That's because cancer doesn't only affect your body. It affects and is affected by your mind and your spirit, too. To treat this condition, don't just think about the symptoms, but also examine how your mind and spirit may be part of what's happening to you.
Thoughts influence feelings and if you feel you have been hurt, negative feelings can crop in. Some of the feelings that are believed to be involved with cancer are grief, resentment and hurt. Some theorists believe that cancer is an eating away of the self. Grief can eat away and so can a deep secrets. Others believe that cancer is the result of a weakened immune system. Still others say that cancers associated with the sexual organs (breast, ovaries, etc.) may be linked to early sexual abuse that has not been resolved.
People who develop cancer often "bottle up" their feelings and don't let other people know when they feel hurt or angry. Other people may think you're great, but inside, you're seething. Is this you? Don't stop your healing just to please other people. You deserve to be healthy and well.
Hope is a spiritual aspect of the self. Without a will to live and the "spirit" to fight, hopelessness develops. Depression follows. Lack of connection with other supportive people and oneself are other important healing aspects. If you don't love yourself and want the best for you, healing does not occur.
Forgiveness can be an important spiritual side of cancer. Forgiving someone who you believe has deeply wounded you can free your resources to focus on healing your cancer. Prayer can affect healing. Just thinking about being healed and asking to be healed can have an effect. Research on prayer shows it works. Ask others to pray for your healing. Prayer at a distance has been shown to be as effective as being in the same room and praying.
To heal cancer, address all three---body, mind and spirit.
Some spirit approaches:
Do something you've been putting off. Whether it's sharing how tense or angry you feel or participating in a pleasurable activity. Do it! By meeting a spiritual need, you can move closer to a body-mind-spirit balance and healing.
Forgive. All of us have been wounded by others in our life. It is up to us to forgive others for their actions. In many cases, forgiveness must be focused on ourselves. We need to forgive ourselves for what we think we have done. Regrets are a sign that forgiveness is needed.
Improve your relationships with others. You need support. Ask for it. But first, ask a family member or friend from whom you've strayed to lunch for the express purpose of recounting every joyful time you've had together. Talk with friends or family who deny the seriousness of your condition. Prior to meeting, plan and rehearse what you will say, e.g., "I know it's hard for you to think about my having cancer, but I need to be able to express my feelings. It would help me a lot if we could talk openly about my condition." Consider joining a support group, too. Others in a similar situation can be invaluable in understanding what you're going through and in providing you with tips that can lighten your journey.
Some mind approaches:
Change what you say. Catch yourself repeating negative thoughts. Say one or more of the following affirmations at least 20 times each day. (The number of times is important because most of us carry around negative thoughts and sayings we learned in our nuclear families; saying these positive thoughts can begin to counter the negative ones we're so used to, we often don't even know we're using.)
Here are some affirmations to use:
There are no secrets; I am free to share
I create a joyous life by releasing my past
I am filled with hope
I forgive others and I forgive myself
Heal by writing about your thoughts and feelings. Purchase a blank journal that appeals to your senses and write about traumatic events or upsetting issues you've experienced. Be sure to include all the detail of what happened, how you felt, what you did, and the outcome. Research shows expressing your feelings in this way can enhance your immune system and help you fight off cancer and infection.
Some body approaches:
Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, take a stress vitamin (Vitamins B-complex and C) and only use olive oil on salads and for cooking. According to the National Cancer Institute, these actions can decrease the risk of death from cancer.
Stay physically active. It will help you lose weight (obesity is correlated with some cancers) and can reduce your risk of getting breast cancer, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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