Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Teens unfazed by trauma of cancer

HEALTH

Jeremy Laurance
Sunday 13 July 1997 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Teenagers cope with a diagnosis of cancer better than adults, according to a study. Those told they have the disease are no more anxious or depressed than their peers.

The study of teenagers diagnosed at the Middlesex Hospital, London, found 5 per cent had moderate to severe depression three weeks later, compared with 13 per cent of a group of healthy teenagers. Their parents had higher depression scores than the average. Ruth Allen, the Cancer Research Campaign's nursing fellow, who conducted the research, said: "Teenagers may be anxious and depressed about all sorts of things from family relationships to whether they have the right sort of trainers. We believe being diagnosed with cancer puts all these usual anxieties into the background and focuses their minds on what is important. Rather than being more stressed than usual, one set of worries is replaced by another."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in