Is There a Stress-Breast Cancer Connection? By Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S. - Posted Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 10:24 am PDT

1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 12:07 pm PDT

I don't know about stress causing cancer (but very possible), but I do know that stress causes cancer to grow. I had a very small lump that a doctor said was nothing to worry about. For the next 2 - 3 years the lump stayed the same until I went through 6 months or so of extreme stress. During the stressful time, the lump grew at an alarming rate and actually spread to my lymph nodes.

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 12:15 pm PDT

Absolutely agree. Since my first paper in nursing school, thirty years ago, I have been a proponent of the stress theory of illness and my diagnosis of breast cancer 6 years ago confirmed what I already believed.

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3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 4:26 pm PDT

ABSOLUTELY!!!! I'VE HAD IT AND HAVE TALKED WITH TONS OF WOMEN WHO ALSO HAD IT. WE ALL AGREE THAT STRESS WAS THE MAIN FACTOR. I, PERSONALLY, THINK THAT SOME SUSPECTED CAUSES ALONE WOULD NOT HAVE LET IT HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THAT GREAT OR PROLONGED STRESS COMBINED WITH THESE SUSPECTED CAUSES IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO ALLOW CANCER CELLS TO DEVELOP AND/OR GROW! I THOUGHT IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT STRESS IS WHAT PLAYS THE MAIN PART IN ITS DEVELOPMENT. I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS "STUDY" AT ALL!!!!!!!!

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4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 4:27 pm PDT

ABSOLUTELY!!!! I'VE HAD IT AND HAVE TALKED WITH TONS OF WOMEN WHO ALSO HAD IT. WE ALL AGREE THAT STRESS WAS THE MAIN FACTOR. I, PERSONALLY, THINK THAT SOME SUSPECTED CAUSES ALONE WOULD NOT HAVE LET IT HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THAT GREAT OR PROLONGED STRESS COMBINED WITH THESE SUSPECTED CAUSES IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO ALLOW CANCER CELLS TO DEVELOP AND/OR GROW! I THOUGHT IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT STRESS IS WHAT PLAYS THE MAIN PART IN ITS DEVELOPMENT. I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS "STUDY" AT ALL!!!!!!!!

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5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 7:40 pm PDT

Dear Lillie, I totally agree with you. The point you make is great. My mom had breast cancer last year. and she went through major stresses in her life not long before she had breast cancer. Her father passed away, financial instability at her own business etc. etc. She told me that it would be odd if her immune system did not fall down. Many thanks for your article!

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6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 7:41 pm PDT

Dear Lillie, I totally agree with you. The point you make is great. My mom had breast cancer last year. and she went through major stresses in her life not long before she had breast cancer. Her father passed away, financial instability at her own business etc. etc. She told me that it would be odd if her immune system did not fall down. Many thanks for your article!

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7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 8:10 pm PDT

Absolutely. Research already shows that cervical cancer starts from HPV. Some women immune systems rid their bodies of the virus while others linger on.

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8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 8:56 am PDT

you can make conclusion on the basis of public opinion, especially when it comes to biology. I beleive the question of stress should be left to scientists who are doing research on the issue.

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9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 10:17 am PDT

I think the study is flawed as well. More, more scientists are being open-minded regarding the stress factor: even heart patients are realizing that it wasn't their high cholesterol that caused their attack due to clogged, fatty arteries but an increase of homocystene in their blood probably due to prolonged stress. Additionally, distress (bad stress) naturally, logically pulls down one's immune system, however, the extent of damage directly correlates with the person's DNA. So individuals have a predisposition to being impacted differently to the same distressful situation(s). So to protect oneself: learn how to turn awful events into positive opportunities instead of reacting negatively to them which causes a toxic reaction in one's body. Best wishes to all!

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10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 12:57 pm PDT

It's amazing how much time and effort go into distracting people from the real cause of breast cancer which clearly synthetics in the environment. If it is stress than why are breast cancer rates 8 times (by some counts) higher than they were 100 years ago? Were women then less stressed than they are now? Doubtful.

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11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 12:57 pm PDT

It's amazing how much time and effort go into distracting people from the real cause of breast cancer which clearly synthetics in the environment. If it is stress than why are breast cancer rates 8 times (by some counts) higher than they were 100 years ago? Were women then less stressed than they are now? Doubtful.

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12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 2:51 pm PDT

Absolutely. I consider an extremely stressful lifestyle the main contributing effect to my getting an aggressive form of breast cancer. More than any other risk factor. Period. I know several other women who feel similarly.

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13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 3:57 pm PDT

I agree wholeheartedly that stress is a leading cause for breast cancer and most likely all cancer. I had my first bout with breast cancer 19 years ago after going through a very personal rough time in my life. I was fine for 18 years and went through another difficult time in my life and my cancer returned. My question is how does one learn to better handle stress. This is my concern. I am trying very hard to control my stress levels. I also think that stress is one of the contributing factors along with environmental and genetic contributors. To help my immune system do its job I make sure I eat properly, rest and EXERCISE!!! This is what all cancer patients can do for themselves. By so doing we can relieve some of the stress on our bodies.

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14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 6:42 pm PDT

Thank you for an insightful article Lillie. Although I agree with Matthew F that most breast cancers are caused by environmental toxins, I do believe that stress plays a role in promoting breast cancer. I was working in a very stressful job when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though I attribute the DDT from the toxic waste site near my home to be the cause of my breast cancer, I do believe that the job stress that I endured played a role in the growth of the cancer. The study that you sited only looked at major life events as stressors. It did not include constant daily stress in its assessment. I would like to see a study done that measures cortisol levels on a regular basis to see if there is a connection between stress and breast cancer.

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15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 6:42 pm PDT

Thank you for an insightful article Lillie. Although I agree with Matthew F that most breast cancers are caused by environmental toxins, I do believe that stress plays a role in promoting breast cancer. I was working in a very stressful job when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though I attribute the DDT from the toxic waste site near my home to be the cause of my breast cancer, I do believe that the job stress that I endured played a role in the growth of the cancer. The study that you sited only looked at major life events as stressors. It did not include constant daily stress in its assessment. I would like to see a study done that measures cortisol levels on a regular basis to see if there is a connection between stress and breast cancer.

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