The authors evaluated 200 cancer patients, half of whom received
betatron therapy and half linear accelerator therapy. The incidence and
severity of anxiety and depression were high in both groups; as
radiotherapy continued these symptoms tended to decrease in intensity among
the patients treated with the linear accelerator and to increase among the
betatron patients. Patients who denied knowledge of their diagnosis were
initially less depressed and remained less depressed than those who knew or
suspected that they had cancer.Abstract Teaser