Emotional Trauma

Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) may occur when an individual has been exposed to a traumatic event and responds with fear, helplessness, or horror. It is now recognized that a small percentage of patients being treated for cancer experience PTSD. The trauma-related symptoms in patients with cancer have been under increasing study. Individuals with a history of PTSD are at a substantial risk for continued emotional difficulties so it is encouraged that these patients receive timely and effective treatment for this syndrome.

It is difficult to recommend a “best therapy” approach for PTSD. Most clinicians recommend a multimodality approach, using components of therapy that meet the specific needs of each patient, taking into account any concurrent psychiatric disorders such as depression or substance abuse.

A crisis intervention approach is often recommended in order to facilitate the adjustment of patients experiencing cancer. In this approach, the therapist takes an active stance focusing on problem resolution, teaching specific coping skills, and providing a safe and supportive environment. Cognitive-behavioral approaches have proven very effective. This approach includes the former in addition to the use of relaxation techniques, restructuring cognitions or negative thoughts, and providing exposure to opportunities that provide systematic desensitization of the symptoms being experienced. Support groups have also been shown to benefit people who experience PTSD. In the group setting, patients can receive emotional support from others who have experienced similar symptoms, thereby validating their own feelings and learning coping strategies from others.

For patients with severe symptoms, psychopharmacology may prove effective. Antidepressants may be used when the symptoms of depression occur with PTSD. Antidepressants are also useful in decreasing the hyperarousal and intrusive symptoms that often accompany PTSD. Antipsychotic medications may reduce flashbacks and antianxiety medications may help reduce arousal and anxiety. Therefore, the best therapeutic approach to PTSD may be a combination of therapies tailored to the individual’s experiences and symptoms. Most importantly, therapeutic intervention is highly recommended for any person experiencing any of the symptoms associated with PTSD.

Up until recently, the “official” answer from NIH and others has been that there is not been any study that conclusively links stress as a direct cause of cancer. The National Cancer Institute fact sheet says,

“Although the results of some studies have indicated a link between various psychological factors and an increased risk of developing cancer, a direct cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven.” Here is a link to that source: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/stress

An article in the New York Times regarding the link between stress and cancer says,

“What has emerged is a tenuous connection between stress, the immune system and cancer, with a surprising new insight that is changing the direction of research: it now appears that cancer cells make proteins that actually tell the immune system to let them alone and even to help them grow. As for whether stress causes cancer, the question is still open.” Here is the link to this source: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/29/health/29canc.html?pagewanted=all

An article in PychCentral regarding this matter says,

“Currently, there is no evidence that stress is a direct cause of cancer. But evidence is accumulating that there is some link between stress and developing certain kinds of cancer, as well as how the disease progresses. Hundreds of studies have measured how stress impacts our immune systems and fights disease. At Ohio State University, researcher Dr. Ron Glaser, Ph.D., found that students under pressure had slower-healing wounds and took longer to produce immune system cells that kill invading organisms. Renowned researcher Dr. Dean Ornish, M.D., who has spent 20 years examining the effects of stress on the body, found that stress-reduction techniques could actually help reverse heart disease. And Dr. Barry Spiegel, M.D., a leader in the field of psychosomatic medicine, found that metastatic breast cancer patients lived longer when they participated in support groups.

Other studies have gone as far as to show those women who experienced traumatic life events or losses in previous years had significantly higher rates of breast cancer.

Still, the National Cancer Institute reports, “Although studies have shown that stress factors, such as death of a spouse, social isolation, and medical school examinations, alter the way the immune system functions, they have not provided scientific evidence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship between these immune system changes and the development of cancer.”

Nonetheless, some medical experts say therein lies the link between cancer and stress — if stress decreases the body’s ability to fight disease, it loses the ability to kill cancer cells.” Link to source: http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/stress-a-cause-of-cancer/

However, a study in 2010 published in Nature was reported by Newsmaxhealth saying,

“Stress is a killer and is implicated in numerous deadly conditions including high blood pressure and heart attacks. Now scientists have biological evidence that common, everyday stress can trigger cancer.

A new study by Yale University School of Medicine and Fudan University in China shows that stress causes signals to be sent to mutant genes that make them turn cancerous.” Source: http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/headline_health/stress_cause_cancer/2010/01/28/312526.html

All the above being said regarding the “evidence” linking stress and cancer; my own experience is that I frequently see patients with cancer seeking help with hypnosis to boost their immune system, overcome side-effects of treatment, control pain, and make changes to a healthier lifestyle. And in the majority of these cases it is most common to see where prolonged and chronic stress (along with lifestyles with poor stress coping skills) have existed prior to the diagnosis of cancer. There are cases also where I have seen individuals experience ‘better healing’ responses by adding the mind-body tools available through hypnosis and lifestyle changes. I think that anyone diagnosed with cancer would benefit from learning many varieties of stress management, including hypnosis to access and use the mind-body connection for positive messages, images, and intentions for healing and stress-resiliency.