Empirical evidence suggests that anxiety and depression in cancer patients is underdiagnosed and subsequently this patient population receives little or no support or intervention to address their psychosocial needs. It is often difficult to distinguish between normal emotional distress experienced following a cancer diagnosis and anxiety and depression, which can have a significant impact on coping mechanisms and subsequent outcomes. This article explains how to assess a patient with cancer for these clinical mental health problems and how to manage symptoms as part of the patient's holistic care.

Fiona Milligan - Senior Educator, Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar, at time of writing

Fe Martinez - Educator, Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar

SohSoha Hassan Mohd Abdel Aal - Nurse

Samah Abdelrehim Ahmed - Nurse

Beverly Joby - Nurse

Jean Sultan Matalam - Nurse

Sujala Sukumaran Nair - Nurse

Anthony De Leon Maxion - Nurse, National Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Doha, Qatar

Safia Sayed - Educator, Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar

Soji Samson Melepeedikayil - Data Analyst, Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar