The physical side effects of chemotherapy, like hair loss and nausea, are familiar to most people. But as survivor Kate Hunt learned, chemotherapy can take an emotional toll as well.
“There’s a chemical depression that comes along with chemotherapy,” said Kate, a Minneapolis-native who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 22. “Thankfully, my oncologist warned me about it — that it’s chemical, and it happens to so many people.”
Read More RELATED: How to Deal With the Side Effects of Chemotherapy That warning helped Kate recognize the depression as chemo-related when it did descend to cloud her thoughts. But she still experienced low points, especially when her aunt passed away. Due to her compromised immune system, her oncologist told her it wasn’t safe to travel to the funeral. Instead, she listened to the service over the phone. “That was a really low, low part for me … it noticeably had an effect on how I handled treatment,” Kate said. However, she added that having the support of family helped her get her through the rest of treatment and recovery.
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