Stress-related morbidity and mortality in newly diagnosed cancer patients

Stressful life events have been associated with increased risks for cardiovascular and psychiatric morbidity. We demonstrated previously that a cancer diagnosis, representing a stressful life-event, entails immediate and dramatically increased risks for cardiovascular disease and suicide. Occurring shortly after a cancer diagnosis, such severe health events are likely to represent the most extreme consequences of emotional stress among newly diagnosed cancer patients rather than side-effects of cancer treatment. Our studies aim to further explore health consequences related to cancer diagnostic work-up and waiting-time from diagnosis to treatment decisions.