STRESS could worsen cancer survival and patients should try simple ways to manage it, say scientists.
Research found that the stress hormone cortisol increases tumour cells’ ability to grow and spread around the body.
Researchers said meditating and getting out in nature could help to boost cancer survival (stock image)Credit: Alamy
It might also reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
Polls by YouGov suggest at least 40 per cent of Brits feel at any given time.
This is nearly twice as high among cancer patients, with 72 per cent saying they like anxiety or depression, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Experts suggest patients try meditation to keep their stress under control and potentially boost their recovery.
Levels of cortisol spike naturally before you wake up and then decrease through the day, but can also be triggered by , or by trauma.
Lab experiments at Midwestern University in Arizona, USA, found cells were tougher and more able to grow and spread when exposed to higher levels of cortisol.
Study author Dr Kimberley Bussey said: “Our data suggests that psychosocial stress, particularly if it is chronic, is a contributing factor to both the development of cancer and the response to cancer therapy.
“There are things patients can do to help lower their stress.
“Patients should, as much as they can, do things to such as exercise, get outside in nature and engage in mindfulness practices like meditation.
“Every action they take will help.”
The says meditation is an effective form of mindfulness that helps people to make peace with their emotions and enjoy life more.
The health service says: “Mindfulness meditation involves sitting silently and paying attention to thoughts, sounds, the sensations of breathing or parts of the body, bringing your attention back whenever the mind starts to wander.”
It said people should work out a routine that works for them but recommends setting aside 20 minutes for a meditation session.
Dr Bussey’s research compared the effects of cortisol on cells taken from breast cancer or adrenal carcinoma with healthy cells.
She presented the results at the conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) this month.
Dr Bussey said the stress hormone caused changes that made the cells more adaptable, better at resisting drug treatment and more able to spread.
She added: “Cortisol levels cycle during the day, being highest in the morning, but in cancer patients this rhythm is disrupted and their levels tend to not show the same highs and lows but stay more constant.
“I think there are arguments to be made for starting and ending the day with practices that reduce stress.
“In the morning, those practices can support a resilient mental state that helps us manage daily stress better.
“At night, they can help us relax and promote quality .”
TACTICS FOR REDUCING STRESS
NONE of us are immune to stress, but here are some quick expert tips on how to keep it under control:
- Relinquish control: Understand what you can control and try not to agonise over what you can’t. Stop trying to fix or convince other people, or worrying about the past.
- Set boundaries: Be realistic and honest about what you need to, and can, do. Prioritise your to-do list and don’t get talked into taking on more than you can manage.
- Make conscious choices: Stick to healthy indulgences instead of giving in to cravings. For example, listen to your favourite music while cooking dinner, rather than turning to wine or chocolate in a huff.
- Re-frame your perspective: Stop catastrophising. Think about the big picture – will you remember this in five years? Picture the worst-case scenario and work out how to handle it, then the reality will be easier. Consider what advice you would give to a friend in the same situation.
- See stress as growth: Stress is often an accumulation of small things that don’t really matter. Work through them, think what you can learn from the experience and keep moving forward.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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