Social Isolation Increases Breast Cancer Risk

Researchers have long maintained that social support can make a difference in the outcome of breast cancer. Others have doubted whether studies of this effect were sufficiently rigorous. Now scientists studying mice have strong evidence that social isolation accelerates cancer development. These mice were genetically engineered to be susceptible to breast tumors. Those that were separated from their mothers developed tumors earlier than those that were not isolated. Stress hormones seem to have changed the activity of genes in the tumor cells.
Since the research was conducted in mice, it doesn’t answer the fundamental question about social isolation in women. On the other hand, support from family and friends is usually very welcome during a stressful time such as treatment for breast cancer.
[Cancer Prevention Research, online Sept. 29, 2009 ]
http://tinyurl.com/y85q8gw