Cancer can be frightening. Many people feel a sense of disbelief when they get a diagnosis. This may be followed by emotions like fear, anger and sadness.

Cancer and cancer treatment are linked to higher rates of:

• Depression
• Distress
• Anxiety
• Trouble paying attention and focusing

These conditions can affect your quality of life and whether you’re able to stick with treatment. 

We can help. At the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, you’ll find a range of mental and emotional support services. They include Oregon’s only psycho-oncology program.

Psycho-oncology

Psycho-oncology is a type of psychiatry. It focuses on mental health needs before, during and after cancer treatment.

You can see our team for help with:

• Depression
• Distress
• Anxiety
• Trauma-related disorder
• Changes in attention, memory or thinking and reasoning skills, often called “chemo brain”
• Tiredness
• Social and emotional side effects of cancer

Treatments focus on:

• Managing stress and emotions
• Problem-solving
• Behavioral activation, a therapy that helps people return to meaningful activities and avoid isolation
• Mindfulness
• Lifestyle changes

More resources

• Cancer Social Work Services, OHSU
• Cancer Support Groups and Classes, OHSU
• What is Psychosocial Oncology?, American Psychosocial Oncology Society
• Adjusting to Cancer, National Cancer Institute
• Adjustment to Cancer: Anxiety and Distress, National Cancer Institute
• Managing Fear of Cancer Recurrence, American Cancer Society