Stress at work unlikely to trigger common cancers, say researchers

Study published by BMJ found no evidence of link between job strain and risk of colorectal, lung, breast or prostate cancers Stress at work is highly unlikely to be a cause of the four most common types of cancer, according to a large international review of previous research.Breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers are probably not triggered by job-related stress, say the researchers, even though many people assume there is a link. But data from 12 well-conducted trials in six countries between 1985 and 2008, pooled in a meta-analysis which allows scientists to be more certain of their conclusions, shows no increase in cancer among people who are highly stressed by their work.However, the research does not rule out a link between stress caused by a traumatic life event, such as the unexpected death of a loved one, and cancer. The authors note that in a French study, people with brain cancer were much more likely to report that something disastrous had happened to them than people without the cancer – although there was no clear evidence of a difference in work-related stress levels between the two groups.The study, published online in the British Medical Journal, pulled together the data from European studies in Finland, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom, involving a total of 116,056 men and women aged 17 to 70. The analysis was carried out by a consortium led by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and University College, London....
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: The Guardian World news Health Medical research Society Cancer Science Source Type: news