Does stress at work lead to cancer?

Constant stress at work increases the risk of getting cancer - in the intestine and esophagus. This was the result of a meta-study by Tingting Yang and his team in Henan.

Data of 200,000 people

Yang's team analyzed data from approximately 200,000 subjects in long-term studies from North America and the US to see if there were any links between their stress at work and cancers.

There is a correlation between the incidence of colon cancer and stress at work, according to a new study. (Image: Henrie / fotolia.com)

More colon cancer and esophageal cancer

The scientists found what they were looking for. In two cancers there was a correlation: colon carcinomas and tumors in the esophagus. Conspicuously, lung cancer was also found in people who were exposed to a lot of stress. This also took into account known risks: smoking or unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity can cause depression but also promotes cancers.

Cancer trigger remains poorly understood

Cancer is not only one of the most common diseases in industrialized countries, but also one of the leading causes of death. Despite intensive research, however, the triggers are only partially known.

What causes are known?

We know that smoking, alcohol and various poisons promote cancer. Influences of the environment, nutrition and lifestyle play just as much as genetic systems.

Gene mutations

The science knows more than 400 genes, which in the case of a mutation, can lead to an uncontrolled growth of cells. This uncontrolled cell growth we call cancer. With five or more of these mutations at the same time, tumors can form. The cause of each of these mutations is different.

Stress has long been discussed as a trigger

Scientists have been discussing stress as a potential trigger for cancer for some time. Stress mixes hormones, and some suggest that elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol biochemically alter cells, which promotes the formation of tumors. Other physicians believe that stress responses can trigger immune deficiencies and chronic biochemical metabolism disorders, which in turn could cause carcinomas.

Methodological problems

Research on stress and cancer has so far had the problem that can not be transferred to the formation of tumors in the human body, which takes decades due to acute stress probably induced changes in the cells.

Intestine in America, esophagus in Europe

In America, according to Yang, the increase in cancer cases with increased work stress in intestinal tumors was found in Europe in carcinoma of the esophagus.

What is happening?

According to Yang, the biochemical mechanism between work stress and cancer is still unclear. There are different biological processes that can lead to cancer. Now you have to find out which one is involved.

Are there any indications of other forms of cancer??

Yang's study also found that there are no demonstrable risks from work stress in certain other cancers. For example, there was no increase in carcinomas of the prostate, breast cancer and ovarian tumors in stressed patients. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)
(International Journal of Cancer, 2018; doi: 10.1002 / ijc.31955)