---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many patients with cancer are depressed…"
description: "\"“Many patients with cancer are depressed, yet depression is not the cause of cancer.”\" — David S. Bell M. D"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/david-s-bell-m-d-81500_bell_many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed_482220.jpg"
---

#  Many patients with cancer are depressed, yet depression is…

![“Many patients with cancer are depressed, yet depression is not the cause of cancer.” quote by David S. Bell M. D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/david-s-bell-m-d-81500_bell_many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed_482220.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/david-s-bell-m-d-81500_bell_many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed_482220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/david-s-bell-m-d-81500_bell_many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed_482220.jpg)

> ““Many patients with cancer are depressed, yet depression is not the cause of cancer.””

David S. Bell M. D

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Depression frequently co‑occurs with cancer but does not cause it; correlation ≠ causation.

**In simple terms:** Depression isn’t a cancer cause.

Key Takeaway

Treat depression and cancer separately.

Themes

health psychology oncology

Mood

clinical informative

Type

educational professional

When to use this quote

- clinical settings
- patient education

Key Concepts

biopsychosocial model comorbidity patient care

Questions to Reflect On

- How can clinicians address both conditions?
- What support helps patients manage depression?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on correlation may mislead treatment priorities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/)

## Related quotes

> [“Multiple allergies are perhaps the most obvious sign of immune system overreaction. Patients with CFIDS frequently have a past history of allergies, implying that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell-m-d/multiple-allergies-are-perhaps-the-most-obvious-sign-of-immune-system/)

David S. Bell M. D

> [“The association with allergies also serves to imply a genetic predisposition for the illness, and this can help to predict who may be at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell-m-d/the-association-with-allergies-also-serves-to-imply-a-genetic/)

David S. Bell M. D

> ['The Who' created the Daltrey/Townshend Center at UCLA for teenage hospital patients with cancer. It's the only one of its kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-sotillo/the-who-created-the-daltrey-townshend-center-at-ucla-for-teenage/)

[Nolan Sotillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-sotillo/)

> [“The genes for depression cause peoples' brains to overreact to stress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burgess-wes/the-genes-for-depression-cause-peoples-brains-to-overreact-to-stress/)

Burgess,, Wes

> [“the symptoms of depression cause depression. Loneliness is depressing, but depression also causes loneliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/the-symptoms-of-depression-cause-depression-loneliness-is-depressing/)

[Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/)

> [There seem to be many causes of depression. One cause is profound loss, grief. Economic hardship we know is linked to depression. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/there-seem-to-be-many-causes-of-depression-one-cause-is-profound-loss/)

[Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/)

> [I was at a banquet, and I went into the ladies' room, and I'm in the stall doing my business, and a piece of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-wagner/i-was-at-a-banquet-and-i-went-into-the-ladies-room-and-i-m-in-the/)

[Lindsay Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-wagner/)

> [MS Dhoni is an asset in any team he plays for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lara/ms-dhoni-is-an-asset-in-any-team-he-plays-for/)

[Brian Lara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lara/)

> [The true reason of Ms. Rice's attack against Russia is very simple. Condoleezza Rice is a very cruel, offended woman who lacks men's attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-zhirinovsky/the-true-reason-of-ms-rice-s-attack-against-russia-is-very-simple/)

[Vladimir Zhirinovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-zhirinovsky/)

> [I had about four days of like, 'Pity party, woe is me, it's all over.' Then I did some research and spoke with doctors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-osbourne/i-had-about-four-days-of-like-pity-party-woe-is-me-it-s-all-over-then/)

[Jack Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-osbourne/)

> [Half the guys commenting on MS Dhoni can't even tie their shoelaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/half-the-guys-commenting-on-ms-dhoni-can-t-even-tie-their-shoelaces/)

[Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/)

> [There are certain things that don't mix well with MS. One is staying up late at night. Another is big, noisy crowds. Well, campaigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/there-are-certain-things-that-don-t-mix-well-with-ms-one-is-staying/)

[Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/)

