Living With Cancer

You don't have to suffer from all those side effects!

Manage Secondary Symptoms

We’re proud to provide hypnosis services to those with mesothelioma and other forms of cancer. Initial studies have shown hypnosis to be extremely beneficial for cancer patients and loved ones who battle anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and other secondary symptoms associated with traditional cancer treatments.

Aggressive cancers like mesothelioma can have harmful side effects associated with radiation and chemotherapy regimens. Hypnosis has been shown to demonstrate improved capacity to manage these symptoms in mesothelioma patients as well as that of other types of cancer.

We do NOT perform medical hypnosis - our services are for relief and management of secondary symptoms.

Here is an article from Mesothelioma.com (reprinted with permission)

Hypnosis: a Powerful Tool in Complementary Cancer Care

Complementary therapies, while not given the attention that more traditional cancer therapies may receive, are perhaps equally important while undergoing treatment for certain types of cancer. Patients diagnosed with difficult to treat malignancies will often use these types of therapies in conjunction with traditional surgical, chemotherapeutic, or radiology techniques to form a more comprehensive and effective treatment regimen. Among the most important and effective alternative therapies utilized by those diagnosed with cancer is hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy has been used for many years in clinical settings. Hypnotherapy's role in cancer management however, is relatively new and indications are that its utilization has not been fully maximized yet. Effective cancer treatment often depends on the patient's ability to not only defeat the cancer through treatments but also to maintain their health and mental spirit throughout the painful side effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Often, the symptoms and effects of the cancer itself on the body are negligible compared to the pain and other side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. This is where acupuncture has been said to be most effective. Cancers such as mesothelioma, which are often unable to be removed by surgical means, are often treated with some combination of chemotherapy and radiation. While these potent therapies can be effective in eliminating some of the tumor mass and growth, they also profoundly affect the health of the surrounding tissue. Symptoms of these effects including fever, nausea, and general pain have been dramatically reduced through the utilization of hypnosis. Patients, who are able to withstand these symptoms and recover quickly, will often be able to be more aggressively treated, increasing the efficacy of the treatment regimen as a whole. Some specific hypnotherapy techniques utilized in pain management include altering the neurophysical configuration of pain, control of anticipatory anxiety, and targeted imagery.

Hypnotherapy techniques may not be appropriate for all patient's pain and individual symptoms but it's certainly worth exploring as it can do very little harm in experimenting with integrative therapies. The goal with alternative therapies, as with traditional mesothelioma treatments, is always to increase the effectiveness of treatment as a whole. If hypnotherapy can assist in any way in helping patients recover or manage symptoms of chemotherapy or radiation, then it will have contributed to the treatment regimens overall efficacy and should certainly be utilized.

Check out www.mesothelioma.com for much more information.

References

Erickson MH: Hypnosis in painful terminal illness, in Haley J (ed): Advanced Techniques of Hypnosis and Therapy: Selected Papers of Milton Erickson, MD. New York, Crune & Stratton, 1967.

Sunnen, Gerard M.D. , Hypnotic Approaches in the Cancer Patient Ozonics International, LLC

Hypnosis is helpful with:

(but not limited to)

Pain

Many people who are being teated for cancer report that pain signicantly affects their quality of life. In many cases medications are very effective in reducing the discomfort. But not everyone is able or willing to use chemical intervention for pain management. For these people hypnosis and self-hypnosis (which we teach) often is a great method to deal with the discomfort.

Difficulty sleeping

It may be worry, fears, or just overall discomfort that keeps cancer patients from being able to get to sleep and then stay asleep for a good night's rest. Click here to learn how hypnosis can help with sleep.

Managing Stress

Hypnosis can help cancer patients in dealing with their situation by reducing stress. When a person may feel overwhelmed by the issues surrounding their condition, calming help can be very much welcomed. Click here to learn how hypnosis can help with stress.

Preparation for surgery

People who enter surgery can have a significant advantage if they are properly prepared emotionally. Lessen fears, improve confidence, enhance healing are some of the areas where we have helped people. Click here to learn how hypnosis can help with surgery.

We can help

At Pathway Hypnosis, typical sessions take 1-1 1/2 hour. If you want to learn how to manage any of these side effects, call now and set up an appointment or discuss this with us further. We serve northern Mass and southern NH.

Our services are available in Nashua, New Hampshire,

where we can be reached by email at:

PAD@thepathway.com

or by phone at: 603-381-2139