When a Stage 3 breast cancer patient told our class that a guided imagery made a huge difference in the success of her chemo, I sat up and took notes. And then, made a guided imagery audio for my new business, A Healing Spirit, so that others could benefit. You can find it HERE.
She is a client of my Atlantic University mentor, who worked closely with her during her illness and treatment. She agreed to address our class about her experience because she knew some of us–like me– were interested in working with cancer patients.
What struck me most was not only her success story, but that she had few, if any, chemo side effects.
“The chemo nurses kept asking me what I was doing,” she said, “because everyone else had terrible side effects.” What was she was doing? Listening to a cancer-fighting guided imagery our mentor made for her during her treatments. And having side sessions with him as well.
An increasing number of reputable scientific studies are showing that the mind can play an important role in healing. Even more anecdotal evidence is available. We know that the mind can support whatever treatment a patient is getting through affirmations and other positive thoughts. If you think that’s unlikely, consider how what we are thinking and feeling affect our body by increasing heart rate and blood pressure and even as a contributing factor to heart attacks and stroke. It’s not a real push to see that the mind can play a role in helping heal, too.
How we think can affect recovery
Now, let’s be clear. I’m not saying the the mind can cause or cure cancer. It’s no substitute for medical treatment. But there’s plenty of evidence that how we think can affect how we recover. And in that healing spirit, I’ve developed products that support people who healing and especially those fighting cancer.
I’ve been to infusions centers many times with friends and know that time can pass slowly. And so, I developed three affirming products that can support cancer treatment and healing.
This downloadable audio for chemo patients is meant to be listened to during treatment–and even on days you aren’t receiving it. These reflect the kinds of messages the breast cancer patient I described earlier used during her chemo. Positive images and thoughts are known to be helpful in supporting cancer treatments and this 30-minute audio was developed along those same lines. It’s powerful and it gives a patient something positive to do during a chemo treatment. Remember, all downloadable audios are on sale for $4.99 through 11:59pm eastern on Sunday –just use the coupon LAUNCH.
The Guided Journal for HealingHERE is also something that can help the time pass during chemo. It’s compact enough to easily bring to treatment and each page offers an activity or a writing prompt to help you air your feelings about your disease in a positive manner. Work on no more than one page a day. You can write, draw or even paste photos you find in magazines to express your thoughts and feelings about the prompt offered. It’s an affirming way to support your treatment.
And speaking of affirmations, this beautiful deck of healing affirmationsHERE is meant to be used as often as possible. Each card has a lovely, affirming message to help focus your thoughts on healing. The deck of 50 business-card-sized cards is portable enough to slip into purse or pocket.
I’m also available for Skype and/or in person hypnotherapy sessions to support cancer treatment. Read about that HERE.
Maybe a close friend has been diagnosed and you’d like to do something nice for her. A set of the healing journal and healing cards would make a wonderful and helpful gift for the right person.
If this is your journey, I offer you my heartfelt prayer for a full recovery.
I’ll be covering the latest research on the mind/body connection in my periodic e-newsletter that will come out every so often. You can subscribe HERE. And no worries, it won’t be too much email–just every few months or so.
This is wonderful! I believe in the power of our words and imagery. I know that many think it is a bunch of hooey but I have seen the power of healing! Attitude makes a huge difference! Like Tony Robbins says, Motion is emotion. I look at that as our physical motion but also our mind’s motion.
This is really a god send! Thank you. My mother is under going treatment for stage 3 ovarian cancer. She had great cancer 13 years ago and minimal side effects ( my opinion). The treatment, and the disease has been very different. Looking forward to sharing this with her and praying it makes a difference!
Mind controls the body. Full mind set on something is half battle won:)..Body has no option but to respond to what the mind wants.:)..I like the Blog Title Heart-Mind-Soul!
Healing affirmations are very powerful and can offer comfort to so many. Even terminal patients need comfort in the last stage of life so any remedies are helpful.
I’m sure this will be a help to so many people, having a positive mindset and practising positivity is always going to help at least your mental state x
It’s amazing the impact our state of minds have on our physical condition. It’s a shame that sometimes that physical condition can just drag you down and make being positive that much harder, so it’s a great idea to offer something to help!
