Does Depression Treatment Cause Cancer?

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One of the myths among the public is that antidepressants cause cancer. This is completely false information. On the contrary, antidepressants contribute to cancer treatment by strengthening the immune system. Studies have shown that cancer patients who receive antidepressant treatment and psychological support live longer than those who do not. It has been determined that untreated depression negatively affects survival (life expectancy) in cancer.

Will the disease reoccur when we stop taking antidepressants?
One of the biggest problems in depression treatment is recurrence. Antidepressant WhatsApp Number List treatment cannot completely eliminate the risk of recurrence. Roughly 40% of patients recover completely, while 40% do not experience depression as severely as before, although they experience occasional depressive problems, and 20% relapse constantly. Depression is such a painful condition that the biggest nightmare for individuals receiving treatment is experiencing such depression again. Therefore, the person develops a fear of stopping the medication due to the fear of recurrence.



In the first attacks, treatment should be continued for at least 1-1.5 years. In the second recurrence, this period should be 2-3 years, and in the third recurrence, 5 years. If it is a frequently recurring depression, lifelong preventive treatment is recommended.

Minimizing the risk of relapse cannot be done with medication alone. Personality traits that increase the tendency to depression, the person's attitude towards stress and lifestyle should be reviewed. For this, psychotherapy should definitely be added to antidepressant drug treatment. Psychotherapies are the most effective methods in reducing the risk of relapse. Because medications do not affect the cause as much as they affect the result. There will always be a risk of relapse unless the causes are eliminated.