Breast cancer and social environment: getting by with a little help from our friends.

ABSTRACT: Social environment is a well-recognized determinant in health and wellbeing. Among breast cancer patients, inadequate social support is associated with a substantial increase in cancer-related mortality. A common explanation is that socially isolated individuals fare worse due to reduced instrumental support (i.e., assistance meeting the demands of treatment). However, the ability to replicate the detrimental effects of social isolation on mammary tumor growth in rodents strongly suggests an alternative explanation; i.e., socially isolated individuals have a physiological milieu that promotes tumor growth. This review summarizes the clinical and basic science literature supporting social influences on breast cancer, and provides a conceptual physiological framework for these effects. We pr

SUBMITTER: Hinzey A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4881170 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature