This news article on 'antidepressants may help fight cancer by boosting body's immune response' caught my idea in Google Reader this morning. After all, some of the big issues faced by patients undergoing treatment are overcoming the feelings of overwhelm, depression, fear and just generally feeling run down.  It's a common problem, but one that is rarely mentioned in the scientific cancer journal articles, where the focus is on efficacy, side effects and survival.  How patients cope and handle their condition can vary enormously.

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Sometimes, I wonder if more attention was paid to the mental wellbeing and psychological state of the patients entering clinical trials, would that impact overall survival in a positive way?


Sources:

eCancerMedicalScience Online

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