Stress Management Is Key
- Dr. Lauren Pinter-Brown, a clinical professor of hematology and oncology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, encourages her patients with Large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL)—the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma—to manage stress and anxiety in order to improve their quality of life.
- Dr. Pinter-Brown says, “I spend a lot of time in clinic trying to make my patients not anxious, but I tell them to do things like take a walk if that’s a de-stressor, or do meditation.”
- Researchers have long sought to determine whether stress directly causes cancer. However, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), states that “the evidence that stress causes cancer is weak.”
- Most studies so far have found associations between stress and cancer rather than a direct causal link. In other words, the higher incidence of cancer among individuals experiencing chronic stress may not be caused by the stress itself. Other factors, such as genetic predisposition or lifestyle behaviors commonly associated with stress, could play a significant role.
“There is some data that when people have big life stressors their immune systems don’t work so well. And there is some data that if people have big life stressors that they get more cancers,” says Dr. Lauren Pinter-Brown, a board-certified hematologist-oncologist and clinical professor at the UC Irvine Comprehensive Care Center.
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Reflecting on her childhood and her fear of doctor visits, Dr. Pinter-Brown remembered how her anxiety would ease whenever physicians took the time to ask about the books she was reading or the places she had traveled.
Now, she strives to do the same for her patients in her clinic.
“I have a conversation that may not be all about medicine. It may range from what concert did you go to? What book did you read? And then we talk about their lymphoma,” she adds.
“And I have been doing this for a long time, and so I’m able to tell people I know what to do about that.”
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- Genetic Testing Can Match Those Living With Anxiety, Depression & More With Proper Medication
Dr. Pinter-Brown also mentioned that she often tells her patients she always has a few backup plans in place in case a patient informs her of a health relapse.
“So when somebody says, ‘I’m worried, what if I relapse?’ Then I can have a conversation with them, saying, ‘This is what we would do,” she explains.
“But just know there is a backup plan here. There are many backup plans.”
It’s important to note that, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), although chronic stress is linked to many health problems, its association with cancer is still unclear, as research so far has yielded mixed findings.
When a person experiences stress—whether emotional, physical, or mental—the body reacts by releasing the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). These hormones elevate heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, supporting the body’s “fight or flight” response, which helps individuals respond to danger and perform physically demanding tasks.
However, if these hormones remain elevated over a long period, the resulting persistent high heart rate and blood pressure can become harmful. This chronic stress response may increase the risk of heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes—all which have been linked to increased health issues.
However, the research remaines conflicted on how chronic stress and anxiety impact cancer and other disease outcomes.
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Tips For Coping With Stress & Caring For Your Mental Health
If a stressful event is impacting your thoughts and emotions, it may be time to consider mental health support. This could involve talk therapy, medication, lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet, joining a support group, or other forms of treatment.
RELATED: Try This Simple, Guided Grounding Exercise to Help Manage Anxiety
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stress can lead to emotional changes like fear, anger, or sadness; shifts in appetite, energy, and focus; sleep disturbances; physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach issues; worsening of existing health conditions; and increased use of alcohol or other substances.
The CDC has made the following recommendations when it comes to managing stress:
- Limit exposure to news and social media
- Make time to relax through activities like deep breathing, stretching, or meditation
- Keep a journal to reflect on your thoughts and feelings
- Spend time outdoors
- Engage in other enjoyable, calming activities
- Practice daily gratitude
- Share your feelings with trusted friends, family, or your doctors
- Participate in community or faith-based organizations to strengthen social support
Physical activity and meditation are helpful strategies for reducing stress.
A 2025 JAMA study of 1,929 older adults with cancer across 27 clinical trials found that regular exercise reduced depression and anxiety and improved overall physical and emotional well-being. Mind-body practices such as yoga and tai chi showed even greater benefits for mood than standard exercise.
When it comes to staying active, it can involve jogging, going to the gym, or lifting weights, but it can also include walking, swimming, practicing yoga, playing soccer or basketball with friends, or even dancing.
In an earlier discussion with SurvivorNet, meditation expert and author Mallika Chopra described how meditation can begin with basic breathing exercises.
“It really begins with just taking a deep breath in to the count of four, pausing, and breathing out,” Chopra said. “What that does is it helps us transition our bodies from the fight-or-flight response that we have that stimulates all types of stress hormones to having a more reactive and mindful response to any situation.”
Chopra explained that being mindful involves paying attention to your body, thoughts, and surroundings. Spending a few moments on deep breathing and practicing mindfulness can significantly improve your overall mood.
Dr. Brian Berman guides us through a simple meditation technique.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Where can I find counselors, social workers, or psychologists who specialize in cancer-related stress?
- Who can I contact if I start feeling overwhelmed or anxious during treatment?
- Are there any support groups you recommend?
- Can you recommend relaxation or mindfulness programs?
- How can I involve my family or friends in a way that helps reduce my stress?
- What lifestyle changes (nutrition, exercise, sleep) can help reduce stress and improve my energy?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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