Re: Study: Optimism doesn't help cancer survival odds

[Guest guest]

<<<ATLANTA -- A positive attitude does not improve the chances of surviving

cancer, and doctors who encourage patients to keep up hope may burden

them, according to research results released Monday.>>>

My mother was diagnosed with lung cancer many years ago (early 80s) and by

crikey, her 'mind over matter' certainly made a difference lol !!! She ate all

the cruciferous vegies she could - anything that would fight cancer. She died

in 2000 from heart complaint.

As there's a few other 's here, I'll try and sign as ...

Gwondanaland

[Guest guest]

Yes, no argument there, . Optimism can produce many benefits.

Yet, this study offers important evidence that may steer doctors,

caregivers, loved ones, and the patients themselves away from thinking

or saying that a gravely ill patient will live longer if they remain

optimistic. Imagine what the patient feels then when there is a relapse

or when death is imminent.

Our whole culture has a terrible way of blaming the patient in one way

or another as many of us here know all too well.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Re: [ ] Study: Optimism doesn't help cancer survival

odds

> I should think that optimism must help at least a

> little if only to make you fight for the best

> treatment or opt for experimental treatment should the

> prognosis and treatments be particularly limited.

> --- <Matsumura_Clan@...> wrote:

> > Study: Optimism doesn't help cancer survival odds

> >

> > Associated Press

> > Published February 9, 2004

> >

> > ATLANTA -- A positive attitude does not improve the

> > chances of surviving

> > cancer, and doctors who encourage patients to keep

> > up hope may burden

> > them, according to research results released Monday.

> >

> > Optimism made no difference in the fates of most of

> > the 179 cancer

> > patients whom Australian researchers followed over

> > five years. Only

> > eight people were still living by the time the study

> > ended in 2001.

> >

> > All the patients studied had a common form of lung

> > cancer.

> >

> > Although the study was small and dealt with a kind

> > of cancer that offers

> > little chance for survival--about 12 percent of

> > patients live beyond

> > five years--health experts say it is the first

> > scientifically valid look

> > at optimism and cancer.

> >

> > Patients are burdened by trying to maintain a

> > positive outlook during

> > their difficult situations, said researchers from

> > the MacCallum

> > Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and five

> > other health centers in

> > an article published Monday in the journal Cancer.

> >

> > The study found that optimism dimmed when patients

> > experienced the toxic

> > effects of cancer treatment.

> >

> > Although optimism may not help cancer patients live

> > longer, it can help

> > patients in other ways, according to the American

> > Cancer Society, which

> > publishes the journal Cancer.

> >

> > A positive attitude can help lead to healthier

> > eating habits, stopping

> > smoking, drinking less, exercising more and learning

> > more about one's

> > disease and treatment options.

> > Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune

> >

> >

> >