Psycho-Oncology: Discover How Stress Causes Cancer
Phase 1 of Cancer: Inescapable Shock
Phase 2 of Cancer: Adrenaline Depletion
Phase 3 of Cancer: The Cancer Fungus
Phase 4 of Cancer: Niacin Deficiency
Phase 5 of Cancer: Vitamin C Depletion
Phase 6 of Cancer: Immune Suppression
USING MASSAGE TO LOWER STRESS HORMONE CORTISOL LEVELS
Regular massage is an effective way of lowering stress hormone cortisol levels. As revealed in the 6 Phases of Cancer, high stress hormone cortisol levels cause cancer over time by depleting adrenaline reserves, which breaks the cell's Krebs' Citric Acid Cycle, causing the cell to ferment glucose. Viral-bacterial-yeast-like-fungus then evolve from the somatid to feed on and ferment this glucose, migrating to the cell nucleus and causing normal cells to mutate into cancer cells. The practice of massage to lower stress hormone cortisol levels in patients was further validated when it became the cornerstone of a new program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, considered one of the world's top-ranked cancer hospitals.
THE LINK BETWEEN CANCER AND ELEVATED STRESS CORTISOL LEVELS
1. The University of Wisconsin Medical School studied 17 women with breast cancer and 31 women without breast cancer and found those with breast cancer had significantly higher cortisol levels than the control group of woman. "Women with metastatic breast cancer had significantly flatter diurnal cortisol rhythms than did healthy controls. Patients with greater disease severity showed higher mean cortisol levels, smaller waist circumference, and a tendency toward flatter diurnal cortisol rhythms." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15219660]
2. The University of Louisville studied 57 lung cancer patients and discovered higher cortisol levels (a flattening of the diurnal cortisol slope) predicted early death. "The diurnal cortisol slope predicted subsequent survival over three years. Early mortality occurred among patients with higher slopes, or relatively "flat" rhythms indicating lack of normal diurnal variation. Cortisol slope also predicted survival time from initial diagnosis. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, diurnal slope remained a significant, independent predictor of survival. Flattening of the diurnal cortisol rhythm predicts early lung cancer death." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22884416]
3. In a further study, the University of Louisville, School of Medicine studied 104 metastatic breast cancer patients and discovered higher cortisol levels (flatter rhythms) predicted early death. "Cortisol slope predicted subsequent survival up to 7 years later. Earlier mortality occurred among patients with relatively "flat" rhythms, indicating a lack of normal diurnal variation. Flattened profiles were linked with low counts and suppressed activity of (natural killer) NK [immune] cells. After adjustment for each of these and other factors, the cortisol slope remained a statistically significant, independent predictor of survival time." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10861311]
4. The Oral Oncology Center, School of Dentistry of Araçatuba, Brazil compared cortisol levels in 34 oral cancer patients to 86 [non-cancer] control subjects. "The plasma and salivary cortisol levels were significantly higher in patients with oral SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) compared with all groups. These results indicate a dysregulation of cortisol secretion in patients with oral cancer and suggest that this hormone can be a biomarker associated with the disease's clinical status." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22734006]
5. A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health tested the cortisol levels of 177 women suspected of having ovarian cancer and found significantly higher cortisol levels in those who tested positive for ovarian cancer. "Women (n = 177) with suspected ovarian cancer completed questionnaires and collected salivary cortisol 3× daily for 3 consecutive days before surgery. One hundred women were subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 77 with benign disease. In addition, healthy women (n = 33) not scheduled for surgery collected salivary cortisol at the same time points. Ovarian cancer patients demonstrated significantly elevated nocturnal cortisol (P = .022) and diminished cortisol variability (P = .023) compared with women with benign disease and with healthy women (all P values <.0001)." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118555/]
6. A study of 31 breast cancer patients conducted by the Helen Dowling Institute for Biopsychosocial Medicine, The Netherlands found a significant increase in stress hormone cortisol levels in those with cancer compared to healthy controls. "Hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system were studied in 31 patients with early stage breast cancer and patients with metastatic breast cancer. Both groups received tamoxifen as first-line treatment. As a control group 15 age-matched healthy women participated in the study. The results showed that breast cancer patients had significant elevations in basal cortisol levels compared to controls. Metastatic breast cancer patients had higher cortisol levels than early stage breast cancer patients." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8844875]
