Having cancer will likely affect your daily routine, it may force you to pause school, work or other life goals, and cause you a great deal of worry for you and your loved ones. Be it anger, guilt, fear, sadness, stress or helplessness, don't ignore any of your feelings during this time. Once in a while over the course of your cancer experience it is understandable if you feel down or depressed.

If this feeling of depression continues for more than two weeks, it is a good idea to get help from a mental health professional. People who are depressed and have a serious illness are more likely to suffer worse symptoms of both the depression and the illness. There is some evidence that treating depression can result in a better outcome (prognosis) for the disease.