Lung Cancer
- second most commonly diagnosed cancer
- the most common cause of cancer death in the world
- the 5 year survival rate for lung cancer at all stages is 16%
- survival rate is 52% when cancer is localized, but only 15% of diagnoses are made at this stage.
Lung Cancer Gender Differences
- mortality rates for women didn’t begin to decrease until mid 2000s compared to mid 1980s for men
- different smoking behaviour in m/f
- decrease for smoking in men begain in mid 1960s where as it did not decrease until 1980s for women
Prostate cancer
- Second most diagnosed cancer in North American men
- third leading cause of cancer death in Canada
Breast Cancer
- most diagnosed cancer world wide
- second most common cause of cancer death in NA
- 89% of women survive the first 5 years after diagnosis
Depression and Cancer
- has been found to increase mortality rates by 39%
- faster cancer progression
psychoneuroimmunology
stress and immune system are linked through the sympathetic nervous system
immunosurveillance
when the immune system detects transformed cells, it attempts to destroy these concerous cells.
How do stress hormones and immunosuppression influence cancer?
Stress hormones can cause DNA damage, impair mechanisms involved in DNA repair, and inhibit programmed cell death in cancer cells, all of which may promote the onset and progression of cancer
Stress and tumour growth (study)
through the release of catecholamines, may also promote tumour growth by facilitating angiogenesis (the development of a blood supply for the tumour).
Screening mammography
a low-dose x ray procedure used to look at breast tissue and detect early-stage breast cancer
psychosocial adjustment to Cancer
- diagnosis can create period of crisis, usually in denial/disbelief. Lasts around a week.
- Dysphoria phase- diagnosis is acknowledged. Anxiety, depression, insomnia… etc. (1-2 weeks)
- Patients adjust to diagnosis and attempt regular routine
