$Unique_ID{BRK02489}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Can Stress Cause or Affect Cancer?}
$Subject{cancer stress life immune system emotional stressful neoplasm
neoplasms lifestyle lifestyles mental condition conditions stresses immunity
immunological cancers}
$Volume{B-23,E-0,U-0}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Can Stress Cause or Affect Cancer?


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QUESTION:  After a long period of marital difficulties and trouble with her
children, my daughter went to her doctor for a complete checkup.  The results
of her Pap Smear showed some cancer cells.  She is now under treatment, but we
were wondering if the stress of her life could have been the cause of the
cancer.  No one else in our family has ever had a cancer of any kind.  Thank
you for considering this question.

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ANSWER:  There has been more than just a few papers written on this question,
but there is still no precise answer.  Many aspects of personality, such as
depression, low self-esteem, and hopelessness have been linked to the
development of cancer in some patients, but there is difficulty in proving
this by statistical analysis.  In many cases, an association between stress
and cancer can be shown, but it is not clear if the stress caused the cancer
to grow.  Cancer of the cervix has been predicted in some women based upon a
personality profile in one study.  However, no biological process, the way in
which the body works, has been identified as the mechanism that starts the
cells to grow in the random manner that typifies a cancer.  The most
frequently mentioned theory is one in which the immune system of the body has
been affected by the emotional stress.  All of the stressful factors in a
person's life could lead to the release of certain hormones in the body, which
lower the effect of the immune responses which normally occur, thus allowing a
cancer to start.  However, there is no direct evidence of this, and so no
definite answer to your question.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.