Does a Positive Attitude Affect Survival in People with Breast Cancer?

Feeling obliged to maintain a positive attitude all the time puts enormous pressure on us. Family, people around us and social media constantly say that a positive attitude is necessary to overcome cancer, particularly breast cancer. Many people take this approach when someone they love is diagnosed with breast cancer. But does it really work?

A positive attitude is, of course, an important factor that we would like to have at the foundation of life and that helps us enjoy it. However, some believe that diseases can be overcome simply by thinking positively. According to research, these approaches are neither constructive nor correct.

This attitude can add to the burden on cancer patients already carrying fears about treatment, treatment side effects, financial concerns and family responsibilities. Telling someone with cancer and mixed emotions that they must constantly remain positive can make them feel guilty if their illness does not improve. Consequently, cancer patients often cannot share their feelings because those feelings are the opposite of a positive attitude. This can isolate them even more when they need support.

Unfortunately, patients and their relatives have no magical power to control this disease. Patients who want to believe they do may blame themselves even more when they see that it has not produced good results.

According to most research, there is actually no relationship between personality and cancer. Very few studies suggest otherwise, and they are not accepted because they were poorly designed and their findings have not been confirmed in larger studies.

For example, a study at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 2007 followed more than 1.000 cancer patients. It found no relationship between their emotional states and survival. Researchers report that such beliefs have no scientific basis.

Another large, well-designed study was published in 2010. It monitored, for at least 30 years, 60.000 people’s smoking, alcohol use, other cancer risk factors and personality traits. Results showed no association between personality and overall cancer risk, nor between personality traits and cancer survival. However, cancer was more common in people who smoked, consumed alcohol or had other well-defined cancer risk factors.

Some studies also examined the effects of psychotherapy and stress reduction on survival in cancer patients. Findings varied. Overall, however, the conclusion was that therapies help people cope with the challenges of cancer treatment but do not affect survival.

A study conducted in 2007, however, found a positive effect of psychotherapy on cancer patients’ survival.

In conclusion, research shows that giving cancer patients accurate and adequate information about their disease, and providing psychological support, although not clearly extending survival, reduce their tension, worries and fatigue , can help them cope with depression and improve their quality of life .