Farnaz Gheisari,1,*Zahra Gheisari,2
1. Bachelor of microbiology، ِDepartment of Microbiology،Shiraz Branch ،Islamic Azad University، Shiraz ، Iran 2. M.sc student of General Psychology ، Department of Psychology،Marvdasht Branch ، Islamic Azad University ، Marvdasht ، Iran
Introduction: Stress is an inherent part of life. While short-term stress responses are typically helpful for handling immediate dangers, long-term exposure to stress can be harmful and may contribute to or worsen various chronic diseases, including cancer. Chronic psychological stress is recognized as a major factor in both the development and progression of cancer, although the exact mechanisms connecting stress to cancer are not fully understood. Psychological stress triggers several physiological responses, activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, which then leads to changes in immune function. Stress can be defined as a state of disrupted balance caused by internal or external stressors. This disruption triggers a range of physiological and behavioral responses that aim to restore the organism's equilibrium.
Methods: Studying the relationship between stress and cancer progression, often by looking at patient survival rates, can be quite challenging. Stress, including life events, is typically evaluated without considering the timing of cancer detection, and its impact on cancer progression is often not examined. Additionally, most cancer patients experience some level of distress, which can influence cancer progression regardless of their baseline stress levels. This can obscure the connection between stress and cancer progression, but it might also highlight the potential benefits of stress-reducing interventions. Emotional distress in cancer patients can exacerbate mental health issues, potentially affecting cancer prognosis and increasing mortality rates.Surveys indicate that about one million new cancer cases arise annually among individuals aged 20–39, with stress being partially linked to these cases. This connection between chronic stress and cancer has garnered significant attention and concern within the medical community. Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between stress and various cancers, including prostate, breast, gastric, lung, and skin cancers, revealing evidence that chronic stress may contribute to tumor formation and cancer progression.
Results: Based on animal and clinical psychoneuroimmunological and neurobiological studies that have confirmed the efficiency of approaches that reduce the stimulatory effect of stress on cancer, it can be suggested that a combination of standard cancer therapy, together with psychotherapy and administration of antagonists to β2-adrenergic receptors (e.g. propranolol), may not only significantly improve the quality of life of cancer patients, but also prolong their survival.
Conclusion: A cancer diagnosis triggers a complex psychological response in patients. Following the diagnosis, concerns about death, job loss, financial difficulties, loss of independence, and other negative impacts of cancer and its treatment on daily life contribute to increased distress and anxiety.Chronic stress produces stress hormones during the activation of the neuroendocrine system (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis) and the sympathetic nervous system, which can promote tumor development and regulate the tumor microenvironment. In general, stress can have a direct relationship with cancer.