Chronic psychological stress significantly exacerbates cancer progression and impairs treatment response, according to a leading expert who advises patients to adopt stress-reduction practices like meditation and yoga. Dr Kimberly Bussey, from Midwestern University in Arizona, emphasised that stress is a critical factor not only in cancer development but also in how patients respond to therapeutic interventions.
The Cortisol Connection in Cancer Patients
Dr Bussey's research involved analysing daily fluctuations of the stress hormone cortisol in individuals with cancer. In healthy people, cortisol levels typically peak in the morning and decline by evening, following a natural circadian rhythm. However, the study found this pattern is profoundly disrupted in cancer patients, with cortisol remaining persistently elevated throughout the entire twenty-four-hour cycle.
Permanent Cellular Changes from Stress
This sustained high cortisol environment induces permanent transformations in cancer cells, enhancing their 'stemness'—a measure of their adaptability and robustness. The research indicates these altered cells become more resistant to treatment, more capable of spreading to different tissues, and better able to survive chemotherapy drugs. Laboratory experiments confirm these changes are irreversible, even if stress levels are subsequently reduced.
Stress Management as a Therapeutic Strategy
"Patients should, as much as possible, incorporate expert-recommended stress management techniques into their daily routines," Dr Bussey advised. She highlighted practices such as regular exercise, spending time in nature, mindfulness activities like journaling and meditation, maintaining a healthy diet, contributing to others, and ensuring adequate sleep.
"Starting and ending the day with practices that reduce stress and promote quality sleep is particularly beneficial," she explained. "Morning routines can foster mental resilience to better handle daily stressors, while evening practices aid relaxation and improve sleep quality."
Institutional Support and Personal Coping
These findings, alongside similar research, have prompted some medical institutions to integrate counselling and support groups into comprehensive cancer treatment plans. Dr Bussey noted that a cancer diagnosis itself is inherently stressful, making it crucial to minimise additional stressors in daily life while developing effective coping mechanisms.
"No one can eliminate stress entirely, but simple actions like spending quality time with friends and family, even just being together in the same room, can provide significant relief," she added.
Presentation and Broader Research Context
Dr Bussey presented her work, conducted with medical student Cassidy Kennedy, at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Phoenix, Arizona. This research contributes to a growing body of evidence linking psychological factors to cancer biology.
In related developments, researchers recently announced that studying multiple cancer types in domestic cats could unlock new understandings and potential cures for the disease. A pioneering international study analysed tumours from nearly five hundred pet cats across five countries, revealing genetic changes and mechanisms in feline cancers that closely mirror those in humans, such as similarities between feline mammary cancers and human breast cancers. This cross-species research may lead to targeted treatments applicable to both animals and people.
