Visualizing Anti-Cancer Success

(Complete Audio Program)

Mindfulness & Creative Visualization for Cancer: A Complementary Support Program

Creative visualization is a form of mind-body therapy that uses mental imagery to promote healing, reduce stress, and support overall well-being. It is part of the growing field of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) and is often used alongside medical treatments for cancer to improve quality of life, emotional resilience, and even treatment tolerance.

I do not claim that guided meditation, hypnosis, creativevisualization, or guided imagery can cure cancer. That is a medical claim, and I am not a doctor. However, I can read and I have read the studies. These modalities offer some good benefits to cancer patients. Let’s look at some.

First, I would like you to taken into consideration— nocebo (negative) effects and the placebo (positive) effects witnessed in
studies. For example, it has been found that people who believe they are receiving chemotherapy (but are actually on a
placebo) may report side effects like nausea, fatigue, or even hair loss due to psychological expectations. And placebo surgery studies are interesting. One landmark study showed sham surgery was as effective as real surgery for knee pain.*

There have been studies on the effect of hypnosis, creativevisualization, and guided imagery on pain, immune response, treatment sideeffects, quality of life and survival. Though not cancer-specific, one study found that hypnosis modulated pain. Another study found it positively affected pain and recovery. Guided imagery has been found to improve immune markers (e.g., NK cell activity) in breast cancer patients and reduce fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving radiation. It has also been found to have benefits for distress, nausea, and quality of life. Finally, one seminal study found hypnosis as well as group therapy extended survival, though replication has been mixed. Ingeneral, patients report greater feelings of control, calm, and motivation when incorporating visualization into their care.

References

**Häuser, W., Hansen, E., & Enck, P.** (2012). Nocebophenomena in medicine: Their relevance in everyday clinical practice. *Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 109*(26), 459–465.

**Bingel, U., &Placebo Competence Team.** (2014). Avoiding nocebo effects to optimize treatment outcome. *JAMA, 312*(7), 693–694.

**Webster, R. K.,et al.** (2019). How do doctors convey adverse drug reaction information? A systematic review of nocebo-induced effects. *BMJ Open, 9*(9), e032029.

**Moseley, J. B., et al.** (2002). A controlled trial ofarthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee. *New England Journal of Medicine, 347*(2), 81–88.

**Jensen, M. P., et al.** (2011). Effects of self-hypnosistraining and cognitive restructuring on daily pain intensity andc atastrophizing in individuals with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 59*(1), 45–63.

**Tefikow, S., et al.** (2013).Efficacy of hypnosis in adults undergoing surgery or medical procedures: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. *Clinical Psychology Review,
33*(5), 623–636.

**Walker, L. G., et al.** (1999). Psychological, clinicaland pathological effects of relaxation training and guided imagery during primary chemotherapy. *British Journal of Cancer, 80*(1-2), 262–268.

**Richardson, J., et al.** (2007). Coping, life attitudes,and immune responses to imagery and group support after breast cancer treatment. *Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 13*(1), 62–70.

**Montgomery, G. H., et al.** (2007). Randomizedcontrolled trial of a cognitive-behavioral therapy plus hypnosis intervention to control fatigue in breast cancer radiotherapy patients. *Journal of Clinical Oncology, 25*(34), 4632–4638.

**Haller, H., et al.** (2021). Guided imagery for cancerpatients: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. *Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 56*, 102582.

**Spiegel, D., et al.** (1989). Effect of psychosocialtreatment on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer. *The Lancet, 334*(8668), 888–891.

Downloadable Audio Programs for Visualizing Anti-Cancer Success

The following audio programs offer supportive journeys for you if you are facing cancer. Each session invites you to take an active role in your healing process through creative mental engagement.

Steed 20-Item Scale: Ability to Benefit from Visualization (20 minutes)

One's ability to benefit from creative visualization has been found to be determined by one's ability to be absorbed into imagined experience and to experience trance-like phenomena. This oral questionnaire contains items related to this absorbance and trance phenomena. Take it, score it, and see how likely you will benefit from guided meditations and creative
visualizations. It's very interesting. Priced to cover service charges only.

Cancer 0: I Am the Captain of My Ship (18:45)

The guided meditation starts off with relaxation practiceand then gives you a series of affirmations to help you gain and maintain perspective giving you the leeway to change. When you are hoping to bring more mindfulness into your life or you are facing life's challenges, you may repeat these affirmations based in part on the de-identification exercise in The Act of Will
by Roberto Assagioli. Synthesis Center Press, 2010.

Cancer 1: Immunity Support Calling in the Troops (13:00)

This visualization is for you if you want to take an active role in your therapy. You engage the mind-body connection by metaphorically calling in 'troops' to seek out and remove cancer cells. With a tone of playful command, you visualize immune cells surrounding, targeting, and shipping out the unwanted cells. A touch of humor encourages emotional
lightness while fostering serious internal cooperation with medical treatment. Listeners are encouraged to repeat the visualization frequently until they can do it on their own, and to adapt it creatively to suit their own imagery and
needs. You may not be a violent person, but do know that your body's cells are scouting, attacking, and cleaning up afterwards. You were created this way.

