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UnprovenMethodsof CancerManagement
0. CarlSimonton,M.D.

After careful study of the literature and includes a number of both M.D.s and
other information available to it, the Ph.D.s.Among them area psychodiagnos
American Cancer Society does not have tician, medical consultant, psychiatric con
evidence that treatment with 0. Carl sultant, a child psychiatrist, a cellular bi
Simonton's psychotherapy method results ologist, and a consulting physicist.9
in objective benefit in the treatment of can
cer in human beings.
Purposes
The Center is a non-profit organization
The following isa summary ofinformation dedicated tothestudyand treatment ofthe
on 0. Carl Simonton, M.D., in the Amer emotionalaspectsof cancer.2According
ican Cancer Society's files as of June, toDr. Simonton,thetreatment developed
1981. by theCenterinvolvesthepatient in “¿an
exploration of the psychological factors
which bothenhanceand inhibit thegrowth
Introduction of thisdisease.―2 The treatmentprogram
0. Carl Simonton, M.D., was born in at the Center is “¿basically
a self-help pro
1942. He received his medical degree in gram and is designed to be used in con
1967 from the University of Oregon Med junction with standard medical treatment.―2
ical School, in Portland, Oregon and was Background materials explaining the pro
licensed to practice in the state in 1969.' gram are provided to patients and the Cen
He was licensed to practice medicine in ter offers both telephone consultation and
thestateof Texas in 1974.6 the possibility of participation in group
Dr. Simonton was formerly a radiol counseling sessions at the Center for final
ogist at the Travis Air Force Base in Cal referral to a therapist in the local com
ifornia.3 He was licensed in California and thunity who has been trained in the ap
certified asa therapeutic radiologist by the proach advocated by the Simontons.2
American Board of Radiologyin 1973.@' According to a descriptive brochure
At thepresenttime,Dr. Simonton is distributed by the CCRC, the approach
theMedicalDirector of theCancerCoun describedand used by the Center relies
seling and Research Center (CCRC), 1413 strongly on such concepts as relaxation and
8th Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76104. mentalimageryas appliedtocancerther
The Directorof Counseling& Program apy;theroleofthemind incancertherapy;
Director at the Center is (Mrs. 0. Carl) and stress, psychological factors, and can
Stephanie Matthews-Simonton. 3.9The staff cer.2

58 CA-A CANCER JOURNAL FOR CLINICIANS

 15424863, 1982, 1, Downloaded from https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/canjclin.32.1.58 by CAPES, Wiley Online Library on [05/03/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
One of the Center's associates, who sorship of various local medically oriented
has writtenseveralrelevant papers,is organizations.@
JeanneAchterberg, Ph.D.,Assistant Pro
fessor of Physical Medicine and Rehabil
itation, The University of Texas Health Publications
Science Center at Dallas. 10-12
CancerCounseling
Dr. Achterberg received her Ph.D. in
and Research Center
Experimental Psychology from Texas
Christian University in 1973. Her specialty The Center has issued at least 10 tape re
areas are Personality Correlates, Experi cordings or cassette albums on various sub
mentation, Observation, and Experimental jects concerned with psychological and
Design. She is a member of the American emotional aspects of cancer. Several mis
Psychological Association and is licensed cellaneous reprints of lectures, preprints
and certified in Texas. From 1975 to 1976 of scientific papers, and an annotated bib
she was Director of Research and Training liographyhave been issued.All audiore
at the CCRC.28 cordings and printed materials are sold to
patients andothers.3
The promotional material received
Cancer Counseling and from the CCRC credits Dr. Simonton with
Research Center Activities coauthoring the books, Stress, Psycholog
Group counseling sessions are conducted ical Factors and Cancer and Getting Well
for patients by the Center. The group ap Again.'0'3
proach is emphasized but some individual
therapy
isalsoconducted.2
Scientific
and Lay Literature
These are intensive 10-day group psy
chotherapy programs. The cost of a session A review of the scientific literature to June
is $1,900 for tuition plus fees for food and 10,1981,was carried outfirst by exam
lodging.9 ining the annual volumes of the Index
Two typesofworkshopsareregularlyMedicus from 1976 to 1980 and the
conducted aspartofa training programfor monthly issues of the Index for the period
professional personnel. The Phase I Work January through June 1981. This review
shops are conducted in various parts of the wasextended by a computer search through
country and provide an overview of the the MEDLARS systemof the National
Center's approach to the cancer patient. Library of Medicine, the Smithsonian Sci
Participants are involved in an experimen ence Information Exchange, National In
tal format that helps them to apply in their stitute of Mental Health, National Clear
own lives the processes the Center uses in inghouse for Mental Health Information,
thetreatment of patients.PhaseI Work and the National Institute for Scientific In
shopsareintendedforpatients as wellas formation. Six clinically oriented papers
professionals. Their purpose is to teach by Dr. Simonton, Mrs. Simonton, or their
participants to better influence their own associates were found.10.12-16In addition,
health processes.2 nine papers about the Simonton technique
Phase II Workshops are for profes were found in professional and lay jour
sional personnel only and, along with nals. “¿-@
Phase I, comprise the total training pro
gram in cancer counseling along the lines
proposed by Dr. Simonton. All Phase II Evaluation
Workshops, according to a recent bro The Society's
Committeeon Unproven
chure, take place at Briarwood Retreat Methods of Cancer Management has sug
Center, located near Fort Worth, Texas.4 gested that the methods advocated and em
Dr. Simonton lectures frequentlyin ployedby theSimontonsaresubject to
many parts of the country and from time controlled scientific studies. In July, 1980,
totimeconducts symposiaunderthespon a letter was written to Dr. Simonton re

