Bio-psychosocial cancer risk pattern & INTJ-ness?

[Lupin]

Conscious detachment of the mind from the body, mental stresses and introversion may impact cellular change to detrimental effect. Discuss.

Been skimming the surface of this topic (as a non-physician) and would like to ask you out there what you think of Type C individuals with INTJ characteristics correlating with a pre-disposition towards cancer?

Any thoughts welcome on the subject (if it's not too heavy or upsetting for anyone as that is certainly not the intention.....I'm only curious as I have a pet theory that the correlation does exist).

[Marcus]

Mental stress can lead to autoimmune diseases. That's my only knowledge on this topic.

[Aronnax]

I doubt state of mind plays a significant role in the development of cancers. Cancerous growth is triggered by predisposition and genetic damage, either through excessive cellular divisions, enviromental factors or a combination of the two. I can see how state of mind effects heart disease (since it affects blood pressure) but not how it would influence the growth of cancer.

The only connection I can see if if the genes that predispose people for type C INTJ characteristics also carry a predisposition towards certain types of cancer. However that's a huge jump in logic, we really don't know much about what role genes play in personality type.

[thegnat]

Arronax, I completely agree with you and couldn't have said anything better.

I'd just like to add that some cancers have unknown causes and/or risk factors. And some people who seem to have no risk factors, get the cancer. Therefore, it's difficult to establish risk factors for cancer or probability of getting cancer. So I'd assume it would be even more difficult to find a link between personality and cancer.

[thod]

There could be linkage. Low status individuals suffer stress leading to repression of immune response, as with depression, this enabes viral attack and hence cancer. Just a theory.

[Lupin]

Really appreciate your viewpoints as there is zero scientific data about this topic yet, though, on the fringes of medicine, there are many examples of how some incidences of cancer have been 'cured' or their progress arrested from a combination of concentrated changes in psychological and sociological behaviour.

Thod has a very important point and one which is a key element to this approach, particularly in patients presenting immunity difficulties (after major surgery or having an existing chronic weakness) or just through long-term depression or propensity for considerable 'ups and downs' relating to psychological difficulties/melancholy/trauma.

This subject is complex but very close to my heart and one which I wish to gather more detailed knowledge about. I realise 'cell genetics' or 'cell memory' etc. is right at the limits of anything proven in scientific theory, however, I'm prepared to give it time as an idea and hope I may ask you again (humbly) to constructively contribute as I work on this. Would that be OK?

[Marcus]

Low status individuals suffer stress leading to repression of immune response, as with depression, this enabes viral attack and hence cancer.
What stress has to do with low status?

[Lupin]

Good question Marcus. Stress could be a symptom of low status but it's only one single criterion. Stress occurs for a whole range of reasons and, therefore, cannot be dealt so succintly. I know plenty of people under untold stress who are extremely wealthy and well-established on a material level but whom have also have contracted cancer and suffer immunity difficulties. Finding a statistical sample is not as simple as selecting people of 'low status'.......