Cancer patients are 'three times more likely to consider suicide'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Cancer patients are three times more likely to contemplate suicide than the rest of the population, a survey reports today.

The Cancer Research UK charity polled almost 3,000 outpatients at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre.

They were asked: 'Over the last two weeks how often have you been bothered by. . . thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way?'

Nearly 8 per cent - one in 12 - said they had such thoughts.

This compares with a figure of just 2.6 per cent in a similar survey of the general population conducted in Australia.

Experts are calling for more support services to be available for cancer patients, including better facilities for pain management.

The figures are published in an online report today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Lead author Jane Walker said: 'We know that depression is common in patients who have cancer but it is often missed. Pain is also a big problem.

'Treating patients' symptoms as well as their disease might improve, and even save, their lives.'