Study: Attitude May Impact Breast Cancer Risks

New research shows that happiness and optimism may reduce breast cancer risks while adverse life events may increase risks. Here’s what you need to know.

by Colette Bouchez

Smile and the world smiles with you; frown and you could end up with breast cancer.

Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But, if a new study from researchers at Ben -Gurion University in Israel are correct, smiling more, as well as maintaining a positive attitude, may help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Adverse events, they say, may increase your risk.

"The results showed a clear link between outlook and risk of breast cancer, with optimists 25 percent less likely to have developed the disease. Conversely, women who suffered two or more traumatic events had a 62 percent greater risk," said Professor Ronit Peled, of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.

His research was recently detailed in a study titled Breast Cancer, Psychological Distress and Life Events among Young Women, and was just published in the British journal BMC Cancer.

While the researchers say they aren’t at all sure what attitude has to do with disease, many believe that our immune system may take some of it’s cues from brain chemistry that is influenced by emotional events. While joy elicits one type of brain chemistry response, fear, anger and anxiety may produce something altogether different.

And both, say doctors, may stimulate your immune system in different ways.

But while no one may be certain how the connection works, Peled is certain it exists.

“We can carefully say that experiencing more than one severe and/or mild to moderate life event is a risk factor for breast cancer among young women. On the other hand, a general feeling of happiness and optimism can play a protective role,” he says.

But for cancer prevention experts like NYU’s Dr. Julia Smith, the lines in the sand are less clear. From her perspective it’s more important for women to keep in mind that no one factor alone – including emotional experiences - can dominate your risk profile.

Rather, Smith believes it’s the cumulative effects of many factors combined about which we should be most concerned.

“What worries those of us involved with cancer prevention is that we don't know the cumulative effects or the synergistic effects of, for example, how one chemical interacts with another, or what role any one exposure plays when viewed in the broader scope of the overall risk factors we have from all facets of our life, including our family and person health history,” says Smith, the director of the Lynne Cohen Breast and Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program at the NYU Cancer Institute, New York City.

Likewise, she says, there is no one factor that confers protection against breast cancer.

”It’s always the total picture, the sum of all the parts that tells us if a woman is at risk for breast cancer, and how great that risk is,” says Smith, who’s program at NYU’s Cancer Center helps dissect that puzzle and put the pieces together in a way that makes sense for each individual woman.

Analyzing Health & Happiness

The new risk factor study involved a total of 622 women – aged 25 to 45 – who answered a series of questions designed to detail their life experiences prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer. Of this group, 255 were already breast cancer patient and 367 were healthy women who never had cancer.

The questions were designed to evaluate each woman’s level of happiness and optimism, as well as root out any indications of depression or anxiety – all before being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Researchers then compared and contrasted the answers each woman gave and used a variety of psychological scoring methods to evaluate levels of happiness, optimism, anxiety and depression in both groups.

The result: The women who were shown to be optimists were 25 percent less likely to have developed breast cancer. Conversely, women who suffered two or more traumatic life events had a 62 percent greater risk of developing this disease.

Although critics of the study point out that since the women were interviewed after their diagnosis of breast cancer, recall of their pre-breast cancer state of mind may not have been accurate. Indeed, a number of studies have shown that women who are depressed frequently view their past experiences in a more negative light.

That said, Peled still believes the findings hold up – and is convinced that two or more negative life events should serve as a risk factor for breast cancer, particularly in young women.

Smith says it’s still most important to view your individual risk factors in the context of your entire breast cancer profile.

To learn more about how to determine your risk of breast cancer visit RedDressDiary.com

You may also be interested in reading:
Study: Do This and Reduce Mammogram Pain
News: Breast Cancer Risks and Diet

RedDressDiary.com - The Destination For Fabulous Women Over 40.