Repression of anger increases the risk for cancer for the very practical reason that it magnifies exposure to physiological stress. If people are not able to recognize intrusion, or are unable to assert themselves even when they do see a violation, they are likely to experience repeatedly the damage brought on by stress. Recall, from chapter 3, that stress is a physiological response to a perceived threat, physical or emotional, whether or not the individual is immediately aware of the perception.
