"REFRAME" YOUR CANCER

If you're like most cancer patients, you look upon your illness as the most overwhelming threat to life you've ever encountered. "I thought of cancer as a powerful evil force inflicting great injury on me," said Raymond, a retired restaurant owner who was battling cancer of the larynx. "It was the ultimate threat."

Raymond's words describe his mental outlook. Cancer . . . a powerful evil force . . . inflicting great injury . . . the ultimate threat. It took weeks of counseling, but Raymond came to view his cancer not as a threat but as a challenge. Cancer became something that stimulated him to introspection, to review his life. Raymond ultimately made changes in his exercise routine, diet, job, and spiritual life. Cancer became Raymond's wake-up call.

Raymond's experience is a perfect example of what it means to reframe the illness. Reframing is the process of finding alternative ways, more positive means, of viewing and responding to any circumstance.

Jose's diagnosis of prostate cancer was the most frightening and unwelcome event in his 58 years. Even though tests confirmed that the cancer had been discovered early and the prognosis was quite optimistic, his chronic panic-driven thought process focused on his imminent demise. "I didn't just have cancer, I was cancer," said Jose.

Frank also had prostate cancer, but his was significantly more advanced than Jose's. Frank had bone involvement. Unlike Jose, Frank made the critical distinction that he had cancer, the cancer did not have him. "I realized that my mind and spirit had cancer only if I allowed it." Frank's outlook reframed the cancer.

Frank's response demonstrates the significant power we possess. The point of control is not the circumstance of illness so much as our response to the illness. Our response can make all the difference. When we reframe cancer, we respond differently and more proactively. We acknowledge and nourish our inner strength, even in the face of doubt and fear. The threat subsides. We take on the challenge.

Fortunately, both stories have happy endings. Jose was able to embrace many of Frank's more positive beliefs. Today both men are doing well.

An Important Thing You Can Do

Examine your core beliefs about cancer. Then follow this re- framing process:

1.      What belief about cancer do you want to change?        

2.      What does holding this belief currently gain you?

3.      How might you change that belief and view cancer as a positive challenge? (List as many ways as you can.)