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Review
. 2024 Dec 6:15598276241304373.
doi: 10.1177/15598276241304373. Online ahead of print.

Cancer and Stress: Understanding the Connections and Interventions

Stacy D D'Andre  1 , Lisa L Ellsworth  2 , Janae L Kirsch  3 , Heather N Montane  1 , Margaret B Kruger  1 , Kristine A Donovan  3 , Carrie A Bronars  3 , Svetomir N Markovic  1 , Shawna L Ehlers  3
Affiliations
Review

Cancer and Stress: Understanding the Connections and Interventions

Stacy D D'Andre et al. Am J Lifestyle Med. .

Abstract

Stress is ubiquitous in our modern society and contributes to many disease states. This narrative review describes the effect of stress/distress on cancer development and progression. Seminal randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and distress management guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the Society for Integrative LinearOncology (SIO) are highlighted. We describe the physiological effects of distress, distress assessment, and management. Psychological treatments are summarized. Evidence-based lifestyle modifications and integrative therapies are reviewed in detail, including mindfulness-based techniques, yoga, guided imagery, breathing techniques, hypnosis, exercise, music therapy, qigong/Tai Chi, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and improving sleep and heart rate variability. Recognition and treatment of distress can improve quality of life. More research is needed to determine the effects of managing distress on cancer outcomes, as well as the best type and duration of intervention, noting that the benefits of interventions may be specific for patients with different cancer types.

Keywords: cancer; distress; integrative; lifestyle; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Dr Markovic has research support from Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Psychological therapies and immune markers.
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