New Treatment Approach for Breast Cancer Survivors Dealing with Depression
Posted on
Although breast cancer survival rates are the best they’ve ever been, many women suffer from emotional side effects of the disease, particularly depression. Additionally, they have to be mindful of medications they take to treat it, such as antidepressants, which are known to have a long list of potential side effects.Many women believed it was safe to take an antidepressant like Zoloft to combat those feelings of depression during pregnancy, but they later learned that antidepressants in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class are believed to cause serious birth defects in their children. Some women who took the drug during their pregnancies are filing lawsuits against Pfizer, the manufacturer of the drug, because of the alleged birth defects caused by Zoloft.
50 Percent of Breast Cancer Survivors Experience Depression
According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, almost 50 percent of breast cancer survivors experience depression among the list of health issues they must contend with as a result of battling the disease. Based on this information, a research team at the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing found that a specific meditation technique can help some women overcome the emotional issues associated with breast cancer, as well as enhance their physical well-being.
Researchers Yaowarat Matchim and Jane Armer found that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a type of training that incorporates meditation, yoga and physical awareness, can help breast cancer survivors struggling with stress and depression.
Group sessions of MBSR were conducted over a periods of 8 and 10 weeks, during which members practiced specific meditation skills and participated in discussions about coping skills and how their bodies respond to stress. The researchers found that survivors who learned MBSR managed to lower their blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate, and simultaneously reported improved moods and increased mindfulness. Women who showed the most improvement were advised to continue the MBSR sessions to maintain the positive effects.
“Mindfulness-based meditation, ideally, should be practiced every day or at least on a routine schedule,” Armer said, “MBSR teaches patients new ways of thinking that will give them short- and long-term benefits.” He also recommended that the non-pharmaceutical approach to feelings of depression associated with breast cancer work best when combined with medical treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Protect Your Rights as a Consumer
The lawyers at the Rottenstein Law Group have over 25 years of collective experience advocating for clients in consumer product injury cases. If you took Zoloft during your pregnancy and your child was born with Zoloft birth defects, then you might be able to seek compensation in a Zoloft lawsuit. Fill out our contact form or call us at 1 (877) 471-8940 and one of our Zoloft lawyers will be in touch.
If you wish to know more about filing a Zoloft birth defects lawsuit, download this free Zoloft brochure.
No comments:
Post a Comment