href="#fb3_img_img_58a2fd0e-ed75-5e3d-859f-2f390816fc93.jpg" alt="Figure 2.4: Stress-Induced Conditioning and Habit-Formation"/>
The good news is that we can use fairly simple techniques to create, condition, and reinforce positive responses that help maintain a healthy immune system. There’s a lesson to be learned from all this mounting evidence. By strengthening and conditioning the mind part of the mind-body connection in the face of potentially terminal illness, it may be possible to extend life or even recover completely. And by using alternative mind-body techniques in addition to traditional medicine, we’ll be doing everything we can to help our body spring into action and do what it needs to do.
Can the Mind Slow Cancer Growth?
Cancer is defined as a group of more than 100 diseases in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and then invade other tissues. The term cancer is used to describe not a single disease, but many diseases in which cancer cells begin to grow and then spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymphatic system. One of the main characteristics of cancer cells is that they’re immortal, at least compared to normal cells. The genetic material (DNA) of a cell becomes damaged or changed as a result of chemicals, X-rays, UV rays, or other factors and produces mutations that affect normal cell growth. When this happens, cells don’t die when they should and new cells form when the body doesn’t need them. The extra cells form a mass of tissue called a tumor.
Treatments for various cancers include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or newer procedures like gene therapy and angiogenesis inhibitors. During the past few decades, studies have found that the effectiveness of any of these therapies is enhanced when patients include stress management and other techniques like visualization as part of their overall recovery routine. This is because hormones released during stress reactions not only help cancer cells travel through the bloodstream and spread to other tissues but they help keep those cancerous cells alive and growing by supplying them with vital nutrients. Adding stress management to the mix of cancer treatments may help stimulate the immune system and significantly improve the healing process.
With some exceptions, like breast and colon cancer, few cancers are inherited. Some are the result of defective genes or the environment. The majority, however, are the result of toxins, additives, diets high in saturated fat, industrial and household chemicals, radiation exposure, alcohol, and tobacco. Unfortunately, since the EPA does not test for combinations of chemicals, we really don’t know what the effect of exposure to two or more chemicals is on cancer risk compared to single chemical exposure. Research done over the last decade has shown that many people might avoid cancer or would cut their risk significantly if they adhered to seven rules:
1. Don’t use tobacco products, including chewing tobacco.
2. Limit sun exposure, especially if you’re light-skinned.
3. Avoid food additives and environmental chemicals.
4. Maintain a low-saturated-fat, high-fiber diet.
5. Limit alcohol consumption.
6. Limit sugar intake.
7. Watch your weight.
The one significant risk factor left off the researchers’ list is how a person views life events and responds to stress. Human experiments have shown that stress affects key pathogenic processes in cancer such as antiviral defenses, DNA repair, and cellular aging. Conversely, study after study has proven that individuals able to cope with stress are less likely to get cancer. And results from clinical trials have shown that patients who use a variety of stress management techniques and mind-body medicine are much more likely to recover from cancer. Meditation and visualization exercises, for example, improve the general quality of life and can actually enhance the effects of conventional treatment. When chemotherapy or radiation damages white blood cells, along with the cancer cells, the immune system is weakened, which can lead to infection and other diseases. This added stress only fuels the problem and makes stress management and reinforcement of positive thinking even more important.
Beating cancer is never easy. Avoiding the seven risk factors that trigger most cancers is however. Simply following rules number one and five is a way to minimize risk for some of the worst types of cancer such as lung, esophageal, throat, liver, pancreatic, and upper digestive tract. New research has also found that obesity is linked to a dozen types of cancers, including colon, kidney, esophagus, and thyroid, among others. For cancer cells that spring up suddenly without a known cause, maintaining a healthy immune system is the best way to make sure that they are detected, attacked, and eliminated. If researchers have learned anything it’s that even a disease like cancer is much more easily overcome when we use the mind-body connection to help fight it. The techniques found throughout the rest of the book will help you do just that.
More than twenty years ago, an article published by the American Cancer Society asked the question, is there a cancer-prone personality? At the time, results were inconclusive and researchers needed much more information before they could put the debate to rest. Since then, studies have shown that there may indeed be a link between behavior and personality and the onset of and recovery from cancer. We know that emotions such as depression, anger, and hostility make us more prone to illness and disease; and it’s been shown that positive attitudes such as hope, optimism, and happiness strengthen our immune system and protect us from disease. Recent studies point to two personality types that seem to make us either cancer-prone or cancer-resistant.7
CANCER-PRONE PERSONALITY TYPES
• Represses both positive and negative emotions.
• Shows anger, resentment, or hostility toward others.
• Takes on extra duties and responsibilities, even when they cause stress.
• Reacts adversely to and does not cope well with life changes.
• Is negative or pessimistic.
• Becomes easily depressed or has feelings of hopelessness.
• Has few friends or social networks.
• Worries often and excessively about others.
• Feels the need for approval and to please others.
CANCER-RESISTANT PERSONALITY TYPES
• Expresses emotions in a positive and constructive way.
• Controls anger and resolves anger issues positively.
• Knows when to say no.
• Copes well with stress and feels in control of situations.
• Is optimistic and hopeful.
• Does not become easily depressed.
• Seeks out and maintains social support networks.
• Does not worry excessively.
• Likes to please, but does not seek approval as an emotional crutch.
As with everything else, there are always exceptions: some of the most optimistic and positive
