Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
29 August 2014 09:16
Shore thing: Cancer needn't be an obstacle to going on holiday
Cancer patients are up to six-and-a-half-times more likely to suffer with clinical depression than the rest of the population, according to a new report.
Yet nearly three-quarters are being overlooked when it comes to getting psychological care, so claims a university study of 21,000 Scottish cancer sufferers by Oxford and Edinburgh scientists.
The researchers found that 73% of the 1,130 severely-depressed cancer patients are not getting effective psychological therapy of any kind.
Living with cancer needn't be a barrier to enjoying much-needed relaxation in the form of a holiday, whether you are undertaking treatment or are a survivor of the disease. The right cancer travel insurance package can cover everything from lost medication to round-the-clock emergency assistance to help you rest assured and enjoy your break.
The results show that clinical depression rates among cancer patients vary between 6% and 13%. This compares with an average of only 2% of the overall Scottish population.
Co-researcher, Oxford University's Michael Sharpe calls such lack of psychological treatment "surprising" since clinical depression is relatively common among cancer patients.
Prof. Sharpe says some sufferers' belief that depression is part of the "cancer package" is a huge obstacle that needs addressing.
The results coincide with physicians announcing heartening findings from two experiments testing new depression-management approaches among cancer sufferers.
Medication and behavioural care are among the psychiatric treatments being used by expert nurses.
The SMaRT (Symptom Management Research Trials) Oncology 2 and 3 programme helps patients re-engaging with everyday life, says Prof. Sharpe. It entails monitoring patients for up to 12 months.
The programme has left almost all patients with a renewed sense of greater control in their own lives, he comments.
The scientists found that lung cancer patients have the greatest incidence of clinical depression with around one in seven sufferers (13.1%).
Oxford University's Jane Walker believes the experiments show that depression can be treated in patients suffering with such severe cancers. Dr. Walker says the programme can substantially enhance people's lives, even those with poor prognoses.
The study is published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal.
12 December 2018
If you're worried about piling on the pounds this Christmas, regular home weighing could prevent you from excessive festive eating and drinking.
[more...]
11 December 2018
Airlines that automatically cancel return flights when passengers fail to show for their outbound journeys are being warned they risk breaking consumer law.
08 December 2018
Providing better conditions for disabled passengers is one of the main aims of a proposed new charter for airlines and airports.
07 December 2018
Women who don't attend cervical screenings should be offered testing kits they can use at home, new research suggests.
06 December 2018
Ryanair could be slapped with enforcement action from the airline regulator after it refused compensation for passengers hit by flight disruption caused by staff taking strike action.
05 December 2018
Protein supplements and muscle training could be the most effective ways to delay or reverse the effects of frailty, a new study suggests.
04 December 2018
Mumford and Sons bassist Ted Dwane has helped create a new exhibition to raise awareness of the loneliness felt by people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
01 December 2018
A leading charity has praised the actions of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, saying the Labour MP had "done everybody a service" by disclosing his HIV status.
30 November 2018
Sweating out the daily stresses in a sauna could be linked to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in people aged 50 and over, according to a new study.
29 November 2018
Hitting the Copacabana could soon become a more realistic aim for holidaymakers, with Norwegian set to become the first budget airline to operate UK-Brazil flights.
28 November 2018
Holidaymakers on the UK's proposed new high-speed trainline could have their Amazon packages delivered directly to their seat, according to a train manufacturer.
27 November 2018
Over half of UK frontline medical staff worry their hospitals won't be able to keep patients safe this winter, according to an "alarming" new survey.