The possible role of stress among the many risk factors for breast cancer is attracting increasing attention. But can it really be said to contribute to the development or progression of breast cancer? This article answers this question and offers advice on healthy lifestyle habits to improve your well-being.
What is stress?
Stress is the body’s natural reaction to situations it perceives as threatening or difficult. Stress can be acute (short-term) or chronic (persisting over a long period). It can cause various physiological (hormonal, neurological or cardiovascular) or psychological reactions.
The stress response is essential to enable us to react to various situations (e.g., running a marathon, escaping from a predator, etc.). But long-term exposure to it (e.g., concern about performance at work) can be problematic. This state of being can be expressed in very different ways, depending on the source of stress and the individual:
- Physical symptoms: Bodily pain, stomach ache, headache, increased heart rate, etc.
- Psychological or emotional symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, fear, worry, anxiety, inability to relax, sadness, depression, etc.
Chronic stress is particularly worrying because it can have negative effects on physical and mental health. Over the long term, it can impact lifestyle (changes in eating habits, disturbed sleep patterns). Some people become more inclined to take up or restart smoking, or abuse alcohol or other harmful substances. Long-term stress can aggravate a person’s physical and mental health.
Given its impact on the body, one might assume that stress contributes to the risk of breast cancer. But is this really the case?
Does stress increase the risk of developing breast cancer?
Stress hormones, such as cortisol, norepinephrine and epinephrine, are released during stressful situations. Although these hormones are essential to responding to “danger,” prolonged exposure can lead to a number of health problems.
Some scientific studies suggest that chronic exposure to these molecules may influence tumour development, progression or metastasis. However, most of these studies have been conducted on mice. Data on the effects of chronic stress on disease in humans remains controversial. Certain studies indicate a link; others do not. To be certain, more studies need to be carried out on people with breast cancer. So there is still a lack of studies to confirm a link between stress and this disease.
Human data on stress’s link with breast cancer are insufficient for the time being. Therefore a direct and definitive link between stress and breast cancer cannot be established.
Is there a link between stress and breast cancer?
As mentioned earlier, there is no direct link between them. However, chronic stress can have an impact on certain behaviours that can increase the risk of breast cancer. What cannot be denied is that reducing stress and adopting healthy lifestyle habits can improve general well-being.
Many people develop detrimental ways of offsetting stress, such as:
- Using or abusing tobacco, alcohol or other harmful substances;
- Over- or under-eating, leading to an increase in body fat;
- Reducing physical activity and/or increasing sedentary time.
Because these negative, stress-linked lifestyle habits are risk factors for breast cancer, stress could therefore be said to have an indirect adverse impact on the illness.
How to improve your day-to-day stress management
Here are a few tips to help you limit the impact of stress on your well-being:
- Identify the source/cause of stress in order to implement a means of limiting it;
- Identify priorities for handling tasks that may be stressful;
- Pay attention to your own physical and mental/psychological limits;
- Incorporate physical activity into your routine;
- Meditate or engage in activities that help you relax;
- Use mindfulness techniques;
- Eat a balanced and varied diet;
- Get enough sleep (7–9 hours nightly) and limit exposure to light at night;
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help and support when you need it.
To conclude, while more research is needed to establish a direct link between stress and breast cancer, it is clear that chronic stress can have harmful effects on overall health. Take care of yourself and adopt healthy lifestyle habits to ensure your physical and mental well-being.
For more information on breast cancer prevention, visit our website and discover our dedicated resources.
Ressources :
- The Foundation’s My Active HealthTM program: Promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle among people with–or at risk of developing–breast cancer: MSA program – Ruban rose
- Info-Social 811: Info-Social 811 | Government of Quebec (quebec.ca)
- Suicide help, education and prevention line: 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553): Chat online with a counsellor – | Suicide.ca
- Digital and self-care tools for mental health – Government of Quebec: Digital and self-care tools for mental health | Government of Quebec (quebec.ca)
- Mental health and support resources – Government of Quebec: Mental health and support resources | Government of Quebec (quebec.ca)