I agree with mind over matter with anything. I have had many family and friends who have succumbed to cancer, and you could tell who believed they were going to beat it and the ones who don’t.
This is really beautiful. There’s so much that our mind can do, it can really help us heal especially when we have continuous support and inspiration from the people around us.
What an amazing story. I know I tend to listen to my head, not my body. But I’ve heard how horrible people feel going through chemo, and only have a few days each month when they feel okay. If this works for one person, it can work for others.
How wonderful that she wasn’t having the awful side effects so many others were. I do believe the mind can be a powerful influence over so many things.
What we believe and what we think are essential parts of the recovery process I believe. I doesn’t heal us per say. But it does affect how we heal and how fast we recover.
I believe in the importance of having a sound Mind&Body. In order to heal and have a sound Mind&Body, it is important to set goals and change our daily routines to “shock the system”. Doing this allows you to visualize your future self so that you develop the will and motivation to heal.
This is a powerful post. I do agree that the mindset can help heal. Even cancer. If you are depressed, and upset, and have no drive to work with your body, it feels it and gives up. The mind makes a lot of the difference, not just the medications.
My aunty very much has the same thinking as you. She believes it was positive thinking and prayer that got her through her cancer treatment and helped her survive. She is one of the strongest women that I know x
What an inspiring post, I totally believe that what you think affects your health and how you heal or overcome. So many people struggle with cancer and this is a super reference for those who are! Awesome! s
Affirmations are always to great to have in your corner. When things go wrong it’s great to speak positivity into your life and create a positive situation from a negative one.
I believe this wholeheartedly. My father was recently diagnosed and I tell you seriously we had our doubts he’d survive. But after Christmas and he had us all around him, his mood changed and he began to heal, as if he was healing himself. The mind is a powerful thing.
Mental attitude definitely helps people coping with severe illnesses. I see it every day in my work as a registered nurse. Glad you are offering this resource for those who are struggling.
My husband didn’t use guided imagery, he just had a great attitude when he went through chemo. If guided imagery brings people to a positive attitude, then I really think that is key. The worst side effect that he had was indigestion and a rash on his hands.
Interesting! Though I disapprove of anyone encouraging people to put mind over accepting treatments, what you are promoting here, the use of mental strength in conjunction with medical treatments, I think is really worth it and very interesting to see the impact.
Here you’ll find my blog, some of my essays, published writing, and my solo performances. There’s also a link to my Etsy shop for healing and grief tools offered through A Healing Spirit.
I love comments, so if something resonates with you in any way, don’t hesitate to leave a comment on my blog. Thank you for stopping by–oh, and why not subscribe so you don’t miss a single post?
When a Stage 3 breast cancer patient told our class that a guided imagery made a huge difference in the success of her chemo, I sat up and took notes. And then, made a guided imagery audio for my new business, 
An increasing number of reputable scientific studies are showing that the mind can play an important role in healing. Even more anecdotal evidence is available. We know that the mind can support whatever treatment a patient is getting through affirmations and other positive thoughts. If you think that’s unlikely, consider how what we are thinking and feeling affect our body by increasing heart rate and blood pressure and even as a contributing factor to heart attacks and stroke. It’s not a real push to see that the mind can play a role in helping heal, too.
And speaking of affirmations, this beautiful 
Dhremo is going to fit in with all your doing like a glove! I’m excited to get you in touch with Marsha!
xob
This is wonderful! I believe in the power of our words and imagery. I know that many think it is a bunch of hooey but I have seen the power of healing! Attitude makes a huge difference! Like Tony Robbins says, Motion is emotion. I look at that as our physical motion but also our mind’s motion.
Wow, this is going to help so many people. It’s amazing the effect your mind can have on your body.
This is really a god send! Thank you. My mother is under going treatment for stage 3 ovarian cancer. She had great cancer 13 years ago and minimal side effects ( my opinion). The treatment, and the disease has been very different. Looking forward to sharing this with her and praying it makes a difference!
Mind controls the body. Full mind set on something is half battle won:)..Body has no option but to respond to what the mind wants.:)..I like the Blog Title Heart-Mind-Soul!
