A Reduction in Stress is Associated with a Decrease in Chemotherapy Symptoms: An Integrative Literature Review

A Reduction in Stress is Associated with a Decrease in Chemotherapy Symptoms:

An Integrative Literature Review

Kelsy Foat

Faculty Sponsor: Alison DiValerio

Abstract

Background: When individuals with cancer are stressed this can affect their tumor’s ability to grow and spread, thus causing treatments, such as chemotherapy, to be less effective. Awareness of the effect that stress has on cancer therapy can play a role in how patients perceive the importance of stress reducing activities.

Objectives: To determine if there is a positive effect on chemotherapy symptoms when reducing stress in cancer patients, and if so, what types of stress reduction techniques are of benefit.

Methods: This integrative literature review was conducted using keywords “stress”, “chemotherapy” and “cancer” to search the literature between 2007 and 2017.

Results: The literature review suggests that a reduction in stress using specific interventions was associated with a decrease in chemotherapy symptoms and 1 study found no association.

Conclusion: Data reveals there is a correlation between stress and chemotherapy symptoms. It is evident that chemotherapy symptoms worsen for stressed patients undergoing chemotherapy. Studies have found significant statistics showing the benefits that CAM interventions, such as yoga breathing, guided imagery, exercise, self-directed stress management, and psycho-educational therapy, have on the stress these patients endure. Overall, results found that decreasing stress in patients undergoing chemotherapy resulted in decreased symptoms, thus making treatment easier for patients to face.

Key words: stress, chemotherapy, cancer