Brian is right that depression is common among both patients and caregivers. It knocks at your door without your noticing it because you won't believe yourself a candidate of emotional illness. I was admitted to hospital for treatment of severe depression in April last year and discharged after about 4 weeks. I am still on anti-depressant with a gradual cut in dose. Even though I feel myself very normal emotionally, the psychiatrist refuses to cut off the medication fearing that depression will recur. He has a schedule on treating me and I have full trust on him. Depression is sometimes more scary than cancer.

Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/01.