7. The Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee grafted pancreatic cancer tissue into mice and found mice exposed to psychological stress had increased stress hormone cortisol levels and a significantly higher rate of cancer growth compared to mice in this group not exposed to psychological stress. "Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and is associated with high levels of psychological stress that may adversely affect clinical outcomes. Using a mouse model of social stress, we have tested the hypothesis that psychological stress promotes the progression of pancreatic cancer xenografts via neurotransmitter-induced activation of multiple pathways. Psychological stress significantly promoted xenograft growth and increased systemic and tumor levels of noradrenalin, adrenalin, cortisol, VEGF and cAMP." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22072614]
2. The University of Louisville studied 57 lung cancer patients and discovered higher cortisol levels (a flattening of the diurnal cortisol slope) predicted early death. "The diurnal cortisol slope predicted subsequent survival over three years. Early mortality occurred among patients with higher slopes, or relatively "flat" rhythms indicating lack of normal diurnal variation. Cortisol slope also predicted survival time from initial diagnosis. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, diurnal slope remained a significant, independent predictor of survival. Flattening of the diurnal cortisol rhythm predicts early lung cancer death." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22884416]
3. In a further study, the University of Louisville, School of Medicine studied 104 metastatic breast cancer patients and discovered higher cortisol levels (flatter rhythms) predicted early death. "Cortisol slope predicted subsequent survival up to 7 years later. Earlier mortality occurred among patients with relatively "flat" rhythms, indicating a lack of normal diurnal variation. Flattened profiles were linked with low counts and suppressed activity of (natural killer) NK [immune] cells. After adjustment for each of these and other factors, the cortisol slope remained a statistically significant, independent predictor of survival time." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10861311]
4. The Oral Oncology Center, School of Dentistry of Araçatuba, Brazil compared cortisol levels in 34 oral cancer patients to 86 [non-cancer] control subjects. "The plasma and salivary cortisol levels were significantly higher in patients with oral SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) compared with all groups. These results indicate a dysregulation of cortisol secretion in patients with oral cancer and suggest that this hormone can be a biomarker associated with the disease's clinical status." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22734006]
5. A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health tested the cortisol levels of 177 women suspected of having ovarian cancer and found significantly higher cortisol levels in those who tested positive for ovarian cancer. "Women (n = 177) with suspected ovarian cancer completed questionnaires and collected salivary cortisol 3× daily for 3 consecutive days before surgery. One hundred women were subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 77 with benign disease. In addition, healthy women (n = 33) not scheduled for surgery collected salivary cortisol at the same time points. Ovarian cancer patients demonstrated significantly elevated nocturnal cortisol (P = .022) and diminished cortisol variability (P = .023) compared with women with benign disease and with healthy women (all P values <.0001)." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118555/]
6. A study of 31 breast cancer patients conducted by the Helen Dowling Institute for Biopsychosocial Medicine, The Netherlands found a significant increase in stress hormone cortisol levels in those with cancer compared to healthy controls. "Hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system were studied in 31 patients with early stage breast cancer and patients with metastatic breast cancer. Both groups received tamoxifen as first-line treatment. As a control group 15 age-matched healthy women participated in the study. The results showed that breast cancer patients had significant elevations in basal cortisol levels compared to controls. Metastatic breast cancer patients had higher cortisol levels than early stage breast cancer patients." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8844875]
7. The Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee grafted pancreatic cancer tissue into mice and found mice exposed to psychological stress had increased stress hormone cortisol levels and a significantly higher rate of cancer growth compared to mice in this group not exposed to psychological stress. "Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and is associated with high levels of psychological stress that may adversely affect clinical outcomes. Using a mouse model of social stress, we have tested the hypothesis that psychological stress promotes the progression of pancreatic cancer xenografts via neurotransmitter-induced activation of multiple pathways. Psychological stress significantly promoted xenograft growth and increased systemic and tumor levels of noradrenalin, adrenalin, cortisol, VEGF and cAMP." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22072614]
STUDIES REVEAL MASSAGE LOWERS STRESS CORTISOL LEVELS
