Study finds urological cancers linked to five times higher suicide risk

The largest UK study looking at suicide risk in cancer patients found that patients with prostate, bladder or kidney cancers are five times more likely to commit suicide.  Also found in this analysis was that all cancer patients are about three times more likely to commit suicide than the general population.  The study was presented at the European Association of Urology conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

This research looked at a total of 980,761 (492,234 males and 487,094 females) cancer patients from the period of 2001 to 2011.  Researchers identified 162 suicides and 1,222 suicide attempts during that time of these cancer patients. 

Determined to be the reason for higher suicide rates was severe psychological stress from the diagnosis of cancer and cancer treatments.  Between 5 and 25 percent of cancer patients were found to be affected with depression with many of them also affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Records from the England and Wales Hospital Episode Statistics database were examined by a research team led by Prashant Patel at the University of Birmingham in the UK.  Another finding from this data was that the vast majority of cancer patients who have symptoms of depression often go untreated.

This is the first time a major study has examined suicidal intent in cancer patients which was defined as the ratio of successful suicides to the rate of attempted suicides.

Specific findings showed that the rate was higher (1 to 7) in men with prostate cancer than in the general population (1 to 25).  In the urological cancers, the figures were 36 per 100,000 people with kidney cancer, 48 suicides per 100,000 in bladder cancer, and 52 per 100,000 people in prostate cancer. 

Scientists with the study pointed out that it confirms research from other countries which have also found that suicide rates are higher in cancer patients and particularly so in patients with urological cancers.  The reason why suicide rates are higher in urological cancers is that these cancers have certain issues affecting patients in basic life functioning. For example, men with prostate cancer often undergo treatment which can affect their bladder function, their bowel function, erectile dysfunction and libido.  In addition, men can experience symptoms similar to women going through menopause such as personality changes, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The main takeaway from this study was that although all cancers have a higher suicide rate, there are disparities between cancers.  Because of this finding, more focus needs to be on assessing and treating the mental health needs of cancer patients, especially patients with urological cancers.

Also to keep in mind is that just because the cancer is removed or contained, does not mean the distress a patient feels goes away.  It is important to ensure that ongoing emotional support and mental health care is fully offered and integrated in cancer care for all patients at all stages of their treatment and during follow-ups after treatment is completed.