I have cancer. Those are scary words to utter. Time stands still when a diagnosis of cancer is given to an individual. Once the shock, begins to subside, panic sets in. There are so many questions and then there is the anxiety, fear and anger that sets in.

When one utters those words “I have” and understand the range of emotions that sweep through you when you first receive the diagnosis of cancer.survivor says, “I know how you feel”, you want to yell at them, “No you don’t!” Just because a person has had cancer, they do not know how you feel. Your feelings are just that, your feelings. No-one knows what or how you feel.

I have utter those words and understand the range of emotions that sweep through you when you first receive the diagnosis of cancer. Five years ago, I was diagnosed with melanoma on my left lower leg. Melanoma is not a nice cancer as far as cancer goes.

I had two surgeries on my leg and I was not allowed out of bed for a week. My leg was immobilized because the skin graft was very fragile. I used self hypnosis for pain management before and post surgery. I did on one occasion take a mild analgesic for discomfort in my back because I was not allowed to change my position very much. The day I was cautiously allowed out of bed to sit in a chair was indeed a joyful day. I did not have pain in my leg, not one time. Self hypnosis was used as a preventive measure for pain management.

When I met with my oncologist to learn my prognosis and to discuss treatment, I told him that I have a Ph.D. in Natural Health and he would have to work with me or I would need to find another doctor.  He said that he had no problem working with me. As we discussed my treatment, he started to tell me the side effects of the Interferon. I held up my hand to stop him. “I know the side effects and I will not have any of them,” I told him. He tried to hide the eye roll, you know the one, the one your kids give you, but I saw it. I just grinned, knowing he was about to be very surprised.

Before and during each treatment , I used self hypnosis. Not one time did I have the side effects of the medication. I had 21 IV treatments total. The staff were amazed and couldn’t understand what was going on.

One would think that the doctor and the staff would want to learn more about what I was doing since I was having such remarkable outcomes. You would also think that the doctor and the staff would want to extend this form of support to their other patients. But, sadly, they did not.

Some of the benefits of hypnosis for cancer treatment are:

• Hypnosis can improve your mental and emotional outlook
• Hypnosis can help reduce the side effects of cancer treatment
• Hypnosis can help reduce or in some cases eliminate the pain associated with some cancers

I’m speaking to you from experience, hypnosis can and in my case did eliminate the side effects of my treatment. As a result, my outcome was better than the individuals who are not using hypnosis as a tool to help manage the side effects of cancer treatment.

I encourage anyone who is undergoing treatment for cancer to investigate the use of hypnosis to add to your tool box for support of treatment.