Genetic, environmental, nutritional and psychological factors all play a role in the development of cancer.  To heal from our cancer we must address the issues which have stressed the body’s ability to fight cancer, and we have to change the cancer terrain to one that is unfriendly to cancer. A few years ago, I wrote a post on this, Changing the Cancer Environment. By now, most of us are aware of the genetic, environmental and nutritional links to cancer and most of us are aware of the physiological damage of stress. However, not many are aware that, quite often, a biological conflict from our past or present is actually the root cause of our cancer.

Dr Ryke Geerd Hamer, a German physician and surgeon, has done considerable work in the field of psychosomatic cancer therapy. While somewhat controversial, Hamer believes that cancer occurs when the individual suppresses for long periods toxic negative emotions (primarily anger, hate, resentment and grief). This creates cell changes within the body leading to cancer.  Dr Hamer examined some 20,000 cancer patients with all types of cancer and discovered that every cancer in the body has a different emotional cause. For example, colon cancer relates to repressed anger and resentment (usually since childhood, but generally spanning many years). Cancers of the left breast are caused by the individual experiencing an emotional conflict involving the child, home or mother; whereas cancers of the right breast are caused by the individual experiencing an emotional conflict with a partner, boss or others. A woman who presents with cancer in the left breast invariably reveals an emotional or traumatic event from childhood, whereas those with cancer on the right speak of an abusive or overly controlling spouse or boss. There is always the Ah-ha moment when a client looks at you and says “yep, that’s me”, and this applies to cancers across the board. So much of healing comes from inside, by healing past hurts or turning inward to intuition. It is therefore critical to uncover and release these toxic negative emotions (or relationships) in order to heal from cancer.

Hamer also suggests that metastasis is not the original cancer spreading. He believes metastases are the result of new conflicts that may well be brought on by the very stress of having cancer of invasive, painful, or nauseating therapies. Hamer has faced much criticism within the conventional medical community, but it is largely because he clearly believes that the current methods of treating cancer are barbaric and completely ineffective long-term (can’t argue with that). Even though the psychosomatic connection with cancer is not generally accepted, the idea that such connections exist is not a new or revolutionary one. Recent research in Germany, Austria, France, the US and Denmark has confirmed Dr. Hamer’s findings; that emotional conflicts create cancer, and solving the conflicts in question stops the cancer growth. Hamer’s theory is explained quite well in Cancer Report: The Latest Research – How Thousands are Achieving Permanent Recoveries.

The emotional roots of cancer are far too often overlooked

However, while it is true that if the mind is sick, the body cannot heal, we cannot simply just resolve our conflict. The initiation and progression of cancer involves a variety of complex contributing factors, involving not just the cancer of the patient, but the patient with the cancer. Therefore, there is no one “magic bullet” whether conventional or alternative in nature that can defeat cancer– we each need a personalized, comprehensive plan, inclusive of healing the whole person.

Conventional medicine has its place.  But, most oncologists are still using only the tools in their medical toolbox; while these tools may halt cancer in the beginning, they do nothing to stop it from returning, and may, in fact, encourage more cancer.  If your conventional oncologist had and used all the tools required to heal you, we would have won the war Nixon declared on cancer in 1971.  We are still dying from cancer.  Since he/she does not have all the answers, my hope is that you will consult with an integrative oncologist, a holistic or alternative healer, or a naturopathic doctor who specializes in oncology–a coach can be quite helpful with this as well. When conventional medicine is used judiciously and with proper caution and support, it can often be effective; used alone it will put you at higher risk for complications, side effects and an early demise.

After all, while we want to survive our cancer, we don’t want to suffer from or die from the treatment–the worst but all too common side effect of cancer treatment is death. I know that sounds harsh, but please know that there are options, both complementary and alternative that can be helpful–therapies that support and help protect the body during treatment, improve the efficacy of treatment or can be the treatment.  No matter what path you take, healing cancer requires more than what modern medicine has to offer.

To combat day-to-day stress, never underestimate the power of nature to heal and restore…walk in the woods, watch the sun rise or set.

Psychosomatic cancer therapy (healing from our trauma) is just one of the important tools that exist beyond the white coat. We still need to boost our immune system, fortify our body, detoxify,  restore, employ nutrition and supplementation, and will likely need to incorporate at least one type of cancer treatment, be it conventional or alternative.

Cancer patients who take control of their health are different from most other patients. They empower themselves by saying “this is what I am doing to beat cancer”, not “this is what they are doing to me”, and they play an active part in resolving how and why the disease occurred. They think of themselves as a ‘person with cancer’ rather than a ‘cancer patient’, and they enter into active co-treatment of themselves.

Are you in need of a healing path but don’t have the support to help you down this path? Schedule a free consult.

For resources and more information:

Psycho-Oncology—Discover How stress Causes Cancer and How to Heal Within.

Changing the Cancer Environment

Cancer Report: The Latest Research – How Thousands are Achieving Permanent Recoveries

Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds

Cancer As a Turning Point: A Handbook for People with Cancer, Their Families, and Health Professionals

For more information on anti-cancer strategies, including stress reduction, resources and support, please click here.

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer strategist, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and well-being. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Talk About Health, and Breast Cancer Answers and has written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, Surviving Beautifully, Body Local and more, and writes the Options for Life column for the Natural Healing-Natural Wellness Magazine. Elyn hosts the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. She is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and is on the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project.  Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. https://elynjacobs.com/about/

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