VOL 32, NO. 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY

1982 59
 15424863, 1982, 1, Downloaded from https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/canjclin.32.1.58 by CAPES, Wiley Online Library on [05/03/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
questing information and alsopublished 5. By emphasizing a positive, active
materials regarding his techniques. In a attitude, Dr. Simonton may help patients
reply received September 4, 1980, Mrs. adapt more appropriately to their situation.
Simonton stated that “¿we
are in the process
of preparing a five-year research plan to
better research the outcomes of our work.―9 Negative
No confirmation of this plan has been ob 1. There is no evidence of a scientific
tained to date. basis for Simonton's claims of efficacy.
In the spring of 1981 a review of the 2. There appear to be several concep
Simontontechniques basedon currentlytual flaws in Dr. Simonton's thinking, par
available publications andaudio-tapes ob ticularly the premise that a patient contrib
tained from the CCRC was carried out in utes to developing his cancer and has a
dependently by consultants in the Depart direct personal role in curing cancer. There
ments of Psychiatry at two major medical is no evidence for either of these views.
centers in New York City (Memorial 3. There is no evidence that reducing
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Mt. stress enhances the body's rejection or con
Sinai Hospital).2627The findings at the two tainment of cancer.
institutions were remarkably consistent 4. There is no evidence that the use
and similar. The major conclusions are of imagery is efficacious in altering the
summarized as follows: course of neoplasia.
5. Potential hazards for patients are
associated with induction of guilt feelings,
Positive
over-reliance on the Simonton technique.
1. Use of the Simonton technique en and abandonment of generally accepted
courages a sense of “¿doing something― treatments, in spite of Dr. Simonton's ad
about cancer and promotes a sense of rein vice to continue them.
stituting mastery—even control—over the
patient's situation. In summary, the consensus of the con
2. It promotes relaxation, thus de sultants at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Can
creasing anxiety, and temporarily leads to cer Center and at Mt. Sinai Medical Center
an increased sense of well-being. (see Evaluation), who are psychiatrists and
3. The technique counteracts a psy psychologists, was that although in its
chologic sense of helplessness, and as far more positive aspects the Simonton tech
as is known it has no deleterious physical nique may increase patient comfort and
effects. ability to deal with cancer, there is no sci
4. Dr. Simonton does not recommend entific evidence that psychological and
stopping standard therapies that may be psychosomatic factors will alter the course
advised (e.g., radiation therapy or chemo of the disease.
therapy). September, 1981

References

1. American Medical Directory, ed 25, part III.
Chicago, AmericanMedicalAssociation, 1969.
2. Cancer Counseling and Research Center,
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3. Stress, Cancer, Life, and Living, CCRC
flyer, April, 1978.
4. Schedule of Training Programs (Phase I and
Phase II for 1978), CCRC brochure, undated.
5. Publications, CCRC brochure, undated.
6. American Medical Directory, ed 27, part IV.
Chicago, American Medical Association, 1979.
7. Directory of Medical Specialists, ed 19,
vol 3. Chicago, Marquis Who's Who Inc.
1979—1980.
8. American Medical Directory, ed 26, part 11.
Chicago, American Medical Association, 1973.
9. Letter from CCRC to ACS, August 28,
1980.
10. Achterberg J, Simonton OC, Matthews
Simonton S(eds): Stress, Psychological Factors,

60 CA-A CANCERJOURNALFOR CLINICIANS


and Cancer.FortWorth,Tex,New Medicine
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61