Hypno-Oncology

Important: Hypno-Oncology Practitioners do not treat cancer or offer advice on medical treatment. This therapy complements, but does not replace, the treatment and advice given by qualified medical and health professionals.

Hypno-Oncology can assist with various aspects of the cancer journey:

• Managing emotions: Reducing anxiety, fear, and worry

• Overcoming treatment-related phobias: Addressing claustrophobia with scanners, needle phobia, and other fears

• Surgical support: Pre and post-surgery techniques could improve outlook 

• Alleviating side effects: Help with nausea, vertigo, taste issues, hot flushes, sleep disturbances, and eating issues

• Pain management: Working to assist with pain control

• Experimental approaches: Guided visualisation techniques and psychological work with the immune system

The effectiveness of hypnosis in oncology settings is supported by extensive scientific research:​

• Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses:

  • Franch et al. (2023) conducted a systematic review titled "Applications of Hypnosis as an Adjuvant in Oncological Settings" and found that, with only one exception, hypnotic interventions improved measured variables compared to control groups across all studies examined.¹

  • Sharma (2017) reviewed 55 research papers on the clinical benefits of hypnotherapy for cancer patients, concluding that it benefits patients both physically and psychologically.²

  • Flammer & Bogartz (2003) performed a meta-analysis of 57 randomized controlled studies of palliative care hypnosis, concluding that hypnosis was effective for many disorders that cancer patients encounter.³

• Specific Benefits Documented:

  • Most studies show hypnosis has positive effects on reducing anxiety, pain, nausea, fatigue, drug use, and length of hospital stays.¹

  • Hypnosis also improves depressive symptoms, insomnia, hot flashes, well-being, and quality of life, and helps increase adherence to treatment.¹

  • Neron & Stephenson (2007) found substantial evidence for clinical hypnosis providing reduction in symptoms such as pain and anxiety in cancer settings, including its use pre- and post-surgery.⁴

  • Research papers indicate that hypnosis is the most used complementary therapy for addressing pain control issues.

• Breast Cancer Research:

  • Montgomery G. (various dates) has carried out multiple positive studies into the usefulness of hypnotherapy specifically for breast cancer patients.⁵

  • Garry Coles, co-founder of The Association of Hypno-Oncology Practitioners, conducted groundbreaking UK hospital-based research using presurgical hypnosis that demonstrated positive effects on recovery quality in breast cancer operations.⁶

• Psychoneuroimmunology Connections:

  • Gruzelier (2002) suggested that hypnosis can modify the production and activity of components of the immune system.⁷

  • Kiecolt-Glaser & Glaser (1999) proposed that psychological or behavioral factors may influence cancer progression due to effects on immune system functions.⁸

Safety Profile

When used by qualified professionals as an adjuvant to well-established treatments, hypnosis improves symptoms caused by oncological interventions and the disease itself. Importantly, research has consistently shown that hypnosis has no side effects when administered by trained practitioners.¹