Stress leads to cancer in the digestive system

Although colon cancer is recognized as a disease that usually occurs among older people, in recent years there has been a disturbing increase in the number of this cancer among young people in the Western world, including in Israel.A new study published recently indicates a surprising connection between high stress levels and the onset of the disease. In the study, it was found that mice that were recorded with high stress levels (in physiological, hormonal tests, etc.), experienced a change in the microbiome – the bacteria living in the intestine, which, according to the hypothesis, led to the development of malignant tumors and an increase in colon cancer cases. The researchers from China, who carried out the study, describe its results as alarming and require further in-depth research in order to understand the implications of the findings on humans.

At this point, there are many hypotheses regarding the potential factors leading to the increase in colon cancer cases among young people, but this study actually provides reinforcement for the belief that prolonged mental stress may be a significant factor that leads to the disease. The researchers believe that it is a combination of mental stress combined with biological changes that occur in the digestive system, which create a favorable ground for the development of diseases, including cancer.

Dr. Esther Tachober, Director of the Gastrointestinal System Tumors Department at Asuta Ramat Ha’Yal, said in reference to the study that in the Western world and also in Israel there has been an increase in the incidence of colon cancer among the young population, but the exact cause has not yet been clarified. “There are various hypotheses related to environmental factors such as poor nutrition lung or unnecessary use of antibiotics in childhood, however, to verify the hypotheses of the present study, additional studies are needed to help understand the implications for humans”.

She explains that the gut bacteria, also known as the “microbiome”, play an important role in maintaining the health of our immune system. “Studies show that changes in the bacterial composition in the gut can lead to chronic inflammation, which plays a role in the development of cancerous tumors. In the current study, the researchers observed that among mice exposed to chronic stress, dramatic changes occurred in the microbiome that led to the acceleration of inflammatory processes and an increase in the number of cancer cases.”

The most important tool to prevent colon cancer – early diagnosis

The doctor emphasizes that the most effective tool for preventing colon cancer is early diagnosis. “According to the guidelines in Israel, screening tests for colon cancer should begin for the population that is not at high risk starting at age 50. Despite this, if there is a family history of colon cancer or suspicious symptoms ( such as: blood in the stool, changes in bowel movements, or unexplained weight loss), a colonoscopy must be performed beforehand, at any age. Alertness to symptoms and early diagnosis save lives”.

The researchers hope that in the near future more clinical studies will be conducted in humans, which will help to understand the full consequences of stress on the health of the digestive system. According to Dr. Tochuber, the implications of these findings may be far-reaching in regards to understanding the effects of continuous stress on health. “Besides genetic and environmental factors, stress is also seen as a significant factor in the aggravation of many diseases, including bowel cancer, and it would certainly be interesting to see studies conducted on humans in this context “.