Self-hypnosis can benefit some cancer patients – US research findings

Cancer patients in Houston, Texas are being taught self-hypnosis to help lessen the side effects of chemotherapy.

Work carried out at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Department of Neuro-Oncology under neuropsycholigist Dr Christina Meyers has looked at the effects of cancer and cancer-related treatments on the brain.

A substantial proportion of patients – some 18 per cent – experience a reduced ability to process information during chemotherapy.

According to Dr Meyers, some chemotherapy agents may cross the blood-brain barrier to directly affect the brain.

Dr. Meyers carried out work with brain tumour patients, identifying the cognitive and emotional changes people sometimes experience, and developing strategies for rehabilitating the brain, similar in concept with physical therapy for the muscles.

In general, cognitive impairments in brain tumour patients are related to the site of the lesion.

Patients with left hemisphere tumours usually have lower scores on tests of language function, verbal learning and memory, verbal reasoning and right-sided motor dexterity, while patients with right hemisphere tumours have difficulties with visual-perceptual skills, building objects and left-sided motor dexterity.

Tumours in the cerebellum can cause disruption of the connections between the brain regions in addition to problems with eye-hand coordination. The effects of treatment - radiation and chemotherapy - generally cause problems with information-processing speed, executive functions, memory, concentration, and motor coordination.

The effect on many brain tumour patients can be increased emotional responses and reduced ability to deal with frustration. On top of that, family relations can suffer.

Some brain tumour patients cannot resume all normal activities following diagnosis and treatment, however much can be done to help patient’s function to their maximum.

The Houston research examined various of ways of enabling patients to relax more and focus better, including biofeedback of Galvanic skin response or electromyographic feedback.

However Dr Meyers reports that relaxation therapy, meditation and self-hypnosis also proved successful.

Posted January 2004