1. In a study conducted by the Center for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Berlin, researchers found regular massage lowered stress hormone cortisol levels. "To investigate the efficacy of classical massage on stress perception and mood disturbances, 34 women diagnosed with primary breast cancer were randomized into an intervention or control group. For a period of 5 weeks, the intervention group (n = 17) received biweekly 30-min classical massages. The control group (n = 17) received no additional treatment to their routine health care. The Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Berlin Mood Questionnaire (BSF) were used and the patients' blood was collected at baseline (T1), at the end of the intervention period (T2), and 6 weeks after T2 (T3). Compared with control group, women in the intervention group reported significantly lower mood disturbances, especially for anger (p = 0.048), anxious depression (p = 0.03) at T2, and tiredness at T3 (p = 0.01). No group differences were found in PSQ scales, cortisol and serotonin concentrations at T2 and T3. However, perceived stress and cortisol serum levels (p = 0.03) were significantly reduced after massage therapy (T2) compared with baseline in the intervention group." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20169378]
2. The Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, found massage used to reduce stress cortisol levels significantly increased serotonin levels: "In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. The research reviewed includes studies on depression (including sex abuse and eating disorder studies), pain syndrome studies, research on auto-immune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune studies (including HIV and breast cancer), and studies on the reduction of stress on the job, the stress of aging, and pregnancy stress. In studies in which cortisol was assayed either in saliva or in urine, significant decreases were noted in cortisol levels (averaging decreases 31%). In studies in which the activating neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) were assayed in urine, an average increase of 28% was noted for serotonin and an average increase of 31% was noted for dopamine. These studies combined suggest the stress-alleviating effects (decreased cortisol) and the activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) of massage therapy on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16162447]
3. In a study conducted by the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK, researchers found massage significantly reduced stress hormone cortisol levels. "The objective is to identify whether single 20 min massage sessions were safe and effective in reducing stress levels of isolated haematological oncology patients. Based on a randomised controlled trial, 39 patients were randomised to aromatherapy, massage or rest (control) arm. RESULTS: A significant difference was seen between arms in cortisol (P=0.002) and prolactin (p=0.031) levels from baseline to 30 min post-session. Aromatherapy and massage arms showed a significantly greater drop in cortisol than the rest arm. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated that in isolated haematological oncology patients, a significant reduction in cortisol could be safely achieved through massage, with associated improvement in psychological well-being." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18300336]
2. The Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, found massage used to reduce stress cortisol levels significantly increased serotonin levels: "In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. The research reviewed includes studies on depression (including sex abuse and eating disorder studies), pain syndrome studies, research on auto-immune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune studies (including HIV and breast cancer), and studies on the reduction of stress on the job, the stress of aging, and pregnancy stress. In studies in which cortisol was assayed either in saliva or in urine, significant decreases were noted in cortisol levels (averaging decreases 31%). In studies in which the activating neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) were assayed in urine, an average increase of 28% was noted for serotonin and an average increase of 31% was noted for dopamine. These studies combined suggest the stress-alleviating effects (decreased cortisol) and the activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) of massage therapy on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16162447]
3. In a study conducted by the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK, researchers found massage significantly reduced stress hormone cortisol levels. "The objective is to identify whether single 20 min massage sessions were safe and effective in reducing stress levels of isolated haematological oncology patients. Based on a randomised controlled trial, 39 patients were randomised to aromatherapy, massage or rest (control) arm. RESULTS: A significant difference was seen between arms in cortisol (P=0.002) and prolactin (p=0.031) levels from baseline to 30 min post-session. Aromatherapy and massage arms showed a significantly greater drop in cortisol than the rest arm. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated that in isolated haematological oncology patients, a significant reduction in cortisol could be safely achieved through massage, with associated improvement in psychological well-being." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18300336]