Healing affirmations are very powerful and can offer comfort to so many. Even terminal patients need comfort in the last stage of life so any remedies are helpful.
I have been truly struggling, and this is such a huge help to me. Changing my thinking is critical.
I’m sure this will be a help to so many people, having a positive mindset and practising positivity is always going to help at least your mental state x
This is a great post especially to those who have cancers. They will surely inspire this.
It’s amazing the impact our state of minds have on our physical condition. It’s a shame that sometimes that physical condition can just drag you down and make being positive that much harder, so it’s a great idea to offer something to help!
People always say “mind over matter”, but half of them don’t really believe it, you know?
I agree with mind over matter with anything. I have had many family and friends who have succumbed to cancer, and you could tell who believed they were going to beat it and the ones who don’t.
Yes, I always try to keep positive thoughts because I find they do help! I’m sure this audio is so wonderful.
This is really beautiful. There’s so much that our mind can do, it can really help us heal especially when we have continuous support and inspiration from the people around us.
This is such a powerful post. The “mind over matter” saying, is only somewhat true in my opinion.
This is such an inspiring article that can offer comfort to us all. So many helpful remedies!
What an amazing story. I know I tend to listen to my head, not my body. But I’ve heard how horrible people feel going through chemo, and only have a few days each month when they feel okay. If this works for one person, it can work for others.
Definitely sharing this, so insightful and useful information!
Thank you for coming to the Blogger’s Pit Stop,
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
How wonderful that she wasn’t having the awful side effects so many others were. I do believe the mind can be a powerful influence over so many things.
This is a wonderful story! I think staying positive being open minding is so important!
I found this post really interesting and powerful. gonna share this in my circle
What an inspiring post. it is all about what we choose to think and imagery. Change it, and you change.
What we believe and what we think are essential parts of the recovery process I believe. I doesn’t heal us per say. But it does affect how we heal and how fast we recover.
I believe in the importance of having a sound Mind&Body. In order to heal and have a sound Mind&Body, it is important to set goals and change our daily routines to “shock the system”. Doing this allows you to visualize your future self so that you develop the will and motivation to heal.
Wonderful! Though I feel sad for the cancer patients out there. Like you, I also offer my heartfelt prayer for all of them for full recovery.
This is a powerful post. I do agree that the mindset can help heal. Even cancer. If you are depressed, and upset, and have no drive to work with your body, it feels it and gives up. The mind makes a lot of the difference, not just the medications.
My aunty very much has the same thinking as you. She believes it was positive thinking and prayer that got her through her cancer treatment and helped her survive. She is one of the strongest women that I know x
Wow this is so beautiful and powerful! I strongly believe that the mind overpowers the body!
It’s really important to keep our outlook positive and our mind should focus on what result we want during those moments. This is really helpful!
What an inspiring post! I’m sure it will help many who are struggling with the similar situation!
What an inspiring post, I totally believe that what you think affects your health and how you heal or overcome. So many people struggle with cancer and this is a super reference for those who are! Awesome! s
Healing is one of the best ways to practice to sooth both body and mind.This is really helpful information for anyone who seeks such treatment…
Affirmations are always to great to have in your corner. When things go wrong it’s great to speak positivity into your life and create a positive situation from a negative one.
I believe this wholeheartedly. My father was recently diagnosed and I tell you seriously we had our doubts he’d survive. But after Christmas and he had us all around him, his mood changed and he began to heal, as if he was healing himself. The mind is a powerful thing.
That really stuck into my mind – How we think can affect recovery 🙂
Mental attitude definitely helps people coping with severe illnesses. I see it every day in my work as a registered nurse. Glad you are offering this resource for those who are struggling.
But the mind is truly, so powerful….
Jodie
My husband didn’t use guided imagery, he just had a great attitude when he went through chemo. If guided imagery brings people to a positive attitude, then I really think that is key. The worst side effect that he had was indigestion and a rash on his hands.
Thanks for your guide. Many patients will surely benefited and its free 🙂
Interesting! Though I disapprove of anyone encouraging people to put mind over accepting treatments, what you are promoting here, the use of mental strength in conjunction with medical treatments, I think is really worth it and very interesting to see the impact.