Chemotherapy Patients Tackle Cancer with the Power of Thought

“Guided Imagery” is a self-help approach which uses principles that date back to the Ancient Greeks. The technique has already been proven successful with breast cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy.

2,500 years ago, Aristotle said “the soul never thinks without a picture”. Guided Imagery is based on the principle that images may have powerful psychological and biological effects.

Patients that learnt the technique reported a better quality of life and fewer side-effects during their treatment than those who had not learnt the technique. Researchers from Cancer Research UK say they now have good scientific evidence that this treatment can promote psychological well-being in women with breast cancer. They are beginning a new study on nearly 200 male and female patients with bowel cancer to learn if they will get similar benefits. The effects of relaxation and imagery, alone and in combination will also be compared.

Relaxation techniques involve learning special muscular exercises. When patients have learnt to relax, they may also be able to visualize their host defences more clearly. Visualizations differ among patients. Some patients imagine their white blood cells, or the chemotherapy, fighting the cancer. Others imagine a healing process, such as a white light promoting well-being and a return to health.

Researchers at Cancer Research UK say there is much to be learnt about the benefits of mind and body working together. They believe the research may lead to improving the quality of life of many more cancer patients undergoing treatment.

(Source: Cancer Research UK)