Think Pinker

It seems that young women who are exposed to high levels of traumatic events during their lives are significantly more likely to develop breast cancer. It appears that happiness may have a protective quality about it.

What are classified as traumatic events? According to BioMed Central divorce or death of a parent during childhood, a loss of a spouse, financial crisis and even loosing a job depending on ones personality.

The survey included 622 women ranging in age from 25 to 45 years of age. 255 of those women had been diagnosed with breast cancer, while 367 were healthy. The survey showed that those who had suffered two or more traumatic events had a 62% greater chance of developing breast cancer.

But wait before you panic because you’ve been dealt your fair share of traumatic events, and before you think you’re doomed, there’s some good news here. In fact, more than just a little bit. According to researchers at Ben-Gurion University your outlook has a lot to do with it. Happiness has a protective element but how’s one going to be happy during those trying times? Well it takes it a step further. It seems that optimism and a positive outlook also play an important role in protecting you from breast cancer.

What’s the message here? Well, while we can’t control the traumatic events, we do have our entire life ahead of us and deciding to look at a glass as half full rather than half empty can be the best medical treatment out there. So ladies, don’t worry, be happy, and be optimistic. Think of it as your vaccination against breast cancer.