Coping With Cancer
Dr. Carl Simonton, oncologist, lives and works in California. In his known book "Getting Well Again", he recounts that one day an older man, whose test results suggested he had mere days left to live, came at his office. The man looked good, smiled a lot and cracked jokes with Simonton. Simonton asked: "What is the secret to your cheery mood?"
The patient replied: "Every day I sit in my room, close my eyes for a few minutes and imagine that a little shark is patrolling my blood vessels and gobbles up the cancer cells. It looks like a simulated computer game. When the shark finishes his rounds, I open my eyes and feel completely healthy."
Simonton assumed he encountered yet another odd old man. Luckily he was married to a psychologist. When he came home he shared his day's experience with his wife. She decided to try this method on some of her patients who suffer from cancer.
The rest is history. Today Dr. Simonton and his wife are famous and respected in the Oncology and Psycho-Sociology filed. They created and run a foundation for treating cancer patients
(www.simontoncenter.com).
According to their method, patients learn to enter a deep relaxation state and then, using their imagination they fight and destroy the cancer cells. Each person imagines a fighting method according to their own preference. Simonton's method gave rise to treating many kinds of physical ailments through imagination. Psychologists in many hospitals around the world apply Dr. Simonton's method. One of Dr. Simonton's students, Dr. Bernie Siegel
(www.berniesiegelmd.com),
wrote a best seller named "Love, Medicine and Miracles";. In this acclaimed book he recounts his successes and he teaches cancer patients to deal with it through the use of their imagination.
Since publicizing the method of treating cancer with imagination, there was much research linking stress and the onset of cancer. It was found that the level of stress in the year prior to the occurrence of cancer, was higher than normal.
In research that was done examining the veracity of this treatment for total cure, the results were inconclusive. However it was found conclusively that this system significantly contributes to a better quality of life. Patients are infused with a fighting spirit, their mood is elevated and their outlook is positive.
In April 2007, the following article appeared in the newspaper "Sun-Sentinel", in the column "Ask Suzie Cohen, expert pharmacist";.
Question: "I was watching Barbara Walters show when she interviewed a cancer patient. The woman said that every day she imagines little soldiers in her body, fighting and destroying the cancer cells. After words she feels much better. Is there any validity to this or is it all just naïve delusions?"
Answer: "I too watched the same show. The method described by the woman is called "Positive Imagine";. If you think this method is illusion only you need to re examine your thinking. In many repeated experiments it was proven that, if a sick person receives a pill that does not contain any real medicine (placebo), but is assured by the doctor that it is an excellent cure, devoid of side effects, his chance of recovery are much higher than those of a person taking real medicine but is apprehensive and fearful of side effects. The conclusion is that positive thinking towards healing induces the body to increase production of healing hormones like endorphins and decrease of negative hormones like adrenaline. So what do you have to lose by trying? My suggestion is to continue with your regular medical treatment and also incorporate "Positive Imaging", whereby you are imagining (in any way you chose to) that you overcome the cancer. I wish you good luck. Suzie."
In recent years the affects of writing a diary were investigated. It was found that patients who wrote daily and expressed their feelings, good and bad, were more relaxed and enjoyed a better quality of life then a control group that did not. My assumption is that the writing helps in two ways.
First, many patients refrain from sharing their feeling with family and friends because they don't want to cause them pain and burden them. So writing in a personal diary where they can express their deepest emotion, fears and hopes, relieving them and unburdens the emotional load.
Secondly, expressing oneself in writing, requires activation of logic and higher-thinking centers of the brain. Thus removing one from the emotion and contributing to a sense of control. Dealing with fears in a logical way helps to diminish the fears.
It is important, for a person wishing to better face cancer, to become familiar with the relaxation exercises outlined on this site and listen to the
Relaxation Recordings.
With practice, you will find the best method for you. During the relaxation you should imagine destroying the cancer cells in any way you see fit. If the self treatment does not prove effective, it is recommended seeking professional help.
I recommend that each time you suffer from any illness involving a virus or bacteria, do implement the technique detailed above. When it works, please send me an e-mail and I will add it to the chapter
"Reader Testimonials."