Breast-cancer intervention group aids physical healing, research finds

Women with breast cancer who participated in a psychological intervention program showed lower levels of a stress hormone and higher levels of an antibody that fights breast tumors than did other patients, shows a new study whose results were presented at APA's 1999 Annual Convention.

In addition, women in the program were more likely than others to get the full dosage of their chemotherapy, and showed lower levels of depression and reported higher quality of life.

"To our knowledge, these are the first experimental data to show a link between psychological interventions and an immune response directly related to fighting breast cancer," said Barbara Andersen, PhD, leader of the study and professor of psychology at Ohio State University. She speculated that stress reduction was the key factor in the intervention's effectiveness.

Andersen and her colleagues examined 115 women with Stage II or Stage III breast cancer. (In Stage II the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes; in Stage III either it has spread beyond the nodes, or the tumor is larger or fixed to the muscle.) Half of the women were enrolled in the intervention, which included social support--eight to 12 breast-cancer patients and two therapists in a group format--training in progressive muscle relaxation, encourage- ment to exercise regularly and information on improving diet. The other half did not participate in the intervention.

Researchers found that women in the intervention program showed significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol at four and eight months after surgery than did breast cancer patients who didn't participate. Eight months later it was about a quarter lower.

Program participants also showed significantly higher levels--about one-quarter higher--of an antibody to mucin, a chemical that at high levels is associated with the severity and progression of breast cancer.

Nonparticipating women were more likely to refuse chemotherapy treatment and to have their original drug dosages reduced because of severe nausea and vomiting. Apparently, the intervention program helped participants tolerate chemotherapy better, said Andersen.

Participants also reported other benefits not reported by nonparticipants--less depression, more energy and even more social support from friends.

--S. Kass

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