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Cancer and Stress

(August 2006) At this writing I am six years from my own diagnosis and I have lived many of the changes I write about in these pages. For example my circle of friends has changed completely compared to six years ago. This process is a little like pulling the weeds in the garden with a new criteria because life now is based upon economy of energy rather than the unconscious search for affection. Where we once just lived each day seeking approval from others and acquiring material possessions we now evaluate our actions and interactions based more on what will this choice cost or contribute to my inner life, my immune system?

This is misunderstood by most of our former acquaintances and many codependent relationships fade away as former needs are no longer being fed. This even happens with family members, which is sometimes painful and misunderstood. There is this assumed imperative that family ties must be maintained at all costs, even if it makes you ill. This is expressed at times with sentences like, "I'm your mother, etc." I've often said to my oldest daughter that, "being your father does not give me the right to harm you, by my dysfunction, even though I love you." And in reverse, being my daughter does not give her the same right, because we're related, and she "loves" me. It's an odd thing to discover this release from a belief system that actually controls and deprives us of being free.

At any rate these days over half of my male friends are fellow patients and I've often observed the moments of emotion that arise when helplessness becomes hopelessness for a moment.

One of modern medicine's instructions, for example, is to monitor our PSA number. Religiously we march into our local lab and get a blood test on a regular basis. Our sense of security becomes connected to this result. When the number goes up we feel we are losing and fear sets in. There is a rush of personal inventory, "Am I doing enough? Where have I gone wrong lately? What mistakes have I made, etc." Self recrimination. The immune system drops. When the number goes down we feel refreshed, in control, on top of it. SAFE! The immune system is stronger.

In time some of us discover that scientifically this number is not actually an indicator of what our cancer is or is not doing. It is a blood marker only that history has shown is often coexistent with prostate cancer, so it is used. (I've read that in parts of Europe it is abandoned now.) But it doesn't always match the progress or decline of how many malignant cells we may or may not have. Our emotional roller coaster ride is baseless, but we trust it anyway and make great decisions because of it.

My focus herein is on this emotional stress that I believe needs as much attention as the disease itself. It may have attracted it. We know that fear creates changes in the blood chemistry. We know that laughter also shifts our internal chemistry. The difference in affect from these on our cardiac and neural systems is awesome. It has been demonstrated and recorded that laughter actually contributes to physical healing probably because of this minor change in chemical messages in our deepest selves and our organs. Therefore, it can be assumed that chemical fear may be actually making our disease stronger by some reaction to our own stimulation.

This connection is alluded to obscurely in our white coat doctor's offices but not as if it really matters in the present paradigm of treatment. I think this is partly because it renders the doctor less powerful, as this is totally within the purview of the patient, and there is no money in self healing.

Hence, it is my belief that we as patients should be giving as much attention to our emotional lives as our physical lives as they are clearly connected, chemically and energetically. This is how I came up with the expression, "This journey is not about life and death, it is more important than that!"

Alternative Treatment for Depression: Learning How Herbs Can Aid in Treating Depression Naturally

by Tess Thompson (Native Remedies)

If you are like many of the 20.9 million adults in the U.S. who are suffering from depression, you have probably debated the pros and cons of taking prescription antidepressants. While depression can often be combated with therapy alone, some professionals do recommend medication for certain cases. The right type and dosage of a prescription medication can sometimes meet with success for a patient, but many experience side effects that outweigh the benefits.

Side effects vary between the different types of antidepressant, but the most commonly prescribed medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft are all SSRIs, and often produce side effects such as sexual dysfunction, nausea, diarrhea and headaches, and in some cases thoughts of suicide. In order to avoid these, more and more people are deciding instead to explore natural remedies for depression.

Among those who know, St. John's Wort is almost unanimously agreed upon as the alternative treatment for depression. Many believe that it is more effective at treating depression than many prescription medications but with fewer risks. The active compounds in St. John's Wort help naturally reduce feelings of sadness, anxiety and worthlessness, and many who take it also report less exhaustion and fewer headaches. Best of all, this herb often produces no side effects, although some might experience sensitivity to sun or other minor side effects.

Ginko Biloba is a natural ingredient that improves circulation in the brain, which often in turn improves memory and also alleviates some symptoms of depression. It is not as effective as St. John's Wort, but it can be taken in conjunction with other natural ingredients as an overall mood-booster.

Siberian Ginseng aids the balance of essential neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Taking Siberian Ginseng regularly can lead to improved feelings of general well-being.

Passion flower is another natural ingredient that can help treat depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Passion flower is a natural salve that helps to calm and soothe. When it is combined with St. John's Wort, it can be very successful in treating depression naturally.

These and many other herbs are helpful in alleviating many of the symptoms of depression, and as with anything you put into your body, each person will react differently to them. It is important to allow a trial period in order to feel the effects of the natural medications, as some will take several weeks to take effect. As always, you should seek a doctor's advice before you decide to stop taking a prescription medication, and you should avoid combining prescription medications with natural medications. Hopefully, you will find a safe, healthy combination of natural ingredients helps you to feel consistently better over time.

Solutions:

FYI-More Evidence Stress and Cancer are Linked

Norepinephrine, a hormone produced during periods of stress, may increase the growth rate of cancer. The norepinephrine can stimulate tumor cells to produce two compounds (matrix metalloproteinases called MMP-2 and MMP-9) that break down the tissue around the tumor cells and allow the cells to more easily move into the bloodstream. Once there, they can travel to other organs and tissues and form additional tumors, a process called metastasis. Norepinephrine may also stimulate the tumor cells to release a chemical (vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF) that can aid in the growth of the blood vessels that feed cancer cells. This can increase the growth and spread of the cancer. Researchers traced the harmful effect of norepinephrine after applying it to cancer cell lines used to study nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), an incurable head and neck cancer associated most frequently with those of Chinese descent.

Cancer Research November 1, 2006; 66(21): 10357-10364
Science Daily November 3, 2006