Five Ways in Which Hypnotherapy Can Assist Cancer Patients

In 1978 Richard Bloch, co-founder of H&Rsense of dignity, privacy, and personal control.
Block, was diagnosed with cancer. The prognosisMedical procedures are especially daunting to
was that he would be dead in three months.people who associate medical processes with
After two years of aggressive therapy hetraumatic and painful experiences of the past and
recovered. Wanting to make a difference in thefears of what the future can hold. Some people
lives of others struggling with cancer, he sold hisactually develop phobias for white coats, the smell
interest in H&R Block and founded Theof antiseptics, or the sight of a hypodermic
Cancer Hotline in 1980, and the Block Cancerneedle.
Support Center in 1986. He sponsored a nationalHypnotherapy employs several methods to
computer database, the Physician's Data Query,alleviate the effects of trauma and reduce fears
with the latest research and treatment protocolsand phobias. These desensitization methods work
for every known form of cancer. Today thisby pairing a state of detachment, confidence, and
database is operated by the National Cancerrelaxation, with memories or images of traumatic
Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.or fear-producing events, while reminding the
Richard and his wife, Annette, wrote Fightinglistener that those experiences are over and
Cancer, a book offering self-help advice. Theirdone.
second book, A Guide for Cancer Supporters4. Recovery From Surgery
(these two books are free to the public; CallThere are several studies in which hypnotherapy
1-800-CANCER) is for family and friends of thosehas been shown to reduce bleeding and swelling
who have cancer. Both books offer inspiration andduring surgery, as well as to minimize discomfort
hope, encouraging cancer patients to fight to live,or nausea following surgery or chemotherapy.
instead of waiting to die. These books alsoSurgical incisions can heal more quickly with
recommend that cancer patients supplementhypnotic suggestions. In many cases hypnosis
medical interventions with psychotherapy, guidedmay help surgery patients cope with pain and
imagery, and clinical hypnotherapy. In the 1970'ssleep well, so they require less post-surgery
the use of such therapies in the treatment ofmedication. Some hospitals now employ
disease was almost unheard of and to suggesthypno-anesthesiologists as part of the surgical
such an idea bordered on heresy. Three decadesteam, for those patients who are allergic to or
later, supplemental therapies such ashighly intolerant of chemical anesthesia agents.
hypnotherapy, acupuncture, therapeutic massage,5. Enhanced Health and Healing
nutritional counseling, and neuro-feedback areNumerous authors have spoken about the
widely considered as essentials in the holisticbenefits of guided imagery to help cancer patients
approach to health and the treatment of disease.achieve healing, stronger immunity, and remission.
This article speaks directly to the role ofIn guided imagery, the client relaxes while the
hypnotherapy in treating cancer patients.therapist describes stories and images of healing
Hypnotherapy was approved by the Americansanctuaries, healing beams of light, fountains of
Medical Association in 1958 as a viable adjunct tolife, guardian angels or spiritual entities, and visions
other medical treatment. Hypnotherapy is aof future recovery and return to normal activity.
psychological treatment that combinesSkeptics dismiss positive results as the placebo
trance-inducing methods and relaxation witheffect or a fluke. Perhaps they take too lightly
story-telling, guided imagery, and direct andthe manner in which the brain transmits chemical
indirect suggestions that guide the listener towardmessages, via the neurological pathways, that
changes in behavior, emotions, thinking, andactivate the body's own healing responses.
physical responses. Here are five ways in whichIn 1978, Stephanie Matthews-Simonton, O. Carl
hypnotherapy can help people cope with cancer.Simonton, and James Creighton, wrote the
1. Relaxationground-breaking book, Getting Well Again (Bantam
With the diagnosis of cancer come fears ofBooks, 1984), a self-help guide for cancer patients.
