What is the first treatment for anxiety and low mood with cancer?

A clinician asks about mood, worry, sleep, concentration, appetite, treatment stress, and how safely you are coping. Counselling can provide practical ways to manage frightening thoughts, uncertainty, family conversations, and changes in daily life. The professional may also check whether pain, medicines, hormonal changes, or poor sleep are worsening distress.

Palliative care can address emotional, physical, social, and spiritual concerns alongside cancer treatment. If symptoms are persistent or severe, a mental-health clinician may discuss medicine as well as talking therapy. The choice depends on symptoms, other medicines, medical history, and your preferences.

Tell your oncology team what has changed and how long it has been happening. Ask for a psycho-oncology referral and mention sleep problems, panic, loss of interest, or difficulty managing treatment. Include a trusted person if you want help remembering advice or explaining what support feels acceptable.

Seek urgent help if you may harm yourself, cannot stay safe, feel detached from reality, or cannot manage basic needs. Contact your care team promptly for escalating panic, several nights of very little sleep, or low mood that is stopping treatment or daily tasks.

Could my symptoms be related to pain, treatment, or another medical problem? Can I see a psycho-oncology counsellor? What support is available between appointments, and when would medicine or urgent mental-health care be considered?