Oncology Support
Emotional and Physical Challenges
How Hypnotherapy Can Support You
A cancer diagnosis often brings with it a wave of emotions and experiences. But alongside the challenges, many people discover new ways to build resilience, strengthen their coping strategies, and take a more active role in their care.
With the right support, it’s possible to:
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Feel calmer and more in control – even when facing surgery, scans, or medical appointments.
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Overcome fears and phobias – such as fear of needles or enclosed spaces during MRI scans.
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Reduce or prevent anticipatory nausea – and feel more comfortable before and during chemotherapy.
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Manage pain naturally – and feel more at ease during recovery from surgery or treatment.
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Improve sleep and rest more deeply – even during uncertain or physically demanding times.
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Develop a stronger mindset – that helps you feel prepared, grounded, and supported.
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Support your body’s natural healing processes – with research showing that reduced stress may promote faster recovery, less fatigue, and even shorter hospital stays.
Hypnotherapy offers a calm, collaborative space to help you access these strengths and manage the physical and emotional effects of treatment more effectively.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help
Hypnotherapy is a well-established complementary approach that has been shown in clinical research to support people undergoing cancer treatment in meaningful, measurable ways.
1. Reducing Anxiety and Preparing for Medical Interventions
Hypnosis helps you mentally rehearse medical procedures in a calm and positive state, lowering anticipatory anxiety and improving tolerance. Patients report feeling more in control and better able to cope with scans, surgery, and chemotherapy sessions.
Example: Hypnotherapy can support someone with MRI claustrophobia to mentally prepare for staying calm and still during the scan.
2. Managing Phobias (Needles, Scans, Hospitals)
Hypnosis combined with cognitive techniques can reduce conditioned fear responses and increase confidence, making it easier to receive injections or remain calm during procedures.
3. Reducing Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting
Hypnotherapy has shown particular promise in helping people recondition the brain’s response to chemotherapy-related cues—like the clinic smell or the sight of a drip—reducing or eliminating anticipatory nausea.
4. Pain Relief and Improved Surgical Recovery
Hypnosis is increasingly used before and after surgery to reduce perceived pain, promote relaxation, and reduce the need for medication. Studies show shorter hospital stays, improved immune response, and even less surgical fatigue when hypnosis is used preoperatively.
5. Improving Sleep and Emotional Resilience
Hypnotherapy promotes deeper rest and helps manage ruminative thinking or distress, often common when coping with diagnosis and treatment. It encourages emotional processing and improves quality of life.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Hypnotherapy offers a safe, collaborative way to support your wellbeing alongside medical treatment. It doesn’t replace your doctors—it helps you work with your body and mind to improve how you feel, how you cope, and how you heal.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re preparing for surgery, undergoing chemotherapy, or struggling with anxiety related to treatment, I’m here to help.
➡️ Book your free 20-minute consultation to explore how hypnotherapy could support you or a loved one during this time.
The Evidence: Research Supporting Hypnosis in Cancer Care
1. Montgomery et al. (2007)
Study: A randomized clinical trial of a brief hypnosis intervention to control side effects in breast surgery patients.
Journal: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Findings: US Patients receiving a 15-minute hypnosis session before surgery had significantly less pain, nausea, fatigue, and discomfort. They also required less sedation and spent less time in the operating room, saving hospitals approximately $772 per patient.
2. Lang et al. (2000)
Study: Adjunctive non-pharmacologic analgesia for invasive medical procedures: a randomized trial.
Journal: The Lancet
Findings: Breast biopsy patients who received hypnotic suggestion during surgery reported less pain and anxiety and required less sedation than those in standard care. Hospital costs were also lower in the hypnosis group.
3. Richardson et al. (2007)
Study: Hypnosis for nausea and vomiting in cancer chemotherapy: a systematic review of the research evidence.
Journal: European Journal of Cancer Care
Findings: Hypnosis was found to be effective in reducing anticipatory nausea and vomiting in children and adults undergoing chemotherapy, especially when integrated into early sessions.
4. Schnur et al. (2008)
Study: A randomized trial of a cognitive-behavioral therapy and hypnosis intervention on positive and negative affect during breast cancer radiotherapy.
Journal: Journal of Clinical Psychology
Findings: Hypnosis-based interventions helped maintain positive mood and reduce emotional distress across radiotherapy treatment. Participants also reported improved coping and less treatment-related fatigue.