Are optimistic people more likely to survive cancer?
Maybe in some situations, but it wouldn’t be purely because they were optimistic. When people are more optimistic about something, they are generally happier. When people feel happy, they usually do things that are healthier than the things they may do when their sad. For instance, if you feel good, you might decide to go out for a walk in the park with a buddy, while if you feel sad or angry you might decide to stay in and watch TV instead. So, assuming that the optimistic person would take better general care of themselves as far as exercise, diet, etc, perhaps they would be more likely to survive cancer than someone who just kind of gives up.
ABSOLUTELY!!!! When my mom was diagnosed with endometrial cancer several years ago (she is cancer free now), we were told that the support system and the optimism of the patient are just as important as the treatment. They (docs & nurses) said that without a good support system and a positive outlook, the patient’s chances of survival drop considerably.
