Lead Author Julian Hong along with Steve Braunstein, Lauren Boreta, William C. Chen, Travis Zack et al publish in Cancer:
A large study analyzing data from University of California–affiliated hospitals examined outcomes among more than 370,000 adults with cancer.
Researchers found that adults who developed a mental health condition within the first year after a cancer diagnosis had a 51% higher risk of death in the initial 1–3 years following diagnosis. This elevated risk declined over time.
“Over the past several years, we’ve had an increasing appreciation for the important relationship between cancer, its treatment, and mental health,” said Julian Hong MD, MS, of the University of California, San Francisco, and lead author of the study.
These findings reinforce the importance of early screening, timely intervention, and integration of mental health support into routine cancer care. See full article here