Stress and Cancer Connection Explained by Oncologist
Stress has become a permanent feature of today’s world. Everyone feels stress, from people managing a work deadline to others worrying about finances or struggling with personal issues. Stress is known to be a contributor to many diseases and conditions like heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders. It may include even diminished immune function. But can stress, in fact, even contribute to something as severe as cancer? A Hyderabad oncologist has given his insights to untangle the confusion.
Fact vs. Fiction: the Science Behind It
Dr. Saadvik Raghuram, an Oncologist at Arete Hospitals, revealed this matter of concern through an Instagram post on the 19th of October. He stated that the idea of chronic stress as a risk factor for developing cancer is not as straight forward as people believe. This is despite stress being detrimental to both physical and mental health.
“Does being chronically stressed mean you are at risk of cancer?”
“Let’s separate fear from fact”! The hormones associated with stress can alter cancer tumor growth. Dr. Raghuram said slew of information from laboratories and animal studies have demonstrated. Stress modifies how the immune system functions increases inflammation and disrupts the proper repair of DNA. All of this can provide a breeding ground for healthy cancerous cells to proliferate.
However, he was quick to note that evidence from human trials creates an even more complicated picture. In some studies, long-term stress was correlated with increased risk of cancer. While other studies reported no significant relationship.
Why People Respond Differently in Human Bodies
Dr. Raghuram noted that the human body functions in an extremely complex environment. On the other hand, studies completed in the laboratory do not. “There are many factors – genetics, lifestyle, environment, emotional health. These help to determine what happens in a person’s body,” he continued.
“Even though controlling stress is important for your overall health status, the relationship between stress and cancer in humans is not very conclusive,” he said. “There are just too many biological and behavioral components.”
Dr. Raghuram agrees that stress alone may not cause cancer. It can lead to behaviors that are risk factors to a person’s health – such as excess eating, not getting sleep, smoking and drinking alcohol. Behaviors such as these act over time as a burden on immunity and health status, thereby affecting cancer risk indirectly.
Concentrate on What You Can Manage: Stress Control for a Better Life
Despite worrying if stress is linked to cancer, Dr. Raghuram wants you to focus on what you can manage.
A balanced lifestyle is essential to keeping the body healthy. Regular exercise, actionable food, sleep, sleep, and taking care of mental health can help alleviate the damaging effects of stress for a long period of time.
In addition, he encourages people to practice stress management strategies like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and/or psychotherapy. “In summary, having a focus on healthy lifestyle practices, regular health checks, and mental health is another good way to mitigate overall health risk,” Dr. Raghuram stated.
The Summary: Reduce Stress, Improve Life
Dr. Saadvik Raghuram ended by saying, “Awareness of stress, its effects, and learning to manage stress can improve quality of life, even if there may be no direct connection to cancer.”
Although science attempts to unravel the complicated relationship between stress and cancer, one point is clear — chronic stress is damaging to our mental and physical health. In terms of your future well-being, doing something about mental health is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Today’s health news share recommendations from experts like Dr. Raghuram that it’s not simply about eliminating stress – which is nearly impossible – but instead, it’s about coping with it. In the end, peace of mind may be one of the strongest forms of prevention we have.
