Breast cancer and stress?

roxanne53

Does anyone know about the research on stress with respect to its contribution to breast cancer. I have only read that it is not a contributing factor. Sometimes I have a hard time believing this is not a factor for breast cancer.
Has anyone found information on this topic? Where? And what do others know and think?

Thanks,
Roxanne

LorettaB

Hi, Roxanne,

I remember my follow-up visit with my surgeon and I asked him about stress factors and life-changing event factors.

He said though there was no proof, many of his patients that he has treated for breast cancer indicated that they were under significant stress and/or had recently experienced a life-changing event.

I personally believe it can be a factor. I discovered my lump...it was just there and I was regular about checking my breasts.

However, prior to finding the lump, I had experienced a very personal and painful event in my life. I believe it contributed.

Doctors don't know it all yet and may never, but I believe stress and life-changing events can contribute to disease.

Hope this helps and I am sure you will hear from many fine people, some who have helped me during my surgery and treatment.

Loretta

24242

I think all of us have to do is look at our lives after our recoveries to see how the stresses contributed to our conditions. I don't know what your reading but they also say don't do self examinations because it doesn't save lives. I don't know about you but looking back most woman knew something was the matter with them long before the cancer was found. In my case I found all the lumps first and I was told all too often that it couldn't be cancer and a lump was left to spread.
Then there are other cultures in the world that their whole purpose in life is to live a calm, peaceful existance, without the stresses of normal life. I think we all should do more to have that than the worry and stress.
What they know about the body and trauma one would only be left to think that stresses have their own effect on the body.
Be good to yourself,
Tara

tlmac

Stress is such a subjective experience, it's hard to validate a study that definitively links it to cancer. A Swedish study, however, concluded stress doubled the risk for developing breast cancer. It immediately came under fire and remains highly controversial. You can read what they found here...
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/74/89170.htm
Stress puts a strain on our immune systems, leaving us vulnerable to a whole host of illnesses, why not cancer? It's a known fact that depressed people are more sickly than those with balance, harmony and happiness in their lives. Doctors and scientists are reluctant to believe what they can't prove but just because we can't prove it, doesn't mean it's not a factor.
terri

hummingbyrd

tlmac said:

Stress is such a subjective experience, it's hard to validate a study that definitively links it to cancer. A Swedish study, however, concluded stress doubled the risk for developing breast cancer. It immediately came under fire and remains highly controversial. You can read what they found here...
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/74/89170.htm
Stress puts a strain on our immune systems, leaving us vulnerable to a whole host of illnesses, why not cancer? It's a known fact that depressed people are more sickly than those with balance, harmony and happiness in their lives. Doctors and scientists are reluctant to believe what they can't prove but just because we can't prove it, doesn't mean it's not a factor.
terri

I have to agree with all the others particularly the point where stress effects the immune system. I certainly feel like stress played a major role in my diagnosis, but then I was also diagnosed with Parkinson's at 38, only 10 months prior to the breast cancer. Working 2 jobs, raising 2 young boys and a drug addicted spouse I know I had stress in my life!
Docs don't know everything. Logically speaking stress cannot be good for the body.
hummingbyrd

roxanne53

hummingbyrd said:

I have to agree with all the others particularly the point where stress effects the immune system. I certainly feel like stress played a major role in my diagnosis, but then I was also diagnosed with Parkinson's at 38, only 10 months prior to the breast cancer. Working 2 jobs, raising 2 young boys and a drug addicted spouse I know I had stress in my life!
Docs don't know everything. Logically speaking stress cannot be good for the body.
hummingbyrd

I agree with you all. I had been under high level stress.
When I have asked some of my doctors, they say that is not really factor in causing breast cancer. I have read about it not being a serious factor. Wish I could remember exactly where now.

I always knew before hand that there was something wrong with me too. The second time I found the lump not the mammogram. It was in the lobular area.
Logically, common sense would tell oneself that stress is a factor as it as you say compromises the immune system.
The biggest factor in my life has been the stress level due to life events over the years.
It is good to know that others feel this way.

Thank you for your comments and discussions
about this topic.

HUGS
Roxanne

Future

I take a different view. We all have stressors in our life -- there's positive stress and negative stress. When I was diagnosed I was eating healthy, exercising on a regular basis, within recommended weight standards, no family history of breast cancer but working a job that was demanding (and some may consider stressful) but loving it. Had my mammos and they were negative but still got Stage IIIA breast cancer. Even though I didn't feel stress was my immune system challenged with the pace of my job, I don't know. But to tell you the truth, I stayed in my profession and I like what I do and it would cause me more stress to give up what I enjoy. I plan to be a survivor.
Bottom line: Stress is subjective and I wonder if really they should be looking at the type of stress (positive or negative) think it would tell us more.

roxanne53

Future said:

I take a different view. We all have stressors in our life -- there's positive stress and negative stress. When I was diagnosed I was eating healthy, exercising on a regular basis, within recommended weight standards, no family history of breast cancer but working a job that was demanding (and some may consider stressful) but loving it. Had my mammos and they were negative but still got Stage IIIA breast cancer. Even though I didn't feel stress was my immune system challenged with the pace of my job, I don't know. But to tell you the truth, I stayed in my profession and I like what I do and it would cause me more stress to give up what I enjoy. I plan to be a survivor.
Bottom line: Stress is subjective and I wonder if really they should be looking at the type of stress (positive or negative) think it would tell us more.

Hello Future~
Stress can both be positive and or negative.
I had always ate healthy including all the colorful veggies., exercised, good weight control, and job is intense and like job, as you do also.
I have no family history of breast cancer. I am the first, as I know it. Dad had pancreatic cancer. grandfather had prostrate cancer at 90+.

I am still with my profession too and really would not leave it as I still like the job. Am also working on Masters degree. I am a survivor for the second time. In fact I am stage 3a same as you are along with er+ & pr+ & Her2nu +.

There are so many sides to the stressors in our lives(home and work).
I usually cope very well under stress at my job as it requires some of that ability.

I thank you for your comments. Appears we have some things in common. And I do not know if researching stressors would tell more or not. Especially if it is subjective experiences. I appear or feel like I am waffling around on this subject. This reason for my introducing the question of stress contributing to breast cancers.

Roxanne53