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Positive attitude to cancer 'not associated with survival'
23 October 2007 12:58:52
Several cancer debates have focused on the potential of a positive outlook to boost an individual's chances of surviving.
However the report from scientists at the University of Pennsylvania concluded that emotional well-being is not an independent risk factor affecting the outcome of head and neck cancers.
Researchers there looked at data from two studies of patients with the disease, with more than 1,000 individuals completing a questionnaire on their quality of life during treatment.
During the work 646 of the participants died from their disease.
Researcher Dr James Coyne pointed out that emotional status was not associated with survival, even after investigating other factors including gender, tumour site or disease stage.
"The hope that we can fight cancer by influencing emotional states appears to have been misplaced," he commented.
"If cancer patients want psychotherapy or to be in a support group, they should be given the opportunity to do so," he added.
"There can be lots of emotional and social benefits. But they should not seek such experiences solely on the expectation that they are extending their lives."
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