The doctor spoke about the influence of emotions on the treatment of cancer

The emotional state of the patient directly affects the effectiveness of cancer treatment, the tolerability of therapy and the quality of life. Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, a neurologist and expert at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia about this on May 13.

The specialist noted that psychoncology considers psychological support as an important part of comprehensive treatment. As the doctor emphasized, the relationship between the patient's emotional state, commitment to therapy and the prognosis of the disease has been confirmed. At the same time, a positive attitude cannot replace full-fledged treatment and does not guarantee the absence of relapses.

Demyanovskaya explained that chronic stress and depression trigger persistent activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in the body. This leads to increased production of cortisol and adrenaline, which suppress the immune system and can create conditions for the development of inflammation.

"In other words, distress literally disarms the immune system and reduces its ability to resist the disease," the expert emphasized.

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According to the doctor, anxiety and depression also increase pain, impair sleep, appetite, and increase the severity of side effects of chemotherapy. Patients with a depressed emotional state are more likely to violate the treatment regimen, skip medications, or refuse to continue therapy due to severe tolerance.

The expert noted that modern clinical guidelines recognize psychotherapy as a first-line method in the treatment of anxiety and depression in cancer patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, and biofeedback techniques are considered the most effective.

"Research shows that at the physiological level, psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, biofeedback therapy) is able to reduce cortisol levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This directly improves the quality of life, helps to cope with fears and, critically, can indirectly support the immune system, which fights the disease," explained Demyanovskaya.

The doctor paid special attention to the support of her relatives. According to her, phrases like "pull yourself together" or "don't get discouraged" increase feelings of guilt and pressure on the patient. More useful support is participation in everyday matters, assistance with making appointments with specialists, and emotional presence without trying to devalue a person's experiences.

The specialist added that meditation, breathing practices, special yoga programs for cancer patients and regular work with a psychotherapist can be used to reduce anxiety on their own.

Evgeny Chichikov, an oncologist and chemotherapist at Medscan Hadassah, called the early symptoms indicative of cancer. Typical common symptoms of cancer are fatigue, rapid fatigue, subfebrile fever (just above 37), and weight loss for no reason. At the same time, these manifestations are typical not only for cancer, but also for many other diseases, he noted.