Reading Notes

Depression and Cancer 2011. David Kissane, Mario maj, norman sartorious

129

"The demoralization syndrome, which is characterised by hopelessness, loss of meaning, existential distress, a sense of incompetence, feelings of greater dependency or the perception of being a burden. In patients who present with this syndrome, the sense of impotence or helplessness can often progress to a desire to die or to commit suicide."

It just makes sense. Like, how is that not a rational brain doing its job? See The Death of Ivan Ilyich.

"Hopelessness has been empirically linked to suicidal ideation in the general population, with a stronger association with suicidal intent than depression. A study of advanced cancer patients identified hopelessness as a stronger predictor of suicidal ideation than severity of depression.

Breitbart et al. concluded that hopelessness and depression were independent, significant predictors of DHD, and that the presence of both may actually be the strongest clinical marker for DHD."

(Desire for Hastened Death).

160

"Interferons, a family of proteins that are produced by the immune system, have been shown to have antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects, as well as cytotoxic and anti-angiogenic properties."

Interferons fight cancer, basically.

"For these reasons, they are used for the treatment of several forms of cancer, such as leukaemia, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, melanoma, with data also indicating their possible therapeutic effects in renal carcinoma, ovarian cancer and brain tumors."

"The psychiatric side effects of interferon, especially depression secondary to interferon-alpha, have been known for a long time."

You'll live longer, but it'll be a depressing life.