Quick Take
A YouTube video claims that long-term emotional stress can really cause cancer. After fact checking, we found that this claim is mostly false.
The Claim
In a YouTube video, Dr Tarang Krishna, described in the podcast as a Cancer Healer, claims that “constant irritation causes cancer… physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually,” and adds that “the worst stress environment for the body is finally cancer.” He suggests that long-term emotional stress raises cortisol levels, which can eventually lead to cancer.
Fact Check
Can chronic emotional stress directly initiate cancer development?
No. According to the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute, stress does not directly cause cancer.
Cancer happens when cells grow out of control, often due to genetic changes. These changes can be triggered by many things, like, smoking, radiation, harmful chemicals, infections, and sometimes inherited risks. Emotional stress alone does not cause these changes.
Dr Pooja Khullar, Radiation Oncologist at Dharamshila Narayana Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, says, “There is no clear evidence that chronic emotional stress directly causes cancer. However, long-term stress can disrupt normal immune function, increase inflammation, and alter hormone levels like cortisol, which may influence how cancer develops or progresses. It’s important to understand that cancer is a complex disease with multiple risk factors — including genetics, infections, and environmental exposures — and stress is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.”
Similarly, another post misleadingly claims that cancer stems from damaged mitochondria, not genes.
Does chronic stress lead to elevated cortisol levels that then cause cancer?
Not directly. Chronic stress can raise cortisol levels over time. Cortisol is a hormone that helps the body handle stress. However, prolonged high cortisol can weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to spot and remove abnormal cells. While this effect is indirect, scientists have not yet proven that high cortisol directly causes cancer.
A 2021 study suggested that high cortisol levels might increase the risk of endometrial cancer but showed no clear link to other common cancers. We need more research to understand this better. Another study from 2023 found that chronic stress and cancer influence each other. Stress can promote cancer growth and spread by damaging the immune system and increasing inflammation. Additionally, cancer and its treatment contribute to long-term stress, revealing a complex, two-way relationship between stress and cancer.
Dr Almas Fatma, Diploma in Family Medicine, General Physician from Navi Mumbai, explains, “Chronic stress does raise cortisol levels over time, and high cortisol can weaken the immune system and increase inflammation. While this may affect how the body responds to abnormal cells, current research hasn’t shown that cortisol directly causes cancer. It’s more of an indirect link, and many other risk factors play a bigger role in cancer development.”
Is cancer simply a “signal” of a stressed body?
No, cancer is not just a signal of emotional strain. It is a disease where abnormal cells grow and spread without control. There are several known causes and risk factors for cancer, but, according to the WHO, stress is not one of them.
So, while stress can impact overall health, claiming that it causes cancer unfairly shifts the blame onto the individual. This is both incorrect and harmful, as it oversimplifies a complex condition.
On a similar note, there are claims that cancer is a survival mechanism, not a disease. But this is misleading.
Does chronic stress weaken the body’s defences against cancer?
Partly true, but not entirely. Stress may affect parts of the immune system. This could make the body a bit slower to respond to health threats. But the immune system is not a single switch. It’s made up of many parts that keep working in different ways.
Also, not everyone who lives with stress gets cancer. Things like genetics, lifestyle, environment, and exposure to harmful substances have a much bigger role.
What does cortisol have to do with stress and cancer?
Cortisol helps us handle stress, but it doesn’t cause cancer. It affects many body functions, including the immune system. However, there is no direct evidence that high cortisol levels lead to cancer.
Who is Dr Tarang Krishna?
In the video, the host introduces the guest as a Cancer Healer. Dr Tarang Krishna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Homoeopathy and a postgraduate MD (Homoeopathy) from Agra University. He also claims to hold a PhD in Oncology from the UK, which we couldn’t verify anywhere, as his website only mentions “PhD from a prominent institute in the UK.”
Just to give a clear idea, in India and globally, a medical oncologist ideally holds an MBBS degree, followed by an MD or DM in Oncology. Without these qualifications, a person is not considered a certified cancer specialist in mainstream medicine.
Are such claims potentially harmful?
Yes, very likely. Claims like this can confuse or mislead patients. They may delay seeing a real doctor or ignore early warning signs. Further, saying cancer is caused by emotions may make patients feel guilty or ashamed. It also pushes people away from proven treatments and scientific advice.
THIP Media Take
The claim that long-term emotional stress can really cause cancer is mostly false. Chronic stress can harm overall health and may indirectly affect cancer risk. However, it does not directly cause cancer. Cancer is a complex condition that develops mainly due to changes in the genes of cells, caused by various physical, environmental, and biological factors. Long-term emotional stress can affect wellbeing, but it is not the root cause of cancer.
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