We often don't realize it, but a constant battle rages within us. Hundreds of cancer cells can form in any living organism every single day. For many, the body's natural defenses, our immune system, diligently deals with these rogue cells, cleansing itself and maintaining health. Yet, in others, these cells manage to take root, growing into tumors and leading to disease. What tips the balance? Oncologists today are deeply exploring this question, looking closely at whether an accumulation of genetic mutations is the primary culprit. Indeed, one of the first questions an oncologist might ask is about your family's health history – have your parents, brothers, or sisters faced cancer? This highlights the genetic thread.

Aiding in this complex fight is the emerging field of oncopsychology. Psycho-consultants work alongside doctors, becoming crucial allies. They help not only the patients but also their loved ones to understand, accept, and navigate the challenging situation, providing support throughout the entire process. This is a vital recognition that the oncological situation is also a psychosomatic one, where mind and body are intricately connected.

The Tangled Roots of Illness: Genes, Environment, and Habits

Several key factors appear to influence whether and how oncological diseases develop.

Our Genetic Blueprint:
First, there's our genetic predisposition. We are all unique, with different genetic histories that naturally mean varying probabilities of developing certain conditions. Today, remarkable genetic tests are available. Advanced genetic research institutions have created incredible research projects. These not only help you understand your inherent predispositions but can also guide preventative measures, help formulate the right diet and lifestyle, and, if it comes to it, assist in finding the most suitable medication.

Where We Live:
The second factor is undoubtedly our living conditions. It's understood that some regions have high concentrations of toxins. Think of cities where "black snow," heavy with pollutants, falls in winter. Some people live by the sea, breathing fresh air, while others might reside in areas where toxins accumulate from surrounding factories. Similarly, working in industries like metallurgy or chemical plants exposes individuals to different environmental challenges compared to those working in places with clean air.

How We Live:
Third, our lifestyle habits play a significant role. Some might smoke heavily, while others experience constant desynchronization of their biological rhythms – pilots or night-shift workers, for example. An active lifestyle contrasts sharply with spending 10, 12, or even 14 hours sitting in a truck with minimal movement.

The Mind's Powerful Influence: Stress, Emotions, and the Body's Response

A great deal depends on our mindset, whether we're facing cancer or simply navigating daily life. It has been observed that in the histories of many cancer patients—some research points to findings in as many as 10,000 individuals examined a year and a half before their cancer diagnosis—a significant, vivid life shock involving the loss of an irreplaceable resource was present. This loss often precipitated a state of deep resentment, though it could also manifest as guilt, shame over a past situation, or an unresolved grievance.

Such emotional states don't single-handedly cause cancer, but they reliably induce a state of anxiety, marked by elevated cortisol levels. Cortisol is an adaptogen, a hormone vital for survival, essentially putting the body on high alert – "all for the front, all for victory." This, in turn, triggers adrenaline production, increasing blood pressure, blood viscosity, and releasing a surge of glucose into the bloodstream, preparing the body to "run."

If this stress response is short-lived—like the tension before an exam or a competition—it's usually manageable. Action follows, glucose is used, and the body returns to baseline. However, if no decision to act is made, this anxiety can persist, leading to what Hans Selye termed "distress"—a state of chronic tension that wears the body down.

During distress, cortisol and adrenaline cause blood to be redirected from the internal organs towards the muscles, sensory organs, and brain. This is the "all for victory" state: you need to react better, think faster, see more clearly, perhaps even in low light, to fight or flee. The blood thickens as a precaution against potential injury and blood loss. Glucose fuels the muscles and brain. This high-pressure, thick blood, directed to the outer "contour" of the body, is why prolonged stress can be a factor in heart attacks, strokes, or thrombosis.

What happens to the internal organs when blood is shunted away? Constriction of blood vessels means less oxygen, fewer lymphocytes, and fewer leukocytes. Digestion suffers, the intestines may slow down, and problems like gastritis can arise, potentially leading to ulcers. This impacts the immune system significantly, especially since the intestine is a major immune organ, sometimes even referred to as one of our "brains." A lowered systemic immunity can lead to more frequent infections like earaches, colds, or a runny nose. It's also implicated in many gynecological and urological diseases, as the body's defenses are too weak to combat bacteria and fungi that are often normally present but kept in check by a healthy immune system.

Furthermore, stress can lower testosterone, which in turn reduces libido and can affect processes like drainage in the male reproductive system, potentially leading to prostatitis and, down the line, increasing the risk of prostate cancer. While these factors alone don't directly cause cancer, when combined with a genetic predisposition and unfavorable environmental or lifestyle factors, the likelihood naturally increases.

