The short answer
Stress is what people feel under mental, physical, or emotional pressure, and a cancer diagnosis is a common cause. Emotional and social support, physical activity, and, when needed, help from a mental health professional can all help people with cancer cope with stress and feel better.
Stress is what you feel under mental, physical, or emotional pressure, and cancer is a common cause.
Whether stress can cause cancer is not clear; studies have had mixed results.
Emotional and social support can lower depression, anxiety, and other symptoms.
Moderate physical activity during and after treatment can reduce anxiety and low mood.
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The full explanation.
What stress is
Stress, also called psychological stress, describes what people feel when they are under mental, physical, or emotional pressure. The things that cause stress, called stressors, can come from daily responsibilities like work, family, and finances. Serious health issues, such as a cancer diagnosis in yourself or a loved one, can also cause stress.
The body responds to stress by releasing hormones that raise blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar. This is often called the fight-or-flight response, and it helps you act quickly to escape a threat. The response is useful for short bursts of stress, but when it comes from long-term, or chronic, stress, it can be harmful. People with chronic stress can have problems such as high blood pressure, headaches, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and a weaker immune system.
Does stress cause cancer?
This is a common worry, and the honest answer is that it is not clear. Although chronic stress can lead to many health problems, whether it is linked to cancer is uncertain. Studies have had mixed results, with some finding a link for certain cancers and others finding none.
Even when stress appears to be linked to cancer risk, the relationship could be indirect. For example, people under chronic stress may take up unhealthy habits, such as smoking, overeating, becoming less active, or drinking alcohol, and these habits are themselves tied to higher risk of some cancers.
Coping with stress
The good news is that there are proven ways to cope with stress during cancer.
Lean on emotional and social support
Emotional and social support can help you learn to cope with stress, and they can lower levels of depression, anxiety, and disease- and treatment-related symptoms. There is some evidence that managing stress through social support is linked to better outcomes for people with breast cancer.
If you need help, ask. For emotional and practical support, ask your hospital social worker or nurse where to find resources. If you are worried about insurance or money, talk to your health care team so they know your concerns, then contact your hospital billing office for guidance.
Stay physically active
Another way to cope with stress is by being physically active. A major report found sufficient evidence that moderate-intensity physical activity during and after cancer treatment can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in cancer survivors. There is also evidence that physical activity helps prevent depression among survivors of childhood cancer. Ask your doctor what level of activity is right for you.
Get screened and get help when needed
Some expert organizations recommend that all cancer patients be screened with a tool such as a distress scale or questionnaire, soon after diagnosis and during and after treatment. This helps the team see whether you need help managing stress or are at risk for distress.
People who are experiencing significant stress may want to ask their doctor about a referral to a mental health professional. Treatment of significant distress, depression, and anxiety might include talk therapy, medicine, or both. The choice should be personalized, ideally as a joint decision between you and your provider.
Being proactive
Stress can keep your body from healing as well as it should, so it helps to be proactive and talk about concerns early in treatment. If it feels like too much, a family member or friend can raise concerns for you. The key is to find ways to control your stress and not to let it control you.
If you are in immediate distress or thinking about hurting yourself, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741), or use the Lifeline Chat online. Help is available 24 hours a day.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸What is stress, and how does the body respond to it?
Stress is what people feel when under mental, physical, or emotional pressure. The body responds by releasing stress hormones that raise blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar. This fight-or-flight response helps with short bursts of stress, but long-term stress can be harmful to health.
▸Can stress cause cancer?
It is not clear. Although chronic stress can lead to many health problems, whether it is linked to cancer is uncertain, and studies have had mixed results. Any link may also be indirect, since people under chronic stress may take up unhealthy habits that raise cancer risk.
▸How can I cope with stress during cancer?
Emotional and social support help many people cope, and they can lower levels of depression, anxiety, and symptoms. Being physically active is another good approach. If your stress is significant, ask your doctor about a referral to a mental health professional.
▸Does exercise really help with stress?
Yes. A report found sufficient evidence that moderate-intensity physical activity during and after cancer treatment can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in cancer survivors. Talk to your doctor about what level of activity is right for you.
▸Should I be screened for stress or distress?
Some expert organizations recommend that all cancer patients be screened with a tool such as a distress scale or questionnaire soon after diagnosis, as well as during and after treatment, to see whether they need help managing stress or are at risk for distress.
▸What treatments help with serious stress?
Treatment of significant distress, depression, and anxiety under the care of a mental health professional might include talk therapy, medicine, or both. The choice should be personalized, ideally as a joint decision between you and your provider.
Questions to ask your doctor
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