12/19/2018 Positive Thinking and Cancer-Myth-Making HOW IT WORKS SIGN IN ABOUT US Home » Blog » Positive Thinking and Cancer-Myth-Making Positive Thinking and Cancer-Myth-Making To receive all the cutting-edge updates personally relevant to you Subscribe Today (free and private) Search Categories Benign prostatic hyperplasia Posted by Kathleen Hoffman on Apr 30, 2015 in Blog, Breast cancer, Colorectal cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Leukemia, Lung cancer, Lymphoma, Melanoma, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Prostate cancer | 9 comments Share Like 278 Tweet Share Save Called the “Emperor of All Maladies.” there’s little doubt that a cancer diagnosis throws life completely out of control. Unfortunately, this chaos creates vulnerabilities that can and have been exploited. It is tempting to believe the idea that if you control your thoughts and make them positive, you can control cancer. However research doesn’t support this myth! Contrary to what you have heard in the media, there is no scientific evidence supporting the popular myth that positive thinking or a “positive attitude” cures, slows the progression of, or extends the life of people diagnosed with cancer. Blog Breast cancer Colorectal cancer Coronary artery disease Diabetes mellitus Erectile dysfunction Hodgkin's lymphoma Hypertension Infertility Kidney stones Leukemia Lung cancer Lymphoma Melanoma Research On Positive Thinking And Cancer Multiple Myeloma This “positive psychology” premise has been studied. For example, in 2004 a Overactive bladder study compared survival rates of lung cancer patients. These patients Parkinson's Disease completed a survey of optimism before and after participating in a clinical Prostate cancer trial. Penelope Schofield, lead researcher states, Rheumatoid Arthritis Nocturia Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Stroke Urinary incontinence Urinary tract infection https://medivizor.com/blog/2015/04/30/positive-thinking-and-cancer/ 1/7 12/19/2018 Positive Thinking and Cancer-Myth-Making “There was no evidence that a high level of optimism prior to treatment enhanced survival in patients with NSCLC (non small cell lung carcinoma). Encouraging patients to “be positive” only may add RecentABOUT Posts US HOW IT WORKS to the burden of having cancer while providing little benefit, at least in patients with NSCLC.” Likewise in a 2007 study of 1000 people with head and neck cancers, the researchers found “no support for the hypothesis that negative emotional well-being predicts poorer survival.” The Fighting Spirit? SIGN IN Dietary Supplements and Homeopathy Are Not Tested for Safety and Effectiveness Advocacy, the Highest Form of Self Care Thanksgiving: Cancelled-And It’s Okay Tired of Turkey? Try a Couple of Diabetes-Friendly Recipes Climate Change and Lung Health A well-researched review of the literature examined some of the most popular claims of positive psychology including that a “fighting spirit” will slow cancer and extend life. It is difficult to find discussion of cancer in the media that doesn’t use terms like “fighting” cancer or Archives Archives Select Month “winning (or losing) the battle.” The “Fighting Spirit” in positive psychology research takes the view that cancer is a challenge to be overcome. Medivizor on Twitter One study looked at 578 women diagnosed with stage I or stage II breast My Tweets cancer who were assessed on “fighting spirit” at between 4 and 12 weeks post diagnosis. Five and 10 years later, their health status was evaluated. The research author wrote, “The data confirm that there is no benefit to survival of a fighting spirit beyond 5 years post-diagnosis. This is an important result as it may help to remove any continuing feelings of guilt or sense of blame for breast cancer relapse from those women who worry because they cannot always maintain a fighting spirit or a positive attitude.” Scientific research supporting the idea that positive thinking boosts the immune system is also difficult to find. Neither standardized definitions nor scales exist to measure the impact of “finding benefit” from one’s cancer and prolonged survival of cancer. Taking a Stand The American Cancer Society starts their rebuttal of the positive thinking myth with the question of a woman with cancer: “Is having a positive attitude important in fighting the cancer? My friends say it is, but I feel sad and discouraged.” As the American Cancer Society responds: “In recent years, much attention has been paid to the importance of having a positive attitude. Some people go so far as to suggest that such an attitude will stop the cancer from growing or prevent death. https://medivizor.com/blog/2015/04/30/positive-thinking-and-cancer/ 2/7 12/19/2018 Positive Thinking and Cancer-Myth-Making Patients are even told that they will never beat the cancer if they don’t stop feeling sad, bad, depressed, or other so-called ‘negative’ feelings. This kind of message is destructive to people who are dealing with cancer and recurrence. They are fighting for their lives and then are HOW IT WORKS ABOUT US SIGN IN told they are responsible for causing their own illness. And, to make matters worse, they may feel as if they aren’t supposed to grieve or feel sad over the new hardships and major changes in their lives. Please do not allow others’ misguided attempts to encourage positive thinking to place the burden of your cancer on you. That is not accurate, and it’s not fair to you.” Enforcing Silence About Feelings Fear drives the continuation of this myth. Fear of chronic disease and fear of cancer perpetuates this problem in our society. The result is enforced silence. Denying feelings in the name of ‘being positive’ is not the answer to managing chronic illnesses. This norm is totally unrealistic and unhealthy. Being positive does not protect one from illness. Being negative does not cause chronic illnesses and cancer. Stuffing feelings and forcing others to do so helps no one. Exposure to this myth may lead people whose cancer is not responding to