When it comes to cancer, Hispanics bear the emotional brunt

There is no doubt cancer, or any serious illness, takes its toll on a patient mentally. Not only are individuals faced with the emotional stress of possible mortality, they must deal with medication and treatment side-effects, dietary changes and the rising costs of medical care., but Hispanics might also bear the worst emotional effects when compared to other ethnicities.

Though everyone handles the trials of cancer differently, new research suggests race/ethnicity plays a role in how well someone with cancer fares mentally.

SEE ALSO: This cancer is on the rise in young Hispanic men

“Little research has examined the interactive effect of cancer status and race/ethnicity on mental health. As such, the present study examined the mental health of adults, 18 and over, diagnosed with cancer,” stated researchers.

“This study examined the extent to which a cancer diagnosis is related to poorer mental health because it erodes finances and the extent to which the mental health impact of cancer differs across racial/ethnic groups. Furthermore, this study aimed to test the stress process model, which posits that the proliferation of stress can lead to mental illness and this process can differ across racial/ethnic groups.”

Overall, researchers, after accounting for gender, age, insurance status, education and race/ethnicity, found Hispanic and African American cancer patients suffered more mental health distress than non-Hispanic white patients. A significant contributing factor to this was household income.

This is not the first study to find low income to be a significant source of mental stress for cancer patients, though it is the first study to look at racial/ethnic factors.

In 2008, data indicated economic stress for low-income women with cancer significantly impacted quality of life; functional, emotional, physical, social-family well-being, depression and anxiety scores were all worse for women who had economic stress  while dealing with their cancer burden. The women in the 2008 study were primarily Hispanic, though ethnicity was not a factor in that particular study.

A similar study involving low-income Hispanic families found evidence of an association between depression and negative family interaction among depressed cancer patients. Unlike the 2008 study, this research was focused on how the results of stress hurt cancer patients rather than how economic factors came into play. Experts found depression among cancer patients triggers stressful interpersonal events that contribute to poor family interactions and additional depression.

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The new research combines the points of both previous studies and others like them, finally linking economic stress to the racial and ethnic disparities seen in cancer patients’ metal health.

If you have cancer and are feeling overwhelmed, there are a number of resources available to you. You can ask your doctor for a therapist recommendation or call a hotline, but some of the top resources include:

• Patient lodging help for patients and their families: Hope Lodge
• Rides to treatment: Road to Recovery
• Hair loss and mastectomy products: TLC
• Sharing your story with others: Tell Your Story