Sanaz Alibabaei - MSc student of medical physics, Department of medical physics, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Marziyeh Tahmasbi - Assistant Professor of medical physics, Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Introduction: Anxiety and depression are commonly observed among breast cancer patients over any period of cancer screening, breast lump imaging, cancer diagnosis, treatments, and tumor recurrence, and surveillance follow-up. As frequently observed, many studies have demonstrated that anxiety and depression at any level could substantially interfere with the quality of life of patient and possibly his/her survival if not evaluated and treated timely. The exact etiological mechanism of breast cancer associated anxiety and depression is still unclear. However, many studies have found that both medical and non-medical factors are deeply involved in the emergence of anxiety and depression. Hence, the aim of this review was to summarize the different contributing factors in anxiety and depression.Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of Pub Med, Google Scholar, Science Direct for all research articles using the different combinations of terms anxiety and depression , breast cancer radiotherapy . 11 more relevant articles were completely reviewed.Results: In the reviewed articles the percent of ‘normal’, ‘borderline’ and ‘abnormal’ anxiety scores at baseline were %79.0, %15.0 and %5.3, respectively. At the end of radiation therapy, these values were %75.4, %17.1 and %6.8, respectively. In consideration of depression severity level, the percent were %77.6, %15.3 and 7.1 at baseline, and %71.5, %18.9 and %8.5 at end of radiation therapy. Young age, female, black and Asia races, limited cancer knowledge, active treatments, and the life-changing complications as results of therapies have been identified as the contributing factors. There was a significant increase in tiredness and significant decrease in anxiety and worries about the family, during treatment. Menopausal symptoms and post-surgical problems were important causes of distress in the patients with breast cancer Conclusion:Social family support, emotional and financial difficulties should be investigated in all breast cancer patients, especially among those of younger age, in order to detect patients at risk of developing patient distress and offer them appropriate support. Computerized self-assessment may have a useful role in quantifying the distress caused by treatment with radiotherapy.

anxiety, depression, breast cancer, radiotherapy.