Breast Cancer and Depression

Watch our video, Inside the Emotions of Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer.

A breast cancer diagnosis can bring a wide range of emotions. You may feel shock, fear, sadness, anger and grief. These feelings are normal.

While emotions can come and go, sometimes they’re constant and can impact your daily life, like your job or your relationships with others. If you’re feeling sad most of the time or not enjoying things like you used to (or have other symptoms listed below), you may be depressed.

Talking one-on-one with a mental health provider, such as a clinical social worker, counselor or psychologist can help you cope with these feelings.

Signs of depression

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can lead to serious depression and severe emotional distress, especially during the first year after diagnosis [123-124]. These feelings are common among people with metastatic breast cancer and their loved ones [124-125].

When the symptoms listed below last longer than 2 weeks and you notice them almost every day, they are signs of clinical depression [124]. Talk to your health care provider if you:

• Feel sad most of the time
• Have lost pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
• Have poor concentration
• Feel nervous
• Feel tired for no reason
• Have a change in eating or sleeping habits
• Withdraw from friends and family
• Feel hopeless, worthless or guilty
• Have frequent thoughts of death or a desire to die

It’s important to let your health care provider know what you’re going through so they can help you get the treatment you need.

Treatment for depression

Depression needs to be treated. Treatment may include:

• Antidepressant medication 
• Counseling or psychotherapy

Talk with your oncologist before taking any medications for depression. Some can interfere with breast cancer treatments. For example, some antidepressants may interfere with the hormone therapy drug tamoxifen.

Learn more about tamoxifen and antidepressant use.

Support

In addition to getting treatment for depression, it may be helpful for you to talk about how you’re feeling and get support from others living with breast cancer. You can do this in a support group or by connecting one-on-one with another person through a peer mentoring program. A social worker or patient navigator can help you find these resources.

Your family, friends and loved ones can also give you support. They can help you through your breast cancer experience and treatment for depression. They know and love you and can help you get back to the things that you enjoy. It’s OK to reach out to let them know how you’re doing so they can give you the help you need.

Learn more about support for people with metastatic breast cancer.

Learn more about support groups and other types of support.

SUSAN G. KOMEN® METASTATIC BREAST CANCER SUPPORT RESOURCES

Do you need help with a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis? We’re here for you. The Komen Patient Care Center is your trusted, go-to source for timely, accurate breast health and breast cancer information, services and resources. Our navigators offer free, personalized support to patients, caregivers and family members, including education, emotional support, financial assistance, help accessing care and more. Get connected to a Komen navigator by contacting the Breast Care Helpline at 1-877-465-6636 or email helpline@komen.org to get started. All calls are answered Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Se habla español. We offer an online support community through our closed Metastatic (Stage IV) Breast Cancer Facebook Group Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer (Stage IV) Group. The Facebook group provides a place where those living with metastatic breast cancer, and those who love them, can find support, friendship and information. Click the link above or visit Facebook and search for Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer (Stage IV) Group and request to join. Our free MBC Impact Series provides people living with metastatic breast cancer and their loved ones a safe, collaborative space to gather information related to metastatic breast cancer. They can discover practical resources to help make decisions for improved physical and emotional health. To learn more and register visit www.komen.org/mbcseries. Our Real Pink podcast series covers many relevant topics for people living with metastatic breast cancer and caregivers. Our fact sheets, booklets and other education materials offer additional information.

Updated 02/20/25

This content is regularly reviewed by an expert panel including researchers, practicing clinicians and patient advocates.