Home → Symptoms & Diagnosis → Understanding Breast Cancer → Managing Breast Cancer Fears → Ask-the-Expert Conferences: Managing Breast Cancer Fears → April 2009: Managing Fear and Anxiety → Alleviating stress to reduce risk of recurrence?

Alleviating stress to reduce risk of recurrence?

Page last modified on: May 27, 2009

Question from Website question: I've been dealing with stressful family issues that have no possibility of being resolved, and I'm worried about its effect on my health. I had one breast removed in 2005 with 6 months of chemo and 1 year of Herceptin. Late last year, precancer cells were found in my other breast and I had it removed. I am seeing a psychotherapist. Is there anything else I should do to alleviate this stress?: Answers —Rosalind Kleban, L.C.S.W.: There is very little good research evidence that stress will have a direct effect on the advance of cancer. By worrying that stress will create more illness, you end up with more stress. It is important, however, just for a good life and lifestyle and satisfaction to find ways to lessen the stress in your life. Certainly, therapy is a good place to start. And through therapy, perhaps one can find other activities that create fulfillment and distraction.; Mitch Golant, Ph.D.: I think what Rosalind is saying is incredibly important. How painful it is to think that somehow whatever's happening in your life would make the cancer worse. It's tough enough dealing with cancer, the side effects and treatments, and to think your lifestyle is adding to it. All of the things that Roz said are important. And it would be important as far as the psychotherapy to address that question of the stresses of your life and the cancer, or creating them.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2009, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Managing Fear and Anxiety. Mitch Golant, Ph.D. and Rosalind Kleban, L.C.S.W. answered your questions about dealing with fear and reducing the stresses that can accompany breast cancer.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Mitch Golant, Ph.D. is a health psychologist and senior vice president of research and development for the national office of The Wellness Community, which provides free psychological and emotional support to help people with cancer on their path to recovery. His research focuses on the benefits of online and community support groups for women with breast cancer.

Rosalind Kleban, L.C.S.W. is administrative supervisor for psychosocial programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Lauder Breast Center in New York City, where she leads weekly support groups for women with early and advanced breast cancer.