Stress as a Cancer Risk

Tests with mice have linked stress with ovarian cancer. Now, I am not a huge fan of testing on mice being a direct indicator of the human condition, however, this one makes sense to me. Stress is a problem that can be a direct cause of many sub-health conditions and a supportive factor in developing others.

Study finds stress worsens ovarian cancer

“Dr. Anil Sood of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and colleagues noticed that ovarian cancer patients who reported high levels of stress in their lives also had higher levels of a protein called VEGF, which stimulates blood vessel growth in tumors. The patients who had more social support in their lives had lower levels of VEGF. So the team infected mice with ovarian cancer and then stressed some by confining alone them in a small space for two or six hours. Mice stressed for six hours had 3.6 times as many tumors. And in half the stressed mice the tumors had already spread to the liver or spleen.” (Emphasis mine.)

Note that people “who had more social support in their lives” had lower levels of the protein that stimulated the cancer growth. As the Bible says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) We need each other… we need support and strength derived from fellowship together. Don’t “go it alone!” Lean on one another! Reduce stress in your life. Relax more. It will be a blessing to your continued good health!