Susie has been the inspiration for the establishment of the American Foundation for Healing for Survivors of Sexual Abuse. The cancer that she contracted, mesothelioma, is extremely rare, afflicting only about 3,000 Americans each year. Most patients with this cancer have histories with extensive occupational exposure (pipe fitters, shipyard workers, insulation workers) to asbestos, which is the ultimate causative agent. However a smaller percentage of victims, like Susie, have minimal asbestos exposure.

It was her desire to substitute fictitious names for her relatives in this story and not to use her last name. However it is also her desire to let her story be known to those survivors of sexual abuse who may benefit from learning about the association between sexual abuse and future health problems. There have been medical studies that delve into the relationship between sexual abuse and cancer (1,2), however more studies need to be performed to further examine this relationship.

Scientists have discovered that cortisol is released during times of distress, anger, and depression, all commonly found in victims of sexual abuse, and that cortisol lowers the activity of NK cells, the immune cells which destroy viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells (3-5). On the other hand, researchers found that experts in meditation could lower their levels of cortisol, effectively strengthening their immune system (6).

But what of Susie’s childhood trauma? Pennebaker and Susman discovered that childhood trauma, especially if kept a secret, was highly related to health problems (7). Felitti, in his famous research on adverse childhood experiences, and colleagues published over 40 articles in medical journals that showed the relationship between childhood trauma and leading causes of death, although cancer was not correlated (8). Felitti’s research clearly shows a direct correlation between multiple incidents of trauma with a worsened health outcome. So, a person with over 1,000 negative childhood experiences would have a much higher risk of contracting diseases when compared to someone with a single traumatic experience.

While stress from adverse childhood experiences can lead to increased blood levels of cortisol and such increases of cortisol can in turn depress NK cell activity, it is tempting to forecast a risk of cancer and other diseases in SA survivors, especially those who suffered multiple times. More research in this field is needed to clarify this relationship, a difficult task considering that many survivors are unwilling to share their secret with anyone.

Upon analysis, Susie had 12 of the 26 problems linked to sexual abuse. By keeping her abuse a secret for over half of her life, she unknowingly allowed the harmful biochemicals associated with distress to cause significant disease. She admitted shortly before her death that fibromyalgia and chronic generalized pain had affected her over the last ten years of her life. On January 24, 2007, she died of complications of mesothelioma and the extensive medical treatment she received for it. She was 56, just about ready to enter into the second phase of her life, after having raised five children. It was, as it is now, her sincere hope that other survivors of sexual abuse can learn about these health risks and proactively use preventive methods to avoid disease.


1. Bergmark, K. et al. "Synergy between sexual abuse and cervical cancer in causing sexual dysfunction." Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy. 2005 Oct-Dec;31(5):361-83.
2. Kahn, J.A. et al. "Coercive sexual experiences and subsequent human papillomavirus infection and squamous intraepithelial lesions in adolescent and young adult women." Journal of Adolescent Health. 2005 May;36(5):363-71.
3. Schedlowski, M. et al (1993). "Changes in natural killer cells during acute psychological stress." Journal of Clinical Immunology 13, 119-126.
4. Pross, H.F., & Lotzova, E. (1993). "Role of natural killer cells in cancer." Natural Immunity 12, 279-292.
5. Levy, S.M., et al. (1985) "Prognostic risk assessment in primary breast cancer by behavioral and immunological parameters." Health Psychology 4, 99-113.
6. Jevning, R. et al. (1978) "Adrenocortical activity during meditation." Hormones and Behavior 10, 54-60.
7. Pennebaker, J.W., & Susman, J.R. (1988). "Disclosure of traumas and psychosomatic processes." Social Science and Medicine 26, 327-332.
8. Felitti VJ, Anda RF, Nordenberg D, Williamson DF, Spitz AM, Edwards V, Koss MP, et al. "Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults." American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 1998; 14:245-258