Depression in cancer patients not only reduces treatment compliance but may also lead to suicide and other problems.It is therefore advisable to screen patients so that it may be discovered and treated early.Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS),whose usefulness has been confirmed in cancer patients,we screened patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy so that we could understand the extent of their feelings of depression and unease.We found that 40% of them suffered from slight depression and unease and about 10% were suspected of having depression.Further,many patients with biliary or pancreatic cancer,who were being treated with gemcitabine,had feelings of depression and unease.We feel that it is important for pharmacists to evaluate cancer patients for feelings of depression and unease and share our findings in this regard with other members of staff.By doing so,we can provide patients with emotional and other types of support.