Ovarian cancer symptoms mistaken for depression, study finds

A new study suggests that the physical symptoms experienced by ovarian cancer patients are frequently misdiagnosed as depression, potentially delaying crucial treatment. Researchers found that common signs like chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, and difficulty concentrating, which are characteristic of ovarian cancer, are often mistaken for mental health issues.

The study, published in the journal 'Cancer' by a team at the University of Iowa, analyzed 428 ovarian cancer patients. It revealed that about a third of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed with depression, and a significant portion of these diagnoses may be inaccurate. The physical toll of the cancer itself, or its treatment, can lead to symptoms that mimic depression, causing diagnostic scores to be artificially inflated even when a patient is not experiencing severe emotional distress.

Lead author Rachel Telles stated that the physical symptoms of ovarian cancer can appear similar to depression. The study noted that these symptoms often subsided within a year after cancer diagnosis, indicating they were likely related to the disease rather than a persistent mental health condition. This suggests that medical professionals might misinterpret temporary, cancer-related physical discomfort as a sign of depression.

To address this, the research team stressed the importance of developing new diagnostic standards for depression in ovarian cancer patients. These standards should consider the impact of physical pain and illness caused by the cancer. Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early, with a 5-year survival rate of about 95% when caught in its initial stages. However, its early symptoms can be vague and overlap with other conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), stress, or menopause, making it easily overlooked.

“

The physical symptoms of ovarian cancer look like depression.