Carcinogenic Mind. The Psychosomatic Mechanisms of Cancer

Carcinogenic Mind is a revolutionary and exciting analysis of around 2000 studies that prove: our psyche is the main source of cancer. The role of the mind in the origin of oncological diseases has been discussed by scientists for several hundred years. Yet, in spite of growing evidence from psychosomatic medicine, this topic has been considered by the public as speculative and lacking evidence. The author, one of the leading psycho-oncologists in Ukraine, physician, molecular biologist, and Buddhist practitioner, uses a rare interdisciplinary and integrative approach, involving data from psychology, oncology, psychoneuroimmunology, philosophy, epigenetics, and other branches of knowledge. Step by step, illustrating with clinical cases from his own practice, Dr. Matrenitsky skillfully uncovers the inseparable connection of psychological, social, spiritual, and physical mechanisms of cancer. For the first time, it is explored throughout the whole continuum of illness, starting with a predisposition in the womb and childhood. A tumor is just the tip of the iceberg. Its unseen basis is inability to cope with the problems of life, psychological traumas and intrapersonal conflicts, arising from unmet needs. Aggravated by repressed or suppressed negative emotions, this leads to chronic psycho-physiological stress, which suppresses the immune system and other systems providing anti-cancer protection. The result is an existential crisis, leading to the loss of the will to live and initiating a program of unconscious self-destruction. Overcoming the crisis, achievement of post-traumatic growth, and spiritual awakening can revive the natural healing powers of the body, help the medical treatment, and bring the patient to stable remission or complete healing. A true encyclopedia of psycho-oncology, Carcinogenic Mind answers the profound questions one faces when diagnosed with cancer: •Why me? •What is the purpose of this happening to me? •How can I help myself to make the treatment as effective as possible? •How can I reduce the side effects of conventional medical therapy? •What should I do to prevent a recurrence of the tumor? •How can I bring the treatment to full recovery? •How can I believe in my right to live? This innovative book is written in the popular-science format to build a ‘mind-body’ bridge between medical doctors and psychologists, as well as provide a comprehensive guide for public health professionals and students. Inspirational, accessible, and hopeful, supplemented with a detailed glossary, it offers a much-needed, holistic roadmap to understanding one’s personal causes that have contributed to the disease, and finding new ways to cure it. An illuminating and bold recasting of the standard biomedical approach to preventing cancer, seen as the only one, the book shows how new ‘anticancer’ mindsets and lifestyle will help us to get and stay healthy.