On the week you receive a cancer diagnosis, don’t go alone to pick up the results — postpone non‑treatment decisions

In the first week after receiving a cancer diagnosis, the risk of suicide is roughly 12.6 times higher than among people without a diagnosis, while the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease is about 5.6 times higher. By the end of the first year this drops to roughly 3.1 times; the effect is especially pronounced for harder‑to‑treat cancers. The greatest risk exists during those first few days, after which it falls quickly. Therefore, bring a companion when picking up the results and avoid being alone at home. Decisions such as quitting your job or selling your house can wait until your next appointment.

No cost at all. Simply arrange for someone to accompany you when you collect the results, and put any major decisions unrelated to treatment off for a few days.

Data from Sweden’s national registers tracked over 6.07 million people (6,073,240 individuals) from 1991 to 2006. Compared with cancer‑free controls, the relative risk of suicide in the first week after diagnosis was 12.6 (95% CI 8.6–17.8), meaning roughly 12.6 times higher. The true value lies somewhere between 8.6 and 17.8. The incidence rate during that week was 2.50 per 1,000 person‑years — about 2.5 cases per 1,000 people each year. By the end of the first year this fell to 3.1 (2.7–3.5; 0.60 per 1,000 person‑years), or roughly 3.1 times higher. Cardiovascular mortality in the first week was 5.6 times higher (5.2–5.9; 116.80 per 1,000 person‑years), and over the first four weeks it remained at 3.3 times higher (3.1–3.4; 65.81 per 1,000 person‑years). This elevated risk declines rapidly within the first year; the effect is more pronounced for cancers with poorer prognoses. Comparisons of the same patients over time yielded consistent results.

These figures apply specifically to cancer patients. No comparable data exist for other serious diagnoses. The actual number of people affected remains low: a total of 6,073,240 individuals were included in the study, and the first‑week suicide rate is 2.50 per 1,000 person‑years, i.e., only 2.5 cases per 1,000 people each year. This information is provided not to frighten, but to emphasize the importance of having someone present during those initial days. Long‑term management, insurance coverage, and follow‑up care are discussed in Sections 16 and 24. For those unable to find a companion, see point 6 in this section, which suggests enlisting neighbours or community contacts instead.

Fang F, et al. (2012). Suicide and cardiovascular death after a cancer diagnosis. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1110307