Optimism 'no bearing on cancer'

[jdbob]

BBC News

But does have an effect on your ability to resume a "normal life".

P.S. Since I've never been "normal" it doesn't apply to me

[Jay68442]

Interesting article. It is probably correct but it didn't seem that way to me when I was in the hospital. The negative people I saw didn't make it. Coincidence? Maybe but I know firsthand staying strong and positive can only help. Besides helping you return to a normal life, I think people in general enjoy being around positive, happy people. Those people are more willing to go out of their way for you.

[MRMRSU]

Hmmmm...interesting indeed. Thanks for posting this, but I personally know two cancer survivors who would beg to differ with that study Half-full always seems to be a sunnier outlook.

[Scott]

While attitude doesn't affect whether cancer grows, it has a huge effect on quality of life.

[rallendorf]

Wow, strange study. I'm not exactly sure what the motives would be to try to prove or disprove positive thinking, but I guess they have their reasons. Also, it seems so individual.

How can a study truly show that a pessimistic person wouldn't have had a better experience thinking positively? Or vice versa with someone thinking optimistically? Maybe their conditions woul have worsened. But you can't rewind and try it differently.

I guess I'm suspect...it's ponderous. Whether it is scientifically valid or not, I entirely credit optimistic thinking as one of the key factors in my body's healing, and I'm not particularly spiritual or meditative.

Thanks for the post!
Sfumato

[Scott]

The other side of this is that some people feel pressure that they're supposed to be remain optimistic and upbeat in the face of a cancer diagnosis -- that they're somehow to blame if they aren't and things go wrong. That's not right.

[Russell's Mom]

I read this last night and it has entered my thoughts several times. I suppose if negative attitude was it, the terrorists would be dropping themselves dead. It is also nice to know that a body can fight cancer even when the mood is other than positive. I think that positive could be challenged however ...I believe that all of the emotions can carry both positive and negative energy, Also, the thought came through that every major movement, religion, etc., seems to guide us toward "the positive." "Life productive." Seems like they go together in most other patterns in the world. I hope they continue to study this. Take care, Sharon

[Russell's Mom]

I read this last night and it has entered my thoughts several times. I suppose if negative attitude was it, the terrorists would be dropping themselves dead. It is also nice to know that a body can fight cancer even when the mood is other than positive. I think that positive could be challenged however ...I believe that all of the emotions can carry both positive and negative energy, Also, the thought came through that every major movement, religion, etc., seems to guide us toward "the positive." "Life productive." Seems like they go together in most other patterns in the world. I hope they continue to study this. Take care, Sharon
PS Today Russell came over...pretty upset. Concerns with his 93 year old landlord! We discussed the fact that the landlords wife is not well, the confusions with repairs and rent on the house etc etc and Russell was quite tangled about it all. I found myself with an occasional odd smile, very inappropriate for the moment, but a few extra thoughts kept slipping in...Russell is back into life....back to the tangles and tumbles.

[metsscotty]

I can not agree with the study. I think a positive mindset definitely has an influence on the body. Some of the people I met with during treatments lived longer or suffered quicker depending on their mindset. First, the positive mindset helps you in your day to day. So you take care of yourself better. Second, I believe it also helps the body fight off what it needs to fight off. Most likely due to chemicals released during euphoric or happy feelings.

But, then again, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.

Side stories:
My step-mother gave up when she got sick. The cancer (liver and others) took over quicker than the doctor expected and she succumbed.

My grandfather needed to stay around for my grandmother. He wouldn't leave her. He lived 2-1/2yrs with lung cancer when the others the same doctor treated didn't live more than 1-1/2yr (same age group, stage, and location). His doctor said that he had a strong will to live. And it wasn't the cancer that took him out, but a blood clot that came from the area and went to his brain.