Is Cancer A Terminal Illness…?
All types of cancer are potentially terminal; Many of us have made it through treatment and are in remission, as Lance Armstrong is. Armstrong had conventional cancer treatment, and this as well as a measure of good luck can be credited with his good health. There is actually no evidence that ‘being positive’ or having a ‘positive mental attitude’ helps fight cancer – that it does has become received wisdom and people quote it as if it’s a proven fact. It isn’t, and actually there’s evidence that it doesn’t make any difference. This report in the British Medical Journal explodes the theory that a ‘fighting spirit’ is associated with longer survival from cancer or that ‘hopelessness and helplessness’ means poorer outcomes. The researchers analysed existing studies from1979 onwards; their conclusion is: ‘There is little consistent evidence that psychological coping styles play an important part in survival from or recurrence of cancer. People with cancer should not feel pressured into ad
