I hope that you can help me. My aunt had breast cancer, she had to have both of them removed and lived cancer-free for about 15 years. I know that there is always the possibility that it will return, which is what happened. What I need to know is if a severe beating can cause it to return sooner. My aunt had been given a beating about a month or more before she was told that her cancer was back. It seemed like everywhere on her body that contact was made was where the cancer returned. I loved my aunt dearly, who unfortunately never recovered and is dead now. She was only in her early 40's. I need to know the answer because I have another aunt, her sister, who has cancer and I just want to keep her safe.

Thank you for your question. I can clearly state the the physical abuse suffered by your aunt did not cause her cancer to recur or cause it to recur sooner. Cancer spreads through the lymph system or through blood, and this spread is not related to physical contact.

What sounds much more likely from your description is that your aunt's cancer had already spread in her body prior to the beating, probably to many of her bones. The pain from the beating was greatly intensified by the existing cancer and this led to her to go ot her doctor, who in turn discovered that the cancer had spread.

Obviously the timing of these events and your aunt's eventual death was very upsetting. It is not clear from your question who beat your aunt and if there is a possible threat to your other aunt from this particular person, or the threat is from her living environment in general. What is most important now is that your other aunt receives close medical attention and support and protection. Physical violence toward anyone is unacceptable and she may require psychological or even legal or law enforcement support to ensure her safety. Anyone with a history of cancer needs to be closely followed by a physician, and the physician needs to be fully informed of any potential threats of violence.

Injuries or beatings do not cause cancer to occur or spread, but existing cancer may make any injury have a more serious effect, such as the breakage of brittle bones.

I wish you and your aunt the best. Please talk to her doctor. Support and help are available.