Treat Depression if Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Many women consider depression a normal reaction to the shock of a breast cancer diagnosis, but treating the depression may be one of the best ways to battle the cancer. Researchers at Ohio State University found that breast cancer patients with depressive symptoms who treated the mood disorder with talk therapy, relaxation techniques, and exercise had lower levels of inflammation than those who had no psychological intervention. Curbing inflammation is key because breast cancer patients with higher levels of inflammation also have greater recurrence rates. A follow-up with all study participants 11 years later revealed that those who had undergone tretment for depression lived longer.