14 DAY TRIAL // A recent study conducted by researchers at the Perini Family Survivor's Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston found that more than 1 in eight adults who suffer from childhood cancer have thought of or tried to commit suicide.
The study was carried out on 226 patients with childhood cancer, with an average age of 28. 29 of the subjects admitted in the interview had suicidal thoughts but made no further action to end their lives, 1 patient confessed he tried to commit suicide but now is over the taking-life ideas and 9 of the volunteers have made suicidal attempts and are still considering the idea of ending their lives.
However, 11 of the 29 patients were considered by researchers to be suffering from severe depression. This is why the team which conducted the study points out that adults with traumas caused by childhood cancer must be diagnosed for emotional disorders, not only asked about them.
"Most people are doing fine, but there is a serious concern about the minority of survivors who have thoughts of ending their lives," stated lead researcher Christopher Recklitis, psychologist and director of the Perini Family Survivor's Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
The main trigger factors associated with depression and suicidal thoughts in adults with childhood cancer pointed at: the early age at which patients were diagnosed with the cancer, the long period of time which passed since they have been found to suffer from the severe health disorder, the radiation treatment.
Taking into account the fact that radiation treatment brings about severe side effects on people's health, researchers showed that in the case of the patients in the study, the aggressive treatment caused growth and physical problems, impairment of the mental abilities and cognitive function etc.