GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — No— stress cannot cause cancer.
Yes— unhealthy coping mechanisms may make cancer harder to treat.
What's more— the same habits that help prevent cancer; help patients survive it.
FOX 17 Women’s Health Expert, Dr. Diana Bitner reminds us while we can’t control the world around us, we can control our reaction to it and that can help cancer treatment, improving longevity and overall health for patients.
If you have cancer— healthy eating, exercise, meditation, getting a good-night's sleep, and strong interpersonal relationships can lower tumor growth and metastasis rates.
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These habits also help quell the side effects of treatments like chemo and surgeries.
Patients who keep working on their health can go on to live long, happy lives and even raise their chances of remission.
FOX 17 Women’s Health Tip of the Week
If the stress of a cancer diagnosis has you taking ‘healthy living’ off your to-do list— take a minute to get your mental health in order, and remember how powerful your reaction to the stress in your life can be. Also— there are advances in medical science being discovered all the time. Do you really want to give up your health when we might be on the verge of putting cancer in its place?
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If you need a hand with any of this, reach out to your oncologist or primary care physician.
If you’re in crisis due to a cancer diagnosis, call 988. You are not alone.
