Emotion and Cancer Diagnosis

[blms]

Just curious how many of you can connect a recent BC or reoccurrence

of BC to MBC diagnosis with an emotional stress within 6 months of their diagnosis?

[Snowcone16]

I don’t know. I don’t consider stress to always be bad. When I was diagnosed stage 2, I was going through a divorce but I was pretty happy about it. It was August 2015 that I felt a bump but that something was wrong w my implant. Then in late September 2015, I started birth control. I was 44 years old. By April 2016, I was diagnosed.

For the stage 4 dx, I was selling my house. I was arguing w ex on relocating my daughter. That was stressful. I was in the midst of moving and traveling 2 weeks per month for work.

But, many of the radical remission stories I read include yoga, reiki and mindfulness.

[blms in reply to Snowcone16]

Yes, I find it all very interesting. For me, the first time around, I was depressed and worried about my dad for health reasons but angry with his wife (my mother died at 52 and my parents were happily married-my dad remarried 11 months after her death which was good with me because he was so lonely but then many years later he had a difficult medical surgery and condition and his wife then tried to put him away which I knew was wrong and inappropriate. I took guardianship of him and all was good. But, during that turmoil, I was angry, depressed and super worried. Six months later my first diagnosis came. This time around, 20 years later, I was about 3 months depressed and super worried about my best friend dying (still alive by the way). I was pretty much all consumed and here I am now with stage 4. I know these are connected with my illness and I strongly believe that I let my immune system break down and cancer flared up. Since the fall of 2017, I am focusing differently and continue to learn to let things go and not bother me for any period of time anyway. Mental imaging, tapping, deep breathing and I need to learn meditation. BTW, thank you for the suggestion of yet my new favorite bool Radcal Remission. There is SOOO much good information out there now. I just need to take even more time to read, study and lifestyle change.

[Hidden]

I was pretty uptight at the first diagnosis when a lump appeared in my breast and a second one was found during the ensuing scan. No family history so I simply didn't expect it. After my mastectomy and radiation I thought things would be OK on Tamoxifen as we were stifling the hormones. Not so. 4 months later a tiny liver met shoed up and I was told that now I was stage 4 and basically incurable. Although it was stressed to me that this was not a death sentence necessarily and was treated as a chronic lifetime illness I panicked big-time and ended up on anti depressants for a good few months. I found that every time the current regime of drugs started to show progression I would have a new panic irrespective of how much I tried to think of positive things. Currently I seem to be less stressed about it than I have ever been so maybe I am doing something right. This site helps so much

[blms in reply to Hidden]

I’m not referring to depression upon knowing you have cancer but more of it as a precursor.

[Onie54 in reply to blms]

I would agree with you about the stress being a factor. When I was first diagnosed we had just been through (and continued) to have many health issues with our youngest child and my mom had passed the year before.

When I spoke with the other amazing women I met along my journey they too had various stress in their lives (potential divorce, financial issues to name a few). We all agreed at the time that the stress in our lives played a significant role in our dx. We gathered that it’s not the only thing that triggers it but it’s one of the precursors needed.

[blms in reply to Onie54]

Yes more reason we need to find destressors in our lives

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Hidden]

I’m where you were! How are you doing now? Was there a breakthrough moment? I’m a complete fruit loop! X

[JoyBe]

Absolutely without a doubt. You can go so far as to say PTSD. And not just 6 months. Having to endure it much longer and continuing as it's compounded by the trauma of being diagnosed w/ MBC.

If there is a will and a way I plan on writing a book about my personal story.

[Jaxon2007]

I strongly agree that stress contributes to cancer. My kids had gone down the wrong path and dealing with that, had a mammogram 9 months prior, everything fine, then this stress began and wham, stage 3 BC. Kids finally got on right path, meet my 5 year mark. My granddaughter got on wrong path then wham 6 months later, I'm stage 4, moved to my bones, now liver. Wish we had a Dr. verify this.

[blms in reply to Jaxon2007]

Yep! That had need my experience as well. The key now is to find ways to not let life affect you in that strong manner ever again. At least not for ANY extended time! I’m learning new techniques daily.

[lisafromatx]

I was going through a very nasty divorce and child custody battle for two years preceeding my bc diagnosis. I was financially ruined by this two year court battle. Super stressed to say the least. Had to sell my house to continue funding greedy attorneys and counselors who were making bad decisions on my behalf. Was going through menopause at the time. Got on hormones to level out the mood swings...at a counselor’s recommendation. I am convinced all of this caused the cancer!

[blms in reply to lisafromatx]

No question life is a bitch. Look for ways to get yourself away from

All this. Once again not easy but we gave to try otherwise we can never get better or worse. When we have prolonged stress, our immune system breaks down and then cancer gets happily moving into things and places we don’t want!

[lisafromatx in reply to blms]

I am away from it. The divorce got finalized just before my diagnosis 2 1/2 years ago! But I did have tremendous stress preceeding my diagnosis.