Cancer 2: Cutting Off the Blood Supply to Tumors (13:00)

Download this guided meditation with creative visualization for cancer healing containing guided imagery for cutting the blood/food supply to tumors. This visualization is good for you if want to take an active role in your therapy. You engage the mind-body connection by metaphorically going into a control room with valves and pipes leading to different parts of your body. You turn the valves leading to cancerous parts and then follow the pipes all the way to the affected area and clamp them tight, cutting off the flow of nutrients to cancer cells. A touch of humor encourages emotional lightness while fostering serious internal cooperation with medical treatment. Repeat the visualization frequently until you can do it on your own and adapt it creatively to suit your needs.

Cancer 3: Trusting Your Surgical Team (9:00)

This creative visualization helps cultivate trust in your surgical team by imagining your surgeon as a perfectionist gardener caring for a vibrant garden—your body. With delicate precision, the surgeon prunes only what is necessary, allowing health and beauty to flourish. This visualization supports a sense of confidence, safety, and cooperation with the surgical process. Enjoy the imagery, and let it guide your mind toward healing. Frequent practice is encouraged until you can do it on your own and adapt it as needed.

Cancer 4: Weathering the Radiation Storm (8:00)

This creative visualization helps prepare your mind and body for radiation therapy by havin you imagine your body as a neighborhood of with trees and plants (cells)—some with sturdy and flexible (healthy cells and cell walls) and others with weakened and brittle (malignant cells and weakened walls). A powerful storm representing the radiation comes through the neighborhood, destroying only weakend trees and plants while leaving the strong and flexible ones intact. The rain washes them away. I give an alternative metaphor with cells. Both metaphors help reinforce the idea that radiation can be precise and effective. Use this visualization to boost resilience and reduce anxiety before treatment. Enjoy it with sense of cartoon-like humor.

Cancer 5: Express Drone Chemotherapy Delivery (11:00)

In this vivid and imaginative visualization, you picture high-tech drones delivering tiny explosives through open windows and unlocked doors (weakened and vulnerable cancer cell walls) of dilapidated homes (cancer cells)—bypassing strong structures (healthy cells). These targeted missions represent modern chemotherapy and its aim to destroy cancer from within. This metaphor encourages a sense of control and optimism about therapy. Listen frequently and enjoy the mental imagery. Turn into a humorous cartoon. It's easier to visualize a house than a cell, so go ahead and do it. Your body knows it's cells.

Cancer 6: Forgiveness—Letting Go of Guilt and Resentment (18:00)

This session is more of a reflective talk than a visualization. It explores how guilt and resentment can interfere with healing
by creating stress and emotional stagnation. You are invited to craft your own visualization or metaphor to help release these burdens. Letting go can open the way for greater emotional clarity and therapeutic benefit.

Cancer 7: Hello Darkness My Old Friend (Pain) (20:00)

This session is for you if you are experiencing some pain. It is a light dip in and out of the experience of pain and its meaning. You get a PDF question sheet to print off. You will hear some exploratory questions about your pain. Stop the audio and write down the answers. You will find better acceptance and some slight pain relief when practicing this mindful observation. Consider it in terms of percentage change.

Cancer 8: Observing Your Pain-Separating Your Pain From the Matrix (23:00)

This session is for people experiencing chronic pain. It is a deeper dive into your experience of pain. It was initially meant to be done without pausing or taking notes. However, some people think it goes too fast for them. If you want, you can pause the audio and write down your answer in a notebook. Although paid relief is not the main goal here, you may find that it has changed or disappeared. Don't be frustrated. That is nature observation and acceptance of the world of impermanence. If you are seeking pain relief, it is best to consider what percent of your present pain you might find acceptable and then make it your measure of success. It is always good to revisit this session, as observation changes pain over time.

Cancer 9: Meet the Medicine Buddha (19:00)

In a meditative state, you are introduced to the Medicine Buddha, who attained Buddhahood by following 12 vows to resolve the suffering of all sentient beings in the world. You hold yourself and those you care for in your heart center and visualize all of those in your heart center being filled with healing substance from a bowl he holds in one hand. By healing others, you are healing yourself. The Medicine Buddha (Beikenzei Guru) mantra is introduced during your healing.

Cancer 10: The Medicine Buddha Mantra (in Tibetan) (17:00)

This is a simple chanting of the Medicine Buddha Mantra. Entering the samadhi state of "eliminating all the suffering and afflictions of sentient beings, he spoke he dharani. The mantra is the most chanted line. It means, "Opening to the Universe, I ask that the pain of illness and spiritual ignorance be relinquished for all. I offer this prayer. May it go deep and far." It is always recited in Sanskrit or Tibetan due to the healing resonance of the sounds (which I have backed up the sounds correlating with four important energy centers in the body--1, 3, 4, 8-- in the background).

Before beginning, get into a seated meditation position, put your earbuds in, and say, "I will now chant this mantra for the health and comfort of those I hold in my heart center."

Smiling, recite the mantra, "Deiyata Om. Beikenjei, Beikenjei, Maha Beikenjei. Raja samugati Swoha."

Beikenjei, his name, is repeated three times, to heal the suffering, the cause of the suffering, and the cause of the cause of the suffering.

When you are finished, end by saying, "I gift all the merit I have accrued to everyone."

Is it magical? I don't know, but I do know that if you sit with the intention of healing and get your naysaying mind out of the way through meditation, mantra, or even humming, healing occurs on a few levels.

If you want something Christian and spiritual, you can always recite the St. Padre Pio prayer, though I think it contains too many negative images.