Life stress is not associated with the onset of breast cancer

A long held belief is that stress is related to the onset of cancer, but the results of research into the association are contradictory. Protheroe et al (p 1027) interviewed 332 women with a suspicious breast lump using a standardised measure of life events and difficulties. Women with cancer were no more likely to have experienced a severe life stressor in the previous 5 years than those with a benign lesion. The authors conclude that there is no evidence that stressful life experiences are related to the onset of breast cancer, although their results do not resolve the issue of stress and relapse of cancer.


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Relevant Article

Stressful life events and difficulties and onset of breast cancer: case-control study
David Protheroe, Kim Turvey, Kieran Horgan, Eddie Benson, David Bowers, and Allan House
BMJ 1999 319: 1027-1030. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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