Bad luck may increase cancer risk

Too much bad luck in life can increase a young woman's risk of developing breast cancer, researchers claim.

Misery-causing events such as bereavement and divorce make the disease more likely, a new study suggests. On the other hand feeling happy and optimistic appears to have a protective effect.

Israeli scientists based their findings on a survey of 255 breast cancer patients and 367 healthy women aged 25 to 45 who were questioned about their life experiences.

The women's levels of happiness, optimism, anxiety and depression were evaluated before any of them were diagnosed with cancer.

Suffering two or more adverse life events increased the likelihood of developing breast cancer by 62%. In contrast a "general feeling of happiness and optimism" was associated with a 75% reduced risk.

Study leader Dr Ronit Peled, from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev said: "Young women who have been exposed to a number of negative life events should be considered an 'at-risk' group for breast cancer and should be treated accordingly."

The Israeli scientists referred to previous research pointing to possible biological pathways linking psychological stress with cancer risk.

But they added: "The mechanism in which the central nervous, hormonal and immune systems interact and how behaviour and external events modulate these systems is not fully understood." They called for further studies looking at the relationship between happiness and health.

Dr Sarah Cant, policy manager at the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "There is no clear evidence that positive or negative experiences can affect breast cancer risk. Emotional stress is highly subjective and is difficult to measure accurately.

"Women in this study were interviewed after breast cancer was diagnosed when they may be more likely to recall feeling depression and anxiety. The researchers also didn't account for other factors known to affect breast cancer risk such as family history or weight. Breast cancer is a complex disease and there is unlikely to be one single cause."

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