> [No Latina woman would be called 'Ms.' - that's an invention of middle-class Anglo women. Latina women are proud to be called 'Mrs.' That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/no-latina-woman-would-be-called-ms-that-s-an-invention-of-middle/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [I always wanted to do a 'Ms. Smith Goes to Washington.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/i-always-wanted-to-do-a-ms-smith-goes-to-washington/)

[Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/)

> [“Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS: the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves). It is not contagious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-j-holland/multiple-sclerosis-is-a-chronic-disease-affecting-the-central-nervous/)

Nancy J. Holland

## More by David S. Bell M. D

> [“The association with allergies also serves to imply a genetic predisposition for the illness, and this can help to predict who may be at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell-m-d/the-association-with-allergies-also-serves-to-imply-a-genetic/)

David S. Bell M. D

> [“Multiple allergies are perhaps the most obvious sign of immune system overreaction. Patients with CFIDS frequently have a past history of allergies, implying that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell-m-d/multiple-allergies-are-perhaps-the-most-obvious-sign-of-immune-system/)

David S. Bell M. D

Explore all 3 David S. Bell M. D quotes

## More Bell quotes

> [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/)

[Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/)

> [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/)

[Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/)

> [It's nice to know there's a way to pay the bills other than third-and-8 and getting your bell rung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/it-s-nice-to-know-there-s-a-way-to-pay-the-bills-other-than-third-and/)

[Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/)

> [“When it's over...ring the bell. It's over!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/when-it-s-over-ring-the-bell-it-s-over/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [I'm not doing one lucky punch or spinning kick and catching somebody. I'm going to own you - not beat you - own you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-anderson/i-m-not-doing-one-lucky-punch-or-spinning-kick-and-catching-somebody/)

[Corey Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-anderson/)

> [“Like the clanging of the bell, the truth crashes in upon me. At last I understand. He took away my voice to save me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/like-the-clanging-of-the-bell-the-truth-crashes-in-upon-me-at-last-i/)

[Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/)

> [“How Nathan doesn't know I fancy him is beyond me. I may as well walk around with a sandwich board, saying 'I heart Nathan',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/how-nathan-doesn-t-know-i-fancy-him-is-beyond-me-i-may-as-well-walk/)

[Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/)

> [“And send not to ask for whom the fucking bell tolls, because you're not going to like the answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey/and-send-not-to-ask-for-whom-the-fucking-bell-tolls-because-you-re/)

[Mike Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey/)

> [My cheat snack is bell peppers, cream cheese, and Takis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/my-cheat-snack-is-bell-peppers-cream-cheese-and-takis/)

[Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/)

> [I used to walk down the Justice Department on the fifth floor and see all those portraits of legendary attorneys general, Griffin Bell and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-used-to-walk-down-the-justice-department-on-the-fifth-floor-and-see/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [It's a matter of how the bullpen looks as to whether Bell goes in there or Crow goes in there. Bell won't be ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-graham/it-s-a-matter-of-how-the-bullpen-looks-as-to-whether-bell-goes-in/)

Wayne Graham

> [“Then something rang a bell in his mind. What”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/then-something-rang-a-bell-in-his-mind-what/)

[Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/)

> [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“You Can't Unring a Bell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/you-can-t-unring-a-bell/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [I was a fortnight away from my 16th birthday when the fabled 2005 Ashes series ended. My hero-worship throughout it belonged to Ian Bell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-bairstow/i-was-a-fortnight-away-from-my-16th-birthday-when-the-fabled-2005/)

[Jonny Bairstow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-bairstow/)

Browse all 216 Bell quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Many patients with cancer are depressed, yet depression is not the cause of cancer.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David S. Bell M. D"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell-m-d/many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed-yet-depression-is-not-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bell"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell-m-d/many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed-yet-depression-is-not-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/david-s-bell-m-d-81500_bell_many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed_482220.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/david-s-bell-m-d-81500_bell_many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed_482220.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/david-s-bell-m-d-81500_bell_many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed_482220.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Many patients with cancer are depressed, yet depression is not the cause of cancer.” — David S. Bell M. D",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David S. Bell M. D",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-bell-m-d/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Many patients with cancer are depressed,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell-m-d/many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed-yet-depression-is-not-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-bell-m-d/many-patients-with-cancer-are-depressed-yet-depression-is-not-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
