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Impact of Relaxation on Cancer Every once in a while a new article appears summarizing a scientific study about the impact of relaxation techniques on cancer. Taken by themselves, the conclusions that can be drawn from them are limited. However, the large number of articles seem to suggest a positive impact of relaxation on cancer treatment. This past month, a paper was presented to the British Psychological Society summarizing the impact of relaxation techniques on building a stronger immune system. Eighty women suffering from breast cancer were selected to be part of the study group. All were given standard medical treatments for breast cancer (chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy). Half of the women were randomnly selected to also receive training in "muscular relaxation and cue-controlled realxation." The women were also taught techniques in imagining that their body's natural defences were battling the cancerous cells. When the results were finalized, the researchers found that the women who had practiced the relaxation and imagination techniques had higher numbers of immune system cells that tend to be diminished in cancer patients after receiving immunosuppressive treatments. In other words, even while chemicals were suppressing all cells, the practice of specific relaxation techniques produced positive immunological changes. The research was conducted by Professor Leslie Walker,
director of the Institute of Rehabilitation and Oncology Health at the
University of Hull. Professor Walker stressed that while an impact was
measured on boosted immmune cells, that this particular study offers no
scientific proof that the cancer patients with the special training would
actually live longer than the patients who only received standard medical
treatment. That yet remains to be seen after a longer period of time has
passed.
Janelle Barlow, Author
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