on an individual's responses must be considered. It is

likely that overriding anxiety may make it impossible to

study the basic personality prior to the onset of the disease

(Finn, Mulcahy, & Hickey, 1974).

 As regards the evaluation of life stress events and the

occurrence of cancer, Sklar and Anisman (1981) noted that it

is likely that the cancer was present prior to and during

reported stress events since the signs and symptoms of cancer

may occur several years following the neoplastic change. In

addition, these reviewers questioned the validity of the

patient's views of their past stress history, especially

considering the physiological consequences of cancer on

mental and behavioral functioning.

 A final methodological issue raised by Wellisch and

Yager (1983) concerned the validity of psychological tests

used in these studies. They noted the need to distinguish

between trait and state features of personality and pointed

out that the majority of psychological tests used in these

studies have not been tested for the characteristics on can-

cer populations, so their significance in this area is not

known.

Summary of findings

 Conclusions regarding the role of psychological

variables on life stress events in the development of cancer