You have just been diagnosed with cancer. All of the sudden it seems as if the rug has been pulled out from under you. Perhaps the cancer diagnosis is new and you are caught up in a whirlwind of panic, fear, and anger (all perfectly normal reactions to such a situation, by the way). But then there are also practical decisions related to treatment that need to be made quickly, according to your doctor − putting even more pressure on your already stressed existence. In the midst of all this turmoil, how can you possibly see your diagnosis as a GIFT?
The real question is… How can you afford not to?
A Positive Attitude Can Help Fight Disease
The jury is still out as to whether or not being an optimist is inherently a product of nature or nurture. What is known for sure is that keeping a positive attitude when life challenges arise can be learned. If you are facing a health crisis, this is a skill you want to know about. Study after study has proven that those who learn how to regulate emotions and manage stress responses tend to lead longer and healthier lives overall.
A study over two decades, led by researchers in the Department of Psychology at the University of London, initially surveyed over 5,700 middle-aged people. Fifteen years later, they found that those who were able to “self-regulate” (i.e. able to manage emotions, especially in times of stress) were 50 times more likely to be alive and healthy, without chronic disease, compared to those with the lowest amount of stress management skills.
Another study conducted by the journal of the American Psychological Association found that those who maintained optimism overall had higher number of immune system T Cells.
And a similar study found that men with HIV who displayed positive attitudes had a significantly greater ability to ward off infection as opposed to those who had a more negative attitude.
“We are coming to understand health not as the absence of disease but rather as the process by which individuals maintain their sense of coherence (i.e. sense that life is comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful) and ability to function in the face of challenges in themselves and their relationships with their environment,” says pioneering researcher Dr. Rollin McCraty of the Heart Math Institute.
3 Gifts of Cancer (Ways to Move from Negative to Positive After Being Diagnosed With Cancer )
Here are 3 ways you can move into a more positive space in regards to your cancer diagnosis and some solid reasons (backed by science, of course) why seeing your cancer with at least neutral-colored glasses may be one of the best things you can do on your healing journey.
#1 – The Gift of Support. If you have recently received a cancer diagnosis, you have probably already had your share of doctors’ visits. Believe me, there will be more, with lots of “urgent calls to action” from very concerned doctors, especially if they are in the conventional setting. There will be long diagnosis explanations, courses of action, and timelines and opinions from health professionals as well as concerned loved ones.
Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is enough of a stressor; please don’t consider doing it alone. Getting the help and support of loved ones, support groups, and friends who will really listen can be a saving grace. This is especially so for those who can also be your advocate − your “eyes and ears” when you are just too worn or feeling overwhelmed.
Caring support, and especially group support, may also increase your chances of healing from cancer. Several studies have shown that those who have a strong social network, especially in the form of spiritual support such as being a part of a church group, have a longer life expectancy. And trusting in others may also bring you new friends as well as a deeper closeness to those you care about the most.
#2 – The Gift of Personal Reflection. A cancer diagnosis can be a chance to dive into deep personal reflection about your life in general and your health in particular. After all, this is YOUR body and experience. You are the ultimate decision-maker! I don’t recommend burying your head in the sand or choosing inaction based on fear or paralysis. You have the right (and I would even say the responsibility) to take a moment or an hour or even a whole day when necessary in order to reflect on what is going on, how you are feeling about it, and the best course of action for YOU.
Others, especially conventional doctors, may attempt to force you into what they think would be the “best course of action.” If you are a regular reader of the Truth About Cancer blog, however, you probably already know that there are literally hundreds of ways to approach cancer other than conventional methods.
Reflection first requires calm, however. When you are under a high level of stress, especially over the course of several days, weeks, or months, remember that the ongoing surge of stress hormones may begin to affect your decision-making abilities.
When starting out on any concentrated reflective period, take some time to do a little self-care first in order to get your stress level down. Take a long stroll in nature. Soak in a bath, watch a funny movie, or do some Tapping. Then set a timer for twenty minutes and journal about how you are feeling about your cancer diagnosis. You can also verbalize this into a recorder or sit with a trusted friend. After you have taken care of your body and your mind and are feeling calm, then (and only then) can you begin to review those doctor’s notes, size up the options at hand, and get a sense of how you would like to proceed.
Be sure to write down any questions you may have for your doctor or other healthcare providers as you reflect. And remember − you don’t have to have all the answers right away. More than likely, however, a period of calm reflection will at least allow you to move in the direction of what feels right for you.
#3 – The Gift of Empowerment. Taking charge of your internal environment, who you let into the inner circle of your healing journey, and which course of action to take in regards to your health can only lead to one glorious destination − total health empowerment.
And again, as studies have proven, when we humans feel that we are in control of our own destiny, possibilities open up to us. We feel more alive and therefore we become more alive. In turn, our bodies respond by kicking in the healing responses that can lead to true cancer healing.
Article Summary
In the midst of the turmoil of a cancer diagnosis, is there any way to possibly see your diagnosis as a gift?
Keeping a positive attitude when life challenges arise can be learned. This is a skill you want to know about if you are facing a health crisis.
Multiple studies have shown that those who learn how to regulate emotions and manage stress responses tend to lead longer and healthier lives overall.
Here are 3 ways you can move into a more positive space in regards to your cancer diagnosis:
- The Gift of Support. Caring support, and especially group support, may also increase your chances of healing from cancer. Several studies have shown that those who have a strong social network have a longer life expectancy. Trusting in others may also bring you new friends as well as a deeper closeness to those you care about the most.
