Overcome Cancer through Spirituality and Meditation

As cancer statistics and deaths continue to increase more and more patients are looking for
alternatives to take along with the conventional therapies. Among alternative approaches used to
fight the disease include spirituality and meditation. Studies have found they indeed work.
Using faith and consciousness to solve different problems is not new; it started since the dawn of
time, and it is increasing in different parts of the world, including developed countries like the
United States. In case of cancer, certain techniques are used to restore the moral and physical
well-being of the patients. They often include prayer therapy, affirmation, visualization, deep
breathing, and others. Regardless, the objective of people living with cancer is to heal.
A series of three studies published by the American Cancer Society (ACS) which involved over
44,000 patients highlight the important role spiritual beliefs played on the psychological,
physical, and social well-being of people living with cancer. The studies have also reported a
positive correlation between spirituality and mental well-being in both healthy people and those
experiencing physical or psychological disorders. The researchers found spiritual individuals
tend to have inner peace and remain optimistic even when facing serious problems such as
cancer.
Better Physical and Mental Health
According to the first study which was conducted by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research
Institute, a nonprofit cancer treatment and research center located in Tampa (Florida), patients
who had a high degree of spirituality and religiosity were also the ones who preserved the best
mental and physical health and who most easily carried out their daily tasks. They also felt fewer
treatment side effects, including less physical symptoms. Dr. Jim, lead author of the study, also
found that cancer patients who better integrated in their spiritual and / or religious activities had
better physical health to overcome cancer.
The second study was done by a group of researchers from the Feinberg School of Medicine of
Northwestern University in Chicago. They found that the emotional aspects associated with
religion and spirituality were more strongly beneficial to mental health rather than cognitive and
behavioral aspects of their practice. Regardless you call it spiritual faith or scientific faith, the
emotion is the result of their faith; they believe all things work together for good to them that
love God.
The third study, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences, additionally focused on social relationship of spiritual people. The results show that
spirituality and religion have a role, even if it is modest, to maintain social relationships. The
more spiritual is a person the easier for him to have social relationship. Spiritual wellness and
religious beliefs are indeed associated with better social health unlike unspiritual and irreligious
mentality which is associated with higher tendency to loneliness and isolation.
Mindfulness Based Cancer Recovery

In addition to these so-called psychosocial oncology programs studies also evaluated meditation
technique or MBCR program (Mindfulness Based Cancer Recovery) to consciously treat cancer.
Developed by psychologists specialized in oncology, this therapeutic approach offers a
combination of therapies using meditation, yoga exercises, and others. It is practiced primarily in
clinics and hospitals in Canada and the United States.
Notable Cases
While it is very difficult to assess the effectiveness of these alternative therapies to overcome
cancer, it is certain it works for those who believe. Although very slim, in different parts of the
world people use their faith to become free of terminal diseases for which the conventional
medicine cannot of do anything. A common case is that of Louise Hay, an American motivational
author and the founder who claim she used the power of her thought (Mind Power) to get rid
of her cancer.
Rhonda Byrne, an Australian television writer and producer, best known for her New Thought
books, The Secret, also claims a man used the Law of Attraction, along with gratitude, to heal his
kidney failure. In fact, it is not a secret after all; Jesus said the same thing in the Gospels:
...according to your faith it will be done to you. Matthew 9:29
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