Nude mouseNATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, LINDA BARTLETT
Relax, seems to be the message. Mice that showed higher levels of stress and anxiety during behavioral tests were more likely to come down with an aggressive form of skin cancer when exposed to repeated doses of UV light than those that were less anxious, according to a study published in PLoS ONE last week (April 25).
"It's bad enough that cancer diagnosis and treatment generates stress and anxiety, but this study shows that anxiety and stress can accelerate cancer progression, thus perpetuating a vicious cycle," said first author Firdaus Dhabhar in a press release.
Dhabhar and colleagues tested for the natural level of stress in mice by placing them in a maze with dark corridors, and mazes with hidden passageways, and measuring the amount ...