- The Gift of Personal Reflection. A cancer diagnosis can be a chance to dive into deep personal reflection about your life in general and your health in particular.
- The Gift of Empowerment. Taking charge of your internal environment, who you let into the inner circle of your healing journey, and which course of action to take in regards to your health leads to total health empowerment. When humans feel we are in control of our own destiny, possibilities open up to us.
Ty, I have leaky gut & a host of a bunch of other things. I am on disability & heard about Plexus Products & was wondering what you thought of them or if you even heard of them. There are many videos of many medical health care professionals using them! What bothers me is that it’s backed by Morgan/Stanley. I have seen a video — not one of yours, but where a woman claims it was Carnegie, Rockefeller & MORGAN who started today’s medical system!
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for your comment.
We currently do not have information about Plexus Products.
Best wishes!
Cynthia:
You are correct about Carnegie, Rockefeller & Morgan who “started” today’s medical [business] system; but it’s not all positive, as they got rid of the homeopathic form of healing, and began teachings of drugs and surgery in all the medical schools. I would do more research on anything backed by a financial institution, as they undoubtedly have money ties.
Also…thank you for all your work! God bless you & your family richly!
Hello Family; This is important stuff too. Depak Chopra talks about this trauma of the diagnosis and the word cancer. Our Attitude = Our Altitude and this helps us to rise above the situation and the attitude of those around us, as it can traumatize them too, putting them in fear as well. Everything is alive and has consciousness, even cancer and tumors and they are there for a reason as everything has a purpose. It is even possible to talk to a cancer if you are able to accept and quietly listen as we do in prayer to our creator. A stone has consciousness, as does a tree as does water, if we take time to meditate and listen. God said, ” Be Silent and Know that I am God”. In many books it tells us how powerful and creative our emotions are, Love, Anger, hate, fear are our powerful creators, especially if we hang on to them and forget to Forgive with true Love. Pau D Arco can work, detox can work, Reiki can work but our minds are the powerful creators too. Cancer can bring families together and It can be a Life changing experience as a cousin found out when I reminded her of the Blessings that can come with it too. She had Breast cancer and is still here. Just sharing and still Loving You. Yourself called alan.
There is NOTHING good about having or getting cancer. Constantly looking over your shoulder and hoping is damn tiring. I just hope that all the supps. , ess. Oils, etc. that I take will give me a longer life.
I get the “positive attitude” slant but reality is reality.
Even trying to find support groups, etc. was challenging and daunting. Still have not really found one.
People deal with it in different ways. It still sucks.
Linda I look at it as a wake up call…and give thanks for it, as once diagnosed you can then make the necessary changes in your lifestyle, diet, etc to live a healthier life. Is it stressful, absolutely! Is it scary, absolutely! Only YOU can chose how to deal with it, but from past experience I do know that cancer loves fear, it raises your bodies cortisol (stress hormone) and that affects you immune system and on and on. Getting through cancer involves Body, Mind and Spirit, we can’t have one without the other. I hope you can find support as it really is a valuable asset to the journey. I wish you well and please know that you are not alone.
Being an eternal optimist is better than being an eternal pessimist because an eternal optimist is more positive about life and therefore, suffers from less stress. They feel more energetic and happy about the future to come. Does meditation help reduce stress or nasty traumas that one suffered in the past?
Thanks for the article. About the gift of personal reflection –
I recently finished six months of chemo for lymphoma. Throughout the entire treatment (which will continue for 2 more years) I maintained a very positive attitude. It helped me feel good and in doing so – I reflected that in how I looked and responded to people. I have always been an extremely healthy person – I have always exercised and eaten very healthfully. So why did I come down with cancer? Shocked friends would say I was the healthiest person they knew. Well, after a messy divorce several years ago, I harbored much hate and anger toward my ex that went on until my diagnosis. I blamed him for absolutely everything. Getting a cancer diagnosis out of the blue made me take a really good look at what in my life was toxic. It wasn’t my food or my healthy habits. I realized that while my anger and hatred may not have caused my cancer (or did it?) – it certainly didn’t help any. My stress levels were elevated every time I felt the anger which was daily. I had to understand that my emotional state could possibly be contributing to the disease. Since then with meditation, journaling and listening to healing music, I have lost the need to be hateful and angry toward him. I’ve had to let go of the toxicity and I’ve never felt better. That is the gift my cancer diagnosis gave me.
Hello Family; Thank you Rose for your sharing, it is powerful. In what ever happens please look for the good in all things, ” What you see is what you get” ” where attention go’s energy flows” and ” as you sow so shall ye reap”, ” is the glass half full or half empty”. It is a hard thing to do but is does have benefits and in the end we decide what we will focus on. Thank you all for teaching me. God I Love You, You ARE Myself called alan.
I so appreciate you! I just discovered this site. What a blessing! You think just like me. I am so grateful to have a positive attitude. I was diagnosed 2/half months ago and am going the natural way. It is a life changer. I also was shocked and friends too as I have healthy lifestyle. I believe my emotional being needs some focus. Learning to unconditionally love myself and being aware of my thoughts I think is key to my healing. Blessings to all of us! May God give us strength and courage. With much gratitude!
How do you tell someone that was told they only have days to live and are out of options. She has done everything they have suggested and has fought for her life. She is 33 years old and has a 14 son…..
Hi Helen,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Best wishes!
Which of the doctors in tbe referral sheet specialize in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma? Thank you.