Looking for another reason to reduce stress?

Chronic stress triggers a chain of molecular events that protects breakaway ovarian cancer cells from destruction, a team of researchers reports in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. In preclinical research, the team found that heightened levels of the fight-or-flight stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine permit more malignant cells to safely leave the primary tumor, a necessary step in metastasis and cancer progression. They also found that ovarian cancer patients face earlier mortality when a crucial protein activated by the hormones is present at high levels in their tumors and that depressed patients have higher levels of the protein.

Using depression as an indicator of stress, the researchers found major depression was associated with increased levels of norepinephrine in the tumors. Researchers said future research will include investigating whether similar effects occur in other types of cancer, prospectively assessing the significance of FAK activation in chronic stress settings, and ultimately bringing strategies to clinical settings that can block the deleterious effects of chronic stress on tumor growth and progression.

Bonnie - block stomach acid production. Block cholesterol production. Block FAK activation. Can the allopathic research community come up with treatments that do something other than block? The more you block physiologic pathways, the more treatments (i.e. meds) you have to prescribe to take care of the side effects from blocking.

One thing is for certain: chronic stress can perpetuate cancer. Chronic stress must be managed in a host of ways including, diet, supplementation, mind/body techniques, lifestyle modification, and if necessary, assistance from a licensed mental health professional.