless! there is always hope). I am happy to say I made it through it all and am now cancer free. I do believe though that if I had not had the leg pain I would not have gone to the doctor anytime soon, probably not for quite some time (I really dislike going to the doctor and always put it off), as my symptoms were just so nonspecific and seemingly very benign, and my disease may have gone unnoticed and kept growing to stage III or IV. So please heed your body’s communication with you and if you have anything going on that seems really out of the ordinary for you, even if it is ordinary for others, any early warning signs whatsoever, have it checked out by a doctor. It could make a huge difference in your ultimate diagnosis.

A cancer diagnosis is unthinkable. When you hear the word “cancer,” your mind may race as you imagine the worst case scenario. You hope that the cancer is still at a manageable or treatable stage and is localized to one area. You wonder how long cancer cells have been invading your body.

For some cancer patients, a diagnosis may be too late to destroy all cancer cells, and the chances of remission slim. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with an invasive cancer spread that may be beyond the reach of treatment, you’ve still got hope on your side.

The Effects of a Delayed Diagnosis

For those diagnosed with Stage III or Stage IV cancer, the first thing that comes to mind is, “why wasn’t my cancer caught earlier?” Unfortunately, late diagnosis is more common than many physicians may admit. No matter what type of cancer may be affecting the body — breast, lymphatic, ovarian, skin, uterine, testicular, and others — it is a fact that the earlier the disease is discovered, the better a patient’s chance at beating the disease. While miracles happen every day, and many cancer diagnoses are not terminal sentences, delayed cancer discover puts lives at risk. Doctors who ignore or miss symptoms of cancer cause irreparable harm. A delay in diagnosis may not only mean a significantly more expensive treatment plan, it may actually mean losing the fight against cancer.

The Benefits of Legal Action

Medical malpractice attorneys take on the fight against negligent medical professionals whose oversights cost families cherished time with their loved ones. From focused investigations to medical experts and legal research, an experienced medical malpractice attorney team can help your family get answers. If you think you or someone in your family may be the victim of medical malpractice, talk to a skilled Texas attorney right away.

Choosing a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you suspect a cancer diagnosis could have been made sooner, and you or a loved one suffered due to failure to diagnose cancer, a lawyer can give you information on your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for cancer treatment costs, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and more. For help choosing the right lawyer, talk to family and friends, ask around your community, and make sure you ask questions when narrowing your list of medical malpractice attorneys.

It is not the elements of our bodies that make us strong or weak to handle dire situations, but the strength of our souls and having faith. Faith is not a perspective, but rather the act to acknowledge that good happens and that no so good things can happen that can challenge the health of your soul.   The diagnosis of cancer can be very daunting as countless cancer survivors can attest. However if one is careful to ignore the predictable change in one’s heart beat or the slight breeze of uncertainty, fear, anxiety, doom or regret for not doing many of things that one has put off, well the word cancer can be the light or beacon to new beginnings.  My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June of 2008. I remember sitting on the chair that is usually found in examining rooms for loved ones; friend or family and hearing the word cancer being uttered. I suddenly found myself imagining that I was facing an ugly judge whose gavel I could hear pounding in my head.  The chair felt small, the room felt small, and my husband appeared extremely vulnerable.  I wanted to protect him.  The Urologist appeared to say the word cancer as if he had and probably did several times that day. I was so startled and when I returned to reality, I jumped from the chair and immediately went to sit next to my husband who was on the examining table and held his hand. I wanted to scream and ask him was he so calm. Don’t be calm for me I wanted to say, instead I put myself in the mode of the social worker that I was and preceded to ask billions of questions; like what it meant to have prostate cancer, would it hurt, and so on and so on.  The physician was patient. He answered every question and proceeded to educate us about options, alternatives and treatment modalities.  The best part of the entire time with the physician was when he said that we did not have to make any immediate decisions.  Driving home I asked my husband how he felt about the situation. He said do what you do so well and  research those options, look at those alternative and together we would make the best decision possible with the information we had.  I heard my husband‘s answer as a measure of faith in God.   Having faith was not about just saying well this was God’s plan. It was acknowledging that the plan had been set and that the answers were there for us to explore with his guidance. There was no reason to be afraid. We simple had to move with the tide and our surfboard was ready.  I did the research, looked at the alternative and gave the information to my husband. We prayed and thanked God that although the word cancer was daunting, he gave us strength to deal with every aspect of the situation. The treatment that my husband received was in one of the best institutions. In MD Anderson Cancer Center, he found loving people who cared for him. His physician was always available if we had questions or concern. Fortunately, my husband did not experience any horrible side effects. He was able to carry on with his daily living and continued to be a loving and caring husband.  As for me I was given another opportunity to see faith at work.  My husband never complained about the drive to receive his treatments or that the days seemed long (at least to me) waiting for the other treatment day to arrive.  His radiation treatments finally ended in September. I think he misses those nice people at the treatment center. They had a party and gave him a certificate for completion.  It is not over, he will still require monitoring. As for me, I was grateful to be a part of my husband’s practice of faith. Our lives are brighter because the thing that we were able to see was not by our sight but by our faith.