DEPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED CANCER: CHALLENGES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY MANAGEMENT

Resumen

Depression in patients with advanced cancer is a highly prevalent yet frequently underdiagnosed condition, with significant impacts on quality of life, treatment adherence, and disease progression. This study aims to analyze the main challenges involved in the recognition and management of depression in patients with advanced-stage cancer, emphasizing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to comprehensive care. This is a narrative literature review based on national and international scientific articles indexed in PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, published between 2015 and 2025. The findings indicate that depressive symptoms are often masked by clinical manifestations of cancer itself or by treatment side effects, making early diagnosis difficult. In addition, factors such as stigma, emotional vulnerability, lack of systematic screening, and limited access to psychological care contribute to underreporting. Evidence also shows that integrated care involving oncology, nursing, psychology, psychiatry, and palliative care significantly improves symptom management and patients’ overall well-being. It is concluded that addressing depression in advanced cancer requires continuous assessment, use of validated screening tools, and structured interdisciplinary intervention, promoting humanized and holistic care.