The new work involved 320,000 people and was published in an American Society journal by Dutch scientists
The idea that depression and anxiety can significantly increase the risk of developing cancer is widespread, although several studies on the subject have proved inconclusive. New work, based on data from more than 300,000 people in Europe and Canada, reverses this correlation: there is no direct link between mental disorders and cancerous tumors.
The research was published in the scientific journal Cancer, from the American Cancer Society, Aug. 18. The work is signed by researchers from the University Medical Center in Groningen, the Netherlands, who have accompanied citizens of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway and Canada for more than 26 years.
The main conclusion of the study is that people who suffered from depression or anxiety did not have a significantly increased risk of developing breast or prostate cancer, to name just two examples.
The work shows a slight increase in the risk of lung cancer, but, according to the scientists, this would be related to other factors present in these patients, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and being overweight.
“Our findings come as a relief to many cancer patients who believed their diagnosis could be attributed to previous episodes of anxiety or depression,” said Lonneke van Tuijil, one of the study’s authors.
To get a solid result, Lonneke van Tuijil and her team used data from the international Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence consortium, which compiles information from 18 studies involving 320,000 people over the age of 26.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
