Feeling low during chemotherapy

Partly. Steroids given with treatment lift and then drop the mood, and tiredness, pain, poor sleep and a low haemoglobin all flatten it. The illness and the upheaval account for much of the rest.

Look at duration, whether anything still gives you any pleasure, and whether you can still sleep, eat and look after yourself. Two weeks or more with no better days at all is worth reporting.

Your oncologist or the nurse at your next contact, and one person at home. Say how long it has lasted and how you are sleeping. Both are more useful than trying to describe the feeling itself.

That is not how it works, and the fear of it keeps many patients silent. They are far more likely to treat the cause, adjust supportive medicines or arrange counselling.

At many centres, yes. Ask whether psycho-oncology support or a counsellor is available, and ask the medical social worker if nobody else knows. It is under-used rather than unavailable.

Sometimes, and that is a decision for your doctors, who will also check what interacts with your treatment. Never start anything, including herbal or ayurvedic preparations, without telling them.

Tell the team yourself at the next appointment, and sit with them without trying to fix it or telling them to be positive. If there is any mention of self-harm, treat it as urgent today.

For many patients, gradually, though the first months afterwards can be unexpectedly hard. If it has not lifted a few months after finishing, raise it at follow-up rather than waiting longer.