There isn’t a lot known about mental health in relation to prostate cancer. However, a recent study of nearly 14,000 men conducted by the University of South Australia provides additional insight, suggesting that it could be helpful to incorporate early mental health intervention upon diagnosis.
In a press release announcing the findings, lead researcher Dr. Tenaw Tiruye noted, “Prostate cancer can take a serious toll on the mental health of men throughout all stages of the illness – including diagnosis, surveillance, treatment, and follow‐up – with an estimated one in six people experiencing clinical depression.” Dr. Tiruye and team tracked the timing and use of mental health medications and services among 13,693 men with prostate cancer in South Australia, before and after diagnosis. The study indicates that 15% of individuals with prostate cancer started anti-anxiety and antidepression medication for the first time upon diagnosis. Six percent initiated mental health services (i.e., a visit to a provider) after diagnosis. Overall, the proportion of men prescribed medications for mental health issues increased from 34.5% before diagnosis to 40.3% after diagnosis.
Although this study did not assess patients’ prostate cancer treatments or how well they fared, other research suggests that mental health problems are linked to worse outcomes. Dr. Alicia Morgans of Dana Farber Cancer Institute describes a potential connection between mental health and treatment choice. In a discussion on the provider education site UroToday, she notes that “there are patients who seem to make different decisions when they have depression, including men with localized prostate cancer are choosing definitive local therapies that would be curative at a lower rate when they have depression.”
Among other reasons, men may not seek mental health assistance due to feelings of emasculation and embarrassment. PCF Board member and physician Dr. Drew Pinsky shared in PCF’s Mental and Emotional Wellness in Prostate Cancer webinar that he “hear[s] commonly…men are embarrassed about this, and they feel diminished by it. And they feel as though their masculinity is…in jeopardy. And none of that is real, I would say, with …..[the] vast majority of prostate cancer diagnoses and treatment.”
To better support men with prostate cancer, University of Southern Australia senior researcher Dr. Kerri Beckmann believes that “…[r]ather than waiting for men to proactively seek out mental health supports once they’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, we should be offering supports at the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment. That way it can be seen as a normal and required part of treatment.”
What This Means for Patients
This study showed that a sizable proportion of patients with prostate cancer received help for their mental health around the time of diagnosis. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek advice from your doctor. Other resources may include your oncology nurse or social worker.
