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Stress
I DO believe stress can be a component of cancer. I was in the process of building a house, moved into a 800 sq. foot apt. for almost two years during building, with two small children. We were the builder on the house. Moved kids to a new school. Sister went through a difficult divorce, one in which we loved her husband, the grass was greener! She in turn got engaged two months after dating someone and married after 6 months. Brother is in a terrible marriage and since he was my builder, I heard about the crisis in their house on a daily basis. I carried way too much stress, trying to fix everyone's problems. Layed awake at night worrying about everyone but myself. Worrying about things that I had no control over. After my treatment was over, I sought out a counselor to help me deal with the aftermath of BC along with changing my lifestyle habits to better suit myself. He helped me to learn to live with my new life, as well as teach me the life skills of letting people vent about their issues, but to realize that they were their issues, not mine. The 6 months I spent in counseling with him was the best 6 months I ever spent on myself. I'm a different person after BC. I now make choices that suit myself and immediate family. I try very hard not to worry about things I have no control over. I can deal with traumatic situations (almost lost both brothers this summer to accidents, 3 days apart!), way better than I could before BC. I am able to say NO to volunteering my time for everything under the sun. Even though having BC was the most traumatic situation I've ever experienced, many positive life changing things came out of it for me. I will never carry the weight of the world on my shoulders ever again. I do believe stress was a factor for me, with regard to my immune system being compromised.
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