[Klamato]

As far as I'm concerned, the body and mind are ONE! Stress burns good vitamins off the system. Stress definitely is a cause of cancer and when you have it, it's good to think positive and be happy for the day! God has a plan for all of us! Just continue to trust and BELIEVE! Each day is such a blessing!

[Julie2233]

All the research seems to show that the healthier/fitter you are the less chance you have of developing cancer or another major illnesses.

When you are stressed you don't sleep properly - lack of sleep has a much bigger impact on health than was previously thought, when you are stressed you don't eat properly and we know the impact a poor diet has, it's hard to exercise or make good decisions when you haven't slept and are carrying the weight of the world. All that before we get to the impact of stress on the body itself through the production of stress hormones and the flight or fight response. And when you are caught up in a stressful time you often have no idea all this is going on. It's no wonder things go wrong with our bodies when we have prolonged periods of stress.

But periods of stress is part of life, very few people get through life without something stressful happening and I don't know how it can be avoided. Perhaps one day we will understand why it impacts on some and not others.

And I am convinced that my own cancer came from a period of intense stress 10 years ago which left me with lots of minor health issues. But because I appeared healthy it took me 12 months and 4 attempts for my gp to refer me to a breast consultant for my initial diagnosis. She told me that I wasn't the type of person to get cancer. Since my diagnosis I have started taking my health seriously, I now make sure I get sufficient sleep, I've cut the rubbish out of my diet, I exercise regularly and I don't take on more than I can do and despite the mbc diagnosis I look better than I have in years, just wish I'd known this 10 years ago.

[13plus in reply to Julie2233]

Wow hard to imagine a doctor making such a stupid comment. Anybody can get cancer!

[blms in reply to 13plus]

Well anyone can get cancer. Everyone has cancer cells editing to be activated and invade ! So maybe not so stupid. Now another thing would be hiw detached your oncologist is and/or how he/she makes you feel!

[Julie2233 in reply to blms]

I don't see that doctor any more for anything

[Julie2233 in reply to 13plus]

That was my gp. When I was given the choice to have chemo and took it my oncologist told me I was the type of person who would make that decision. I sat in the chemo waiting room looking round at all the people being treated for cancer sitting with their friends and family and you know it was usually hard to tell which I of them were being treated and which were there to support. I couldn't spot a type

[blms]

Isn’t that the truth!

[SeattleMom]

Yes! In July 2017, four months prior to my diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, I experienced shock and severe anxiety when my daughter's boyfriend was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had a series of chemo treatments, where I took him to his appointments and sat with him through his infusions. It was an extremely stressful and grief-provoking time in my life. Fortunately, he completed his chemo treatments; and follow-up exams thus far (hopefully forever) show no sign of recurrence.

Nonetheless, I've often wondered whether a shocking or stress-filled episode in life wakes up latent cancer cells.

[Gram10]

I believe stress was a big factor in my stage IV after being cancer free for 11 years. My husband retired and started making my life miserable. Hanging around, doing nothing and complaining about how much he hated retirement. Then we had two grandchildren diagnosed with a genetic disease causing them to have their colons removed. Finally, my brother-in-law was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma the day after we spent vacation with him. He died 3 months later. It all piles up and breaks you down.

Pat

[13plus]

I always thought stress played a large part of me getting my bc, twice and now MBC!

Lots of marital strain first time round. I actually specifically remember once having a huge argument with my husband and it being interupted by me getting a sharp pain in my chest. 6 months later I'm diagnosed, lump in the same location (ok, maybe a coincidence but weird!). I had also been severely sleep deprived for the previous couple of years.

Then 4 years later I got a new lump. It was growing while we were arguing over where to move to. I lost that battle. We bought a house I didn't really want to buy, my husband then lost his job. Stressful? Yes for sure! Bang, new diagnosis.

We've been under severe financial stress ever since. His low income is pathetic but he liked to always believe it would get better. Meanwhile I started and have built my own business working my butt off 7 days a week. Last year I told him I couldn't keep this up. This year - mbc has me. I'm really not surprised to get the dx! I knew I was being run into the ground. Anyway, I try not to get angry as it will only effect me, not him. Stupidly I got into the habit all last year of staying up late too. I didn't HAVE to work so hard. That's what I regret the most. Not looking after myself properly. No point in crying over spilt milk. I just try to live each day and be grateful for each day that I have.

[kit5]

stress lowers your immune system..and when your immune system is out of whack, you can get physically sick. cancer and other disease...all connected

[blms]

Yes, I strongly agree and believe that working on our stress is the only help! there are plenty of techniques available.

[blms]

Yep you got it!!

[Topood]

I was diagnosed after my job forced me from a 4 day a week to 5 day a week schedule during the summer that my father was dying and my husband was away for 3 months....I had had breast cancer 23 years before and stayed healthy all that time....so sometimes I do think that stress contributed.