The Mind and Body Approach in Dealing with Cancer

Cancer is defined by Merriam-Webster’s as a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and spreads systemically. For the year 2001, cancer accounted for 22.9% of all deaths in the US1, and closer to home, the primary cause of death in Singapore is cancer (28%) followed by heart diseases (24.2%). 2

Main Risk Factors

According to The Merck Manual - Second Home Edition, the main risk factors are:

Family history and genetic factors - may contribute an increased risk due to a single gene or due to several genes interacting with each other that cause cancer

Age - some cancers such as Wilma tumor, retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma occur exclusively in children, but most cancers are more common in older people. In the US, more than 60% of cancers occur in people older than 65, and the risk of developing cancer doubles every 5 years after age 25. This is probably due to a combination of increased and prolonged exposure to carcinogens and the weakening of the body’s immune system.

Environmental factors - air pollution from industrial waste or cigarette smoke, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation

Diet - high fat diets have been linked to increased risk of colon, breast and possibly prostate cancer. Diets high in smoked and pickled foods or in barbecued meats increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.

Of the above factors, the environmental and diet risk factors can be greatly reduced if appropriate lifestyle and dietary changes are made.

Prevention According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of developing certain cancers may be reduced.

Measures known to reduce the risk of cancer :

Avoiding smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke

Avoiding occupational carcinogens (for example, asbestos)

Avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight without sunscreen protection

Measures that possibly reduce the risk of cancer :

Limiting intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources (e.g. high-fat meats, whole-fat dairy products)

Increasing intake of fruits and vegetables

Being physically active

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight

Complementary Therapies

Everyone is familiar with the various conventional medical treatments available for the various types of cancers.

But what about complementary therapies?

Research has shown that when properly combined with standard cancer treatments, some complementary therapies can actually enhance wellness and quality of life .

There are many complementary therapies available, from alternative medical systems like traditional Chinese medicine, herbal/plant therapies to mind-body approaches including yoga, tai chi etc.

Mind-Body Approach

Some people believe that cancer can be overcome by sheer mind power but others believe that cancer cannot be affected by the mind at all. However, as the nervous system controls our various body processes, hence, the mind can well affect a person’s resistance to cancer.

Nonetheless, not only can the different mind-body approaches assist in supporting cancer patients, they can also give cancer patients a much-needed boost to their psychological well-being. In addition, research has shown that some of these approaches are effective in helping patients cope with the side effects of conventional treatments, thereby allowing them to enjoy a better quality of life.

A word of caution: although some complementary therapies may be useful for cancer patients, some may be harmful in certain situations and the effects of each therapy will vary from patient to patient. So before you decide to try any form of complementary therapy, check with your oncologist and exercise your own judgment.

Some examples of mind-body therapies are support groups, one-on-one counseling, meditation, art therapy, tai-chi, qigong, yoga etc, of which yoga is the primary focus of this article.

Yoga Therapy : Basics and Philosophy

Yoga is defined by Merriam-Webster’s as a system of exercises for attaining bodily or mental control and well-being.

However, yoga has become a fad due to the various media and commercial hype about it. In fact, yoga has become a multi-million dollar business worldwide, with commercialized yoga studios, yoga merchandise and clothing etc. The list goes on and on. As a result, some people learn it just to show off their ability in performing difficult yoga postures, or just simply to be able to claim to others "I do yoga".

This is quite different from its’ humble origins as an ancient form of exercise to preserve health.

Yoga therapy follows the same simple principles as yoga. It involves no external aids, but utilizes the person’s body, breath and mind to bring about balance and harmony in the body system to achieve good health through the following means:

Breathing practices
These are the most effective ways to channel our life force into all parts of our body and mind. Awareness of the breath can bring about vitality and enjoyment to each moment of life. By exhaling slowly, we know immediately if any strain or stress is present in our mind or body. Our breath is a great barometer in helping us know our stress level and a good way to relieve it.

Deep relaxation
Yoga helps us to achieve physical softening of the body and contributes towards the ability to detach/distance ourselves from problems or worries. The art of deep and complete relaxation is one of the safest and most effective ways to manage stress and attain peace of mind as well as to relieve pain and regain health.

Asana
The practice of yoga postures, or asana, helps to strengthen and stabilize the body through incorporating body movement, breath control and mental concentration.

Conclusion

Choosing the right therapy is very important. Not every complementary therapy is suited for everyone, so before you pick one, make sure that you find out all you can about it. Remember to consult your oncologist about it as this will complement your treatment.

Maintaining a positive mental attitude will help you tremendously through the difficulties of the disease. Friends and family around you will be likewise affected, so this will go a long way in helping them to cope with your condition.

Keep your body moving! You will feel more alive as your body is moving and you can feel the flow through your body. This will increase your energy level and maintain your physical well-being.

Cancer is a disease that is fearsome both physically and psychologically. It not only affects the cancer patient, it also affects the people around him/her, family and friends. Conventional therapies do their part in treating the medical aspects of it. Complementary therapies are most beneficial to the psychological aspects of cancer, allowing cancer patients to manage stress more effectively, attain peace of mind and in some cases, relieve pain.

By combining conventional and complementary therapies, cancer patients can address the disease in a more holistic way and hopefully, to overcome it to lead a normal life.