Does Stress Really Cause Cancer? Scientists Provide an Answer
Major life events – accidents, divorces, and serious traumas – often occur in the years immediately preceding the onset of various types of cancer.
Given that stress levels are rising and that the number of people expected to get sick will increase by one third – up to four million by 2030 – some experts now say that new evidence on stress's impact on the body suggests it would not be surprising if there is a link between stress and cancer.
The Impact of Stress Hormones on Cancer
Professor Melanie Flint from the University of Brighton, who studies the impact of stress hormones on cancer, says:
"There has been a lot of progress in this field, and I don’t think we can rule out stress as a contributor to the development of cancer. My opinion is that stress really contributes – both to the onset of cancer and to its spread once it appears – but it is a contributing factor, not necessarily a direct cause."
It seems that some studies following large populations over time support this idea.
One study of 10,000 women in Finland, conducted over 15 years, found that those who experienced deep grief were more likely to develop breast cancer within five years.
Workplace stress has been linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer in men under the age of 65, and – although to a lesser extent – to breast cancer in women, reports Avaz.ba.
It Can Suppress the Immune System
Other similar studies, however – including analyses of the highest-quality evidence – show no connection. Part of the problem, according to Professor Trevor Graham, director of the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at the Institute of Cancer Research, is that stress often goes hand in hand with other behaviors that also increase cancer risk.
"A stressful life is often associated with many other cancer risk factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet, so it’s hard to separate what the real cause is," he explains.
It’s well known that stress causes a number of effects on the body – especially if it’s chronic.
"Stress causes the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Stress and cortisol can suppress the immune system," says Professor Flint.
Scientists have also tried to replicate the effect of stress on cells in the lab, showing that stress can damage DNA and cause changes in cells which, if replicated, could develop into cancer.
However, since it is difficult to faithfully replicate stress in laboratory conditions, this may not be a reliable indicator of what actually happens in the human body, emphasizes Professor Graham, according to the "Daily Mail".
