The role of spirituality in breast cancer survivors is proven by linking forgiveness, congregational support and neuroimmune biomarkers.
Breast cancer survivors often expressing their gratitude to God for being alive or a divine acknowledgement improved their health and well-being. A recent study at University of Missouri-Columbia in Supportive Care in Cancer examines the role spirituality in the health and well-being of both cancer survivors and individuals managing chronic disease using frozen samples of saliva from 41 breast cancer survivors.
They identified breast cancer survivors practicing forgiveness and receiving positive social support from their congregation or other social support network were linked to two specific biomarkers, alpha-amylase and interleukin-6.
"Breast cancer survivors are often a highly spiritual group given the trauma they have been through, and we found they often have more positive spiritual beliefs in a loving God or higher power rather than a punitive, punishing God”, said Hulett, assistant professor at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing.
Stress and inflammation have a good effect on the patient's longevity, health outcomes and reduced risk of reoccurring disease. Cortisol is a biomarker commonly associated with stress among breast cancer survivors.
Previous studies have proven that chronic stress in breast cancer survivors is linked with increased inflammation and risk for cancer reoccurrence.
Identifying biomarkers to look in cancer survivors that can be potentially influenced by various spiritual or mindfulness practices aimed at reducing inflammation sets the foundation for future research.
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