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Abstract

Psychology and Psychotherapy: Research Study

Emotional Factor in the Etiology & Pathogeny of Cancer

  • Open or Close José R Ponce1* & Joel Martínez2

    1Department of Psychoanalysis, University of Humanistic Psychoanalysis, Brazil

    2Department of Oncology, FEMA, USA

    *Corresponding author: José R Ponce, Doctor in Psychoanalysis, MS in Health Psychology, University of Humanistic Psychoanalysis, Brazil

Submission: May 24, 2018;Published: June 07, 2018

DOI: 10.31031/PPRS.2018.01.000509

ISSN 2639-0612
Volume1 Issue2

Abstract

The results of a literature review about the relationship of emotional stress, in its different manifestations, with cancer disease are exposed. Since Galen (129-216 BC), in his book De Tumoribus noted that “melancholic” women were more prone to cancer than others, has been wondering about what is true in those suspicions. Especially that the clinical practice of many specialists points towards a close relationship between this disease and stressderived states, such as chronic depression for example. The cancer is chronic and still unknown in its cause. It consists in the atrophied and progressive growth of the cells in any part of the body, to create a tumor, or to circulate through body fluids such as blood or lymph. Such growth can metastasize to distant sites, and could lead to death. Everything indicates up to now that its etiology is really multifactorial, where the toxic-environmental and the genetic-hereditary factor can be pointed out. However, it has been demonstrated how socio-environmental events imprint genetic mutation, and are coadjutant to the neoplastic tissue, being found within these factors to emotional stress. This state is related to cancer in several ways: One, causing genetic mutation, promoting growth of neoplastic tissue. In second place, reduces the defensive capacity of the immune system to against cancer. Third, through depression modifies physiological functions that favor the disease.

Keywords: Cancer; Stress; Immunology; Depression

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