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.
19 September 2017
Manchester's Girlguides are being urged to help the elderly with a new badge incentivising youngsters to tackle senior loneliness.
[more...]
16 September 2017
Holidaymakers are being evacuated as winds up to 200km per hour hit Central Vietnam, with Typhoon Doksuri damaging houses, roads and infrastructure.
15 September 2017
People in parts of East Anglia are eight times more likely to survive liver disease than Blackpool residents, according to new data by Public Health England (PHE).
14 September 2017
A non-invasive alternative to gastric bypass surgery that helps people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight is being recommended for widespread use by NHS experts.
13 September 2017
Almost half of UK adults travelling to areas at risk of malaria are not covering themselves by taking medication, despite recommendations made by the NHS and world health organisations.
12 September 2017
A new health warning has been issued by scientists in Sweden, suggesting e-cigarettes with nicotine could lead to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
09 September 2017
Researchers have developed a futuristic pen-like device that can tell whether someone has cancer much faster than current technology.
08 September 2017
A staffing crisis in the NHS is seeing cancer patients turned away from their GP surgery and instead visiting A&E, a report has claimed.
07 September 2017
Whether it's binge-watching box-sets, shopping for clothes, chatting to friends or picking up work emails, staying connected is pretty much essential to everyday life.
06 September 2017
Around 1 in 2 GPs do not know that black men have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, research has suggested.
05 September 2017
Many middle-aged men have hearts in a condition that makes the organ seem older than the men's actual age, a new study has revealed.
02 September 2017
Every cancer diagnosis should involve a discussion about stress, according to an expert investigating the biological impact of "fight-or-flight" responses.