Carr F.N.Sosa E.M.Carr B.I.2024-08-042024-08-04202297830308570289783030857011https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85702-8_1https://hdl.handle.net/11616/92141Mounting evidence suggests that the inflammatory mechanism plays a central role in the development and exacerbation of multiple chronic illnesses, including gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular disease, as well as obesity and rheumatoid arthritis. It has further been suggested that chronic inflammation is correlated with various types of cancer. While multiple studies have demonstrated that certain chronic diseases predict increased risk of malignancies, recent scholarship suggests that inflammatory mechanisms likely serve as a major factor in the pathogenesis of many cancer types. As psychological stress is known to influence individual levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, it is possible that chronic stress and depression may indirectly contribute to cancer development. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseInflammatory bowel diseasePsychological distressSystemic lupus erythematosusUlcerative colitisBook Chapter11910.1007/978-3-030-85702-8_12-s2.0-85166977788N/A