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Power of Positive Thinking Questioned in Lung Cancer Patients
For many years, people diagnosed with various sickness have been told that their attitude can help combat their disease. Putting on a happy face, the wisdom went, assist defeat cancer and other grim diagnosing. Now a study from Australia disputes the command of positive thinking, at least when it comes to lung cancer.
Researchers at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center in Melbourne, Australia followed a group of 179 individuals who had been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer for five years. SCLC has an overall 15% five year continued existence rate - a severe statistic. However, researchers have noted that the length of survival varies widely within that five lifetime. Lead researcher Dr. Penelope Schofield and her colleagues sure to study the effects of a positive, optimistic outlook on the length of continued existence of lung cancer patients.
The 179 individuals in the study answered questionnaires both before and after their treatment for lung cancer. The questionnaires were designed to assess optimism, and outlook on life. The final results - Schofield and colleagues found no correlation between positive outlook and measurement lengthwise of survival in the study patients. Those with positive outlooks on life lived no yearner than persons who were pessimistic about their chances of survival.
Does this indicate that people should abandon maintaining a helpful, optimistic outlook? Not at all, Schofield says. A positive outlook most certainly affects the quality of living, if not the magnitude of life. Still, she says, she is nervous about the advice to those diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses to 'position on a happy face'.
There is a heavy common pressure to maintain a optimistic attitude when faced with a judgment of lung cancer or another life-affecting infection. The idea that your view and optimism affects the odds of survival carries with it an 'unintentional suggestion' that individuals who have growth are responsible for he outcome of their disease. What Schofield fears is that the pressure to remain positive and upbeat in the face of a lung growth diagnosis may put unintentional constant worry and pressure on the patient and prevent them from disappearing through the normal inconsolable stages.
On the other hand, a philosophical attitude may be just as harmful. There ARE things that a person can do to improve their chances of survival. Folks include adopting vigorous eating habits, giving up smoke and avoiding get in touch with with cigarette smoke, and getting regular physical motion. A pessimistic belief that nothing will help anyway may keep people from follow new habits and taking the steps that could very well contribute to their longevity and certainly to their happiness.
What's the answer? As in most other effects, the best solution may lie in balance. Schofield advise that a supportive atmosphere that allows the long-suffering to express their fears and doubt without culpability may be the best way to go. Jimmie Holland, MD, author of The Person Side of Cancer, agrees. In his article "The Tyranny of Positive Thinking", Holland says, "If you are surrounded by the "positive manner police," tell them to get off your container and be realistic." Holland advocates finding a way of coping that is comfortable for you, and not allowing the beliefs of others to make an already difficult situation still more difficult by burdening you with guilt.
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