dreadful possibilities: painful medical procedures, theThey told cancer patients that beliefs and
side-effects of medication, the possibility ofattitudes play an important role in pain
physical suffering, a shortened life span, curtailedmanagement and recovery. They described the
activities, and changes in relationships. Panic andvalue of mental relaxation and imagery. They also
anxiety are natural and understandable responsesprovided case studies in which cancer patients
to such fears, many of which are logical andachieved improvement and, at times, remission,
realistic. However, panic and anxiety may onlyby visualizing and drawing pictures of their cancer
increase the symptoms and interfere with thosecells being destroyed by armies of protective cells
activities that are still doable and worthwhile.dispatched by the immune system. Patients often
Hypnotherapy is a means of relaxation that helpschose metaphoric images for these protective
one stay focused and mindful of the moment,cells; pacman cartoon characters, knights on
relaxed enough to enjoy the simple pleasures thathorseback, or toothy sharks. Amazingly, many of
life still offers. Sleep is especially difficult with sothese pictures characterized the manner in which
many worries. Hypnotherapy can often induce theNatural Killer cells actually attack and destroy
deep relaxation and pleasant imagery that allows aindividual cancer cells.
restorative night of sleep.In the field of psychoneuroimmunology (the study
2. Pain Managementof the role of psychological processes in the
With cancer, there are three sources of physicaltreatment of disease), there are numerous
pain: The pain of the cancer's damage to therecently-published books available to
body, the pain of medical procedures, and the painhypnotherapists who want to improve their skills
of muscle tension that often accompanies fear orin working with cancer patients. One is Guided
emotional distress. Pain is generally a warning toImagery (Crown House, 2000) by Rubin Battino,
the body to take action and muscle tension is theAdjunct Professor at Wright State University in
body's natural, fight-or-flight response to athe Department of Human Services, and
perceived threat. When muscle tension leads toPresident of the Milton H. Erickson Society at
action that reduces or eliminates pain (i.e., youDayton, Ohio. In addition to his academic duties he
quickly remove your hand from a hot stove) thenis a group facilitator for cancer patients at the
the tension serves a purpose. When the tensionThe Charlie Brown Exceptional Patient Support
only exacerbates the pain, then the tension is notGroup in Dayton, Ohio.
helping.Conclusion
Hypnotherapy teaches a host of painHypnosis can prove a viable part of a cancer
management methods that generally divert thetreatment regimen. Additionally, a hypnotherapist
mind's attention elsewhere. Pain decreases whencan help the client adapt behavioral changes, such
we pay less attention to it. Hypnotherapy usesas smoking cessation, that contribute to improved
relaxation, focusing exercises, and guided imageryhealth. Insurance companies now reimburse
to take the mind away from pain, thus reducingpsychotherapy sessions conducted by licensed
tension. A hypnotherapist will often use imagesmental health practitioners who incorporate
and stories to suggest different ways to thinkhypnotherapy, relaxation training, and guided
about pain. For example, if a client says the painimagery into their clinical skills. Many clinics now
feels like a red-hot, burning coal, the hypnotherapyoffer support groups for these purposes as well.
session may include a short story about firemenCancer patients have more tools at their disposal
dowsing a fire with cold water, until the fire goesthan ever before, with the ability to assemble a
away, and then a clean-up crew arrives to clearvirtual team of practitioners drawn from traditional
away the debris and repair the damage. Throughand non-traditional disciplines. Today's doctors are
training in self-hypnosis, cancer patients canmore interested in treating the whole person, not
eventually learn how to turn pain off, or at leastjust the disease. We've come a long way in
ignore it with increasing effectiveness.medical care, not just in having advanced drugs
3. Manage Fears of Medical Proceduresand technologies, but also in our attitudes about
Let's face it. Despite the best efforts of medicalthe mind-body aspects of illness and health. We
teams, clinical and hospital procedures are not fun.now know that a will to live, like that displayed by
Surgical processes, treatments and exams areRichard Bloch and so many others, often imparts
often painful, annoying, uncomfortable, andthe strength to endure and outstrips all that
inconvenient. At times they can reduce one'smedicine can accomplish.