--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever you read a cancer booklet or…" description: "\"Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer. But, in fact, depression is no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/john-green-12_cancer_whenever-you-read-a-cancer-booklet-or-we_3186474.jpg" --- # Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever… ![“Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer. But, in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/john-green-12_cancer_whenever-you-read-a-cancer-booklet-or-we_3186474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/john-green-12_cancer_whenever-you-read-a-cancer-booklet-or-we_3186474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/john-green-12_cancer_whenever-you-read-a-cancer-booklet-or-we_3186474.jpg) > “Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer. But, in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying.” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Depression is presented as a symptom of dying, not merely a disease side effect, highlighting existential distress. **In simple terms:** Depression stems from facing mortality, not just illness. Key Takeaway Recognize and address existential anguish in terminal illness. Themes health psychology mortality existential cancer Mood somber empathetic Type philosophical clinical When to use this quote - patient counseling - support groups - clinical assessments - education programs Key Concepts grief mental health palliative care Questions to Reflect On - How can healthcare providers better differentiate between disease symptoms and existential distress? - What interventions help patients cope with the awareness of dying? A Different Perspective Medical focus on physical symptoms may overlook mental health needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Cancer Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-depression-1065307/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-effect-882226/) [Depression Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-effects-2133965/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Effect Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effect-cancer-1065308/) [Effects Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects-cancer-2887524/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Side effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-effects/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Website](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/website/) ## Related quotes > [“Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever it always list depression as one of the side effects of cancer. 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Almost everything is, really.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/depression-is-a-side-effect-of-dying-cancer-is-also-a-side-effect-of/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Like depression, the effects of anxiety extend beyond the body and mind to the entire being, affecting not only one’s sense of well-being but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-emmons/like-depression-the-effects-of-anxiety-extend-beyond-the-body-and/) [Henry Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-emmons/) > [Depression effects all of us in different ways, people even kill themselves, but why? You gain no satisfaction and you ruin people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-leto/depression-effects-all-of-us-in-different-ways-people-even-kill/) [Shannon Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-leto/) > [Like millions of others, I have been plagued by the devastating effects of cancer hitting not one, but multiple members of my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/like-millions-of-others-i-have-been-plagued-by-the-devastating/) [Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/) > [There is a very moving and ancient connection between cancer and depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/there-is-a-very-moving-and-ancient-connection-between-cancer-and/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. 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