treatment to feel as though it is their fault. Nothing could be further from the truth. Barbara Ehrenreich wrote eloquently about her experience of having breast cancer in the milieu of positivity this way “Breast cancer…gave me, …a very personal, agonizing encounter with an ideological force in American culture that I had not been aware of before – one that encourages us to deny reality, submit cheerfully to misfortune and blame only ourselves for our fate.” The Importance of Allowing and Sharing Real Feelings Communicating sadness, distress or fear of the unknown is healthy, positive behavior. Tori Tomalia, a mother of three living with stage 4 lung cancer wrote about the “positive thinking” encumbrance. In her post she reminds us that children play to work out fears. Imagine a group of five year olds… The little girls, holding their baby dolls, scrambled onto the sofa. “Lift you feet” one girl says, “the flood is coming.” They scream and raise their feet. “Do you hear that sound? It’s the wind…a tornado.” More cries of fear issue from the girls as they hold tight to their dolls. This vignette is an example of a type of playing called ‘dramatic play.’ An important part of cognitive and emotional development, children actually play out negative, difficult and sometimes terrible fears. By playing out the https://medivizor.com/blog/2015/04/30/positive-thinking-and-cancer/ 3/7 12/19/2018 Positive Thinking and Cancer-Myth-Making uncertainties of life, they are able to face and take control of terrors. Being with that which is scary is healing. Fortunately children are not chided as “negative” for this kind of play. HOW IT WORKS ABOUT US SIGN IN Tori starts her post, “I may get some static for this post, but I think that there is too much pressure on cancer patients to stay upbeat and cheerful all the time, dancing through treatments and smiling during scans.” Adults with serious chronic diseases are being told they brought their conditions on themselves through “negativity.” It is time to challenge this hogwash for what it truly is: victim-blaming and transferring fear. Conclusion This post is not about raining on your parade or crushing hope. It is about removing the millstone of “positivity” from people who have cancer. Since there is research that stress impacts health, perhaps eliminating the burden of always being positive will reduce stress. Let’s hope so. Because, no matter how you feel—negative, positive or in between–it is healthy and positive just to feel it! Share Like 278 Tweet Share Save Tags: American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Patient, Cancer, Colon Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Leukemia, Lung Cancer, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Prostate Cancer 9 Comments Mary Lou Goodacre May 3, 2015 Thank you! I truly do feel better knowing I’m not alone and not expected to be “so positive”. The uncertainty of Recurrent Melanoma is EXaCTLY why it’s impossible to remain forever optimistic! It’s the nature of the disease to be unsure, afraid and concerned. Reply Lisa P Crumpton May 5, 2015 I was incredibly positive on the outside…guilty! I got really tired of hearing what a great attitude, how wonderful I was and how I was going to beat this. I really just wanted to tell everyone how much it SUCKED,how crappy I felt and how worried I was, but I didn’t just smiled and carried on. Reply Scott R. May 5, 2015 Amen. There is too much pressure on being positive and not enough research on things that can actually help. I think those pushing the positivity are the ones afraid to face the https://medivizor.com/blog/2015/04/30/positive-thinking-and-cancer/ 4/7 12/19/2018 Positive Thinking and Cancer-Myth-Making reality of the situation and I’m glad someone finally called BS on this myth. Reply HOW IT WORKS ABOUT US SIGN IN Patricia May 17, 2015 I disagree. Attiutude matters and all my doctors agree with that. I have read numerous studies that point to that and laughter is also healing. If I let bad thoughts feel my mind I believe I wouldn’t still be alive today. Plus a good attitude is contagious and it inpires hope and love. What you focus on expands! Reply Elizabeth J. July 18, 2015 I have had people tell me ridiculous things like I can beat stage 4 cancer by just “being positive.” Hogwash! I know the facts of my disease. On the other hand, knowing my life is short, why should I waste my time left being miserable? Much better to enjoy the time left, whether it is months or years (and I’m hoping for years). I see myself as a realist. The right kind of being positive can help you enjoy life, but it will not add time or cure. Reply Aileen July 20, 2015 I agree that many times people are told to be positive and there is too much emphasis on “fighting” the cancer, as if those who die from the disease didn’t fight hard enough. Very insulting! However, I happen to be a person who hasn’t been devastated by my cancer diagnosis and treatment and I don’t feel worried about a recurrence (my chances of recurrence are low). I’ve received quite a bit of annoying “advice” from various people (who don’t know me very well) who seem to assume that I’m just hiding my true feelings or that I’m in denial. There is nothing unhealthy with worry and fear when diagnosed with cancer, and there is nothing unhealthy with positivity, either. Some of us deal with it and move on, regardless of what some people may think. Reply esther June 5, 2016 Don’t you think that when we are sick whether cancer or not, isn’t it better to stay positive than negative? Stay positive may not heal our sicknesses but at least we don’t lament or start a blame culture. Instead, by staying positive, we will continue to seek healing and not give up. Positive behavior plays an important in our daily lives and in our well being. My penny of thoughts and no hard feelings. An article to share: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article157062/Cancer-patients-positive-thinking-trial.html https://medivizor.com/blog/2015/04/30/positive-thinking-and-cancer/ 5/7
