The Benefit of Hypnosis on Breast Cancer Survivors
On a worldwide scale, breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer. The most common is lung cancer. In 2004 over 185,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. In the same year almost 41,000 died from breast cancer.
One of the major side effects of breast cancer is hot flashes. Hot flashes are a side effect during treatment such as chemotherapy and hormonal therapy and they are also a side effect in breast cancer survivors post-treatment.
Hot flashes are caused by a drop in estrogen levels and the result is that the body’s temperature control system is confused. The body reacts with a rapid heart rate, sweating, weakness, and then chills. These hot flashes can interfere with day to day activities and cause sleep problems.
A report was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology to test whether hypnosis was a viable treatment for female breast cancer survivors suffering from hot flashes. A high percentage of breast cancer survivors suffer from hot flashes due to the treatments they received to treat their breast cancer and menopause.
The study consisted of 60 breast cancer survivors experiencing hot flashes. They were randomly assigned to be in the hypnosis group or the control group. The hypnosis group received five hypnosis sessions on a weekly basis. The control group received no treatment.
Under hypnosis, the hypnosis group was given suggestions to relax, feel cool, and to remove themselves from hot flashes. This was achieved with imagery. The participants in the hypnosis group were also taught self-hypnosis to use on their own time.
The results of the study were highly significant. The women who received hypnosis reported a 68% decrease in number of hot flashes and they also reported that the hot flashes they had were not as bad as before the hypnosis treatment. Comparing the hypnosis group to the control group, the participants in the hypnosis group were less anxious and had a more positive attitude. They also reported better sleep and a higher quality of life.
The researchers concluded that hypnosis is an effective alternative treatment to treat hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. They also reported that women are interested in other forms of treatment than hormone therapy and pharmaceuticals.