The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7224 p705
16 November 2002

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No psychology effect in cancer

There is little evidence to show that psychological coping styles, such as a fighting spirit, can improve survival or reduce disease recurrence in cancer patients.

In a systematic review, researchers say that the relation is biologically plausible but that good evidence is still scarce. They conclude that people with cancer should not feel pressured into adopting particular coping styles in an attempt to improve their chances of survival (BMJ 2002;325:1066).