Taking the Helm: Changing Reactions and Cultivating Positivity

Some things are beyond our control, but we can change our reaction to events. Numerous psychological techniques exist to help individuals move out of states like resentment or reduce the emotional sting of negative memories. Our emotional response is tied not just to the event itself, but to the image we hold of that event, and therapies like Gestalt and body-oriented therapy work with these images.

Positive thinking isn't just a platitude; it's a state of mind strongly influenced by our neurotransmitter status. When we feel good, satisfied with life, free of complaints about our surroundings, and when we dwell on positive memories and future dreams, it often corresponds to healthy levels of four key neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. This state is also deeply connected to our diet, sunlight exposure, quality of rest and sleep, how we manage our workload, and our adherence to natural daily (circadian) rhythms.

High levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine – which is not only a hormone of creativity and talent but also of positive stress, the "winner's stress" – are beneficial. Norepinephrine is a byproduct of dopamine, our primary motivator. When dopamine breaks down after we achieve a goal or experience desire, norepinephrine is produced. This is the stress a predator, like a fox, might experience, distinct from the adrenaline-fueled fear stress of its prey. This "positive stress," in conjunction with cortisol, can actually help restore the immune system by altering the balance of suppressive factors. People with high levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, often passionate individuals with clear goals, tend to fall ill less frequently and live longer.

Therefore, a crucial factor in coping with many ailments, including cancer, is a person's determined focus on fighting their illness. Believing in victory and setting long-term goals gives the body something to prepare for, a reason to live. Social support is also immensely important. Oncopsychologists provide great help, assisting relatives and loved ones in adopting the right mindset and focusing on supporting the patient towards victory.

Even if challenging diagnoses or cancer markers are found, it's essential to trust in the professionalism and talent of doctors and emerging technologies. Avoid self-medication. From the very beginning, adopt a mindset geared for victory, become an ally to your medical team, set meaningful goals, and believe in your capacity to overcome.

Life's Unspoken Drive: Purpose and Vitality

Each of us, in the grand scheme of nature, might seem small, like an ant in a vast forest. We tell our children not to disturb an anthill, recognizing that ants have their place. Similarly, we are all needed. Yet, nature doesn't pause to ensure every single ant is safe from every footstep. If we fulfill the tasks nature seems to have set for us – fundamentally, to pursue happiness and goals that fulfill our genuine needs, and to continue the human race – we align with this powerful current.

It can be said that nature appears to "punish" those who give up, who don't pursue their own authentic goals, or who chase ambitions dictated by society, profit, or fleeting necessity without addressing their true inner needs. Nature seems to ask, "Why should you live if you only create needs without fulfilling your purpose? What is the point of your existence?"

Nature values the demonstration of a desire to reproduce, to live fully. Oncologists are well aware that when testosterone levels drop in men and estrogen in women, it can signal a diminished interest from nature in individuals who don't demonstrate this fundamental drive. Therefore, healthy sexuality, libido, an active social stance, engagement in societal processes, taking responsibility for oneself, and attracting attention through achievements (which can be a sublimation of sexual energy into creativity or status) – these can all be seen as natural indicators that you are striving to fulfill the functions for which you were created.

Illnesses often begin in the mind, are accompanied by the mind, and can be defeated by the mind. The call, then, is to never give up, under any circumstances. Work with professional doctors, do not self-medicate, and bolster their efforts with your own spirit and unwavering positive attitude. If you need to find a specialist – a psychologist, psychotherapist, or oncopsychologist – to support you, teach you new coping tools, foster a positive outlook and hope, and help your loved ones support you, know that the world offers a multitude of opportunities for such assistance.

References

• Selye, H. (1976). The Stress of Life (Revised ed.). McGraw-Hill.
  This foundational work by Hans Selye introduces and elaborates on the concept of stress, including "eustress" (positive stress) and "distress" (negative stress). It details the physiological mechanisms of the stress response, including the roles of cortisol and adrenaline, which are central to the article's discussion of how chronic stress can impact physical health and potentially contribute to disease development.
• Pert, C. B. (1997). Molecules of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine. Scribner.
  Dr. Candace Pert, a neuroscientist, explores the biochemical basis of emotions and their profound impact on health and disease. The book explains how neuropeptides and their receptors act as a communication network linking the mind and body, supporting the article's emphasis on the psychosomatic nature of illness and the influence of emotional states (like resentment or positivity) on physiological processes and immunity.
• Spiegel, D. (1993). Living Beyond Limits: New Hope and Help for Facing Life-Threatening Illness. Times Books.
  Dr. David Spiegel, a leading psychiatrist in psycho-oncology, discusses the importance of psychosocial support and mindset for individuals facing serious illnesses like cancer. This book aligns with the article’s points on the role of oncopsychology, social support, positive thinking, and setting goals in helping patients cope with their disease and improve their quality of life, reinforcing the idea that emotional and mental states are critical in the "fight" against cancer.