[Sandy in Silicon Valley]

Hi,

Thanks for posting this link. Even tho it was posted online last January, I haven't read it, or seen reference made to it, before this. Maybe that's because there are numerous studies published that have indicated that there is NO correlation between self-reported stress and recurrence in cancer, or in getting breast cancer to begin with. Self-report studies are notoriously variable and not nearly as reliable as physiological research. Lately, researchers have taken to measuring cortisol, a "stress hormone" I think, in subjects' saliva, to measure stress levels. That disease & treatment can cause fatigue, which in turn can cause stress (as in not being able or motivated to carry on one's usual activities) has been long recognized - but that fatigue can cause disease is a novel interpretation of this study's findings.

However, I don't think that the study really supports a "mind over matter" theory - especially as relates to things like meditation, visualization, guided imagery, "the power of positive thinking" and other "mind over matter" theories.

Here's what the authors say: "The researchers propose two possible interpretations. Firstly, patients who do not experience psychological distress maintain a strong immune system that subsequently leads to better cancer resistance, they suggest. This they refer to as the "mind-body model." Alternatively, a lack of psychological distress may reflect mental as well as physical robustness. This they refer to as the "robustness model.""

To me, the association could easily go either way - for bc patients who suffer more physical symptoms from the disease itself, surgery, radiation and/or drugs - it could be that their physiological suffering that leads to psychological distress and/or lessening of physical robustness.

For patients who don't have the classic "good attitude", it doesn't necessarily mean that they would report more fatigue. I'm a classic case of "bad attitude" - and my anger/stress about perceived wrongs - in my treatment & diagnostic options, medical/insurance snafus, and general societal inequities - is often quite energizing.

Also, there are many people, in my observation and opinion, who try very hard to cover their distress with a smiley face or "good attitude". Being cheerful and optimistic and hopeful is great if it comes to one naturally, at least until if/when something unexpectedly awful happens, but in people for whom those feelings are not consonant with underlying fears, anger, other negative feelings, it really takes a huge amount of energy and effort to cover up negative emotions and replace them with positive ones.

Using so much energy to improve one's attitude can be exhausting: FATIGUE! Unless, of course, one is in denial of their situation, and happily thinks/ acts/ feels as though nothing is seriously wrong - that person might honestly, from the gut, report both less stress and less fatigue - but that doesn't mean the same person would see a doctor about worrisome symptoms (thereby being diagnosed with recurrence, perhaps) - that person might just go on her merry way believing that nothing is wrong.

From my own experience, with breast cancer, abusive parents, an often-unhappy first marriage, and from working with children and adults as a social worker, I believe that freedom to express ALL feelings, and affirmation that ALL feelings are legitimate and deserve respect and recognition, are much healthier values for more people than trying to get everyone to express only optimistic "good attitude" emotions - whether or not those really reflect what's going on for a person.

(((hugs)))
Sandy in Silicon Valley