Loosing the Will to Live

This item appears to mean “Losing the Will to Live.” Psychological distress is not established as a direct cause of cancer initiation. However, chronic stress, trauma, depression, social isolation, and hopelessness can influence health indirectly through sleep disruption, inflammatory signaling, immune and endocrine changes, poorer nutrition, substance use, reduced activity, and lower adherence to screening or treatment. NCI notes that stress has not been shown to directly cause cancer, while stress management remains important for quality of life and health behavior. The record should avoid claiming direct causation and describe indirect contribution.