The link between stress and cancer

This article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Bui Ngoc Phuong Hoa - General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International Hospital.

Stress is a common psychological condition in modern life. At low intensity, psychological stress helps people have more motivation to adapt to the environment. However, when stress is prolonged, it can be harmful to health, especially causing cancer to form and progress faster.

Stress describes a condition in which a person is under mental and emotional pressure. If people experience high levels of psychological stress for long periods of time, it can develop into mental or physical health problems.

Stress is recognized as a factor that can reduce the quality of life of cancer patients. There is even some evidence that stress reduces the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
2.1 Stress increases cancer risk Scientists do not confirm that stress causes cancer. However, prolonged stress can weaken the immune system, cause other medical conditions and impair health, increasing the risk of cancer.
Many studies have shown that people with chronic stress often experience digestive problems, fertility problems, urinary problems, and weakened immune systems. This group of people are also prone to viral infections such as flu or headaches, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, etc.
The link between psychological stress and cancer may arise in some cases. For example, people under stress often develop certain behaviors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, eating too much, being sedentary, etc., which increase the risk of cancer. Besides, this group of subjects also often have a poorer quality of life during cancer treatment.
2.2 Stress accelerates cancer metastasis Through experiments on mice, Australian researchers have demonstrated that chronic stress can create physiological changes, causing cancer cells to metastasize quickly to the organs of the body. Specifically: Adrenalin - a neurotransmitter produced by stress increases the number and size of lymphatic vessels in and around the tumor, increasing the rate of flow through the lymphatic system, pushing cells away. Cancer cells travel throughout the body.
Besides, US researchers also confirmed that stress spreads cancer cells in many other ways. Specifically: the hormones produced by stress inactivate the process of anoikis (the process of killing and preventing the spread of cancer cells). Besides, chronic stress also promotes the production of growth factors that increase the blood supply, which accelerates the growth of melanoma.
2.3 Cancer causes stress Cancer and chronic stress are interrelated. Stress can lead to cancer, and cancer patients also often experience stress, anxiety, fatigue,... When diagnosed with cancer, most patients get caught up in negative thoughts. . Cancer patients with prolonged stress, sadness, despair, ... will not be able to cope with chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Stress directly affects the patient's quality of life, chance of cure or chance of prolonging life, etc.

Small lifestyle changes can reduce stress and fatigue. That is: Avoid timetable conflicts: use a daily planner or an online calendar to organize your daily activities. Each person should not set up too many tasks during the day or week, especially jobs that need a lot of time to solve,... to avoid fatigue and stress.
Know your capacity limit: you should refuse to accept more work if you don't have enough time and health. Get help: to cope with stress, patients can turn to family, friends, and co-workers for support. Change your attitude towards things: A stressor can come from a job over which the person has no control. Therefore, the patient should keep a more comfortable mind, think about the positive to limit negative thoughts. Get financial help: cancer patients or people who are under prolonged stress should refer to insurance policies, ... to handle financial problems related to cancer and have a plan. Save money on medical treatment. Exercise regularly: walking 30 minutes/day and maintaining it 6 days/week will help reduce stress. Exercising in parks or natural environments is better for the patient's health. Participate in social activities: patients should spend time communicating with family and friends to reduce stress. Eat scientifically: maintaining a scientific diet and reasonable rest helps patients have more energy to face stress factors that occur every day. Get enough sleep: cancer patients should sleep at least 7 hours every night and take short naps during the day to keep their bodies healthy and reduce nervous tension. Take time to relax: cancer patients should spend time doing things they love such as reading, listening to music, watching movies, planting flowers, sewing, etc. Laughter helps relieve stress, so the patient can relax. recommend watching comedies or reading books with fun, positive content. Try a new challenge: taking an art class or learning to play an instrument gives cancer patients a sense of fulfillment and helps them forget about everyday worries. Other solutions: relaxation and deep breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, meditation, yoga,...

In addition to the above stress control solutions, cancer patients can also use psychological health examination and counseling services at Vinmec Hospital. With modern equipment and a team of qualified and experienced doctors, Vinmec Hospital is capable of implementing psychological tests, intensive psychotherapy, serving effective medical examination and treatment. effects for cancer patients under prolonged stress.