Diagnosis and treatment of depression in the cancer patient.

Increased survival rates resulting from advances in the treatment of cancer have led to an increased interest in patients' emotional reactions and adaptations to the illness. Depressive symptoms associated with cancer range from normal sadness through acute stress response to major depression. Chemotherapeutic agents can produce depressive and other neurotoxic side effects. Diagnosis of common emotional reactions to cancer illness and appropriate management are described. Such treatment can enhance the patient's ability to adapt to the disease and tolerate its treatments.