Military Veterans’ Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Program
I developed the following program, called Positive Outcome Protocol, when I discovered I had head and neck cancer. I used this protocol on myself and, throughout the treatment and to this day, it has provided me with a positive attitude. I was given the green light, a quick recovery, and I am healthy and happy.
Before learning I had cancer, I had been professionally practicing hypnotherapy in Palo Alto, California. I was specializing in helping patients who had a negative and often fearful outlook on life, including anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, a lack of faith in themselves, and the belief that they simply would not succeed at anything, including being cured of a disease and enjoying wellness. I discovered that the protocol quickly changes clients’ perceptions, and even during the first visit they see that the negative viewpoint emanates from their own minds, not an outside circumstance. This understanding gives them a new and positive way of looking at the totality of life.
The protocol is based on well-documented clinical evidence that in addition to the best oncology treatment plans for a cancer patient, the patient’s positive attitude and faith in their oncology team, plus their understanding that their own mind can play a significant role in healing, contribute to the success of the treatment, and the patient’s quality of life. Even previously depressed patients become hopeful and adopt a positive outlook within the first session.
As a Medical Hypnotherapist and Cancer Advocate, I continue to draw together past, recent, and present findings from allopathic medicine, multidisciplinary Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and the Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection, with the intention of utilizing my protocol for U.S. military veterans undergoing head and neck cancer treatment.
A state of emotional dis-ease is conducive to physical disease. There is clear evidence that a positive attitude about the future improves a cancer patient’s longevity and quality of life. Happier people tend to live longer, experiencing fewer physical and mental health issues. Skilled hypnosis can counterbalance a patient’s negative beliefs with ideas that are both positive and realistic.
Psychotherapy (counseling or therapy) can address some of these issues but, historically, psychotherapy requires many sessions. Some studies show only 50 percent of patients recover after 20 sessions, 75 percent after 50 sessions. Cancer doesn’t wait, however. The tremendous advantage of clinical hypnotherapy is that the cancer patient can experience immediate positive results. Every patient I have seen felt more positive about their future by the end of the first session. When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, they are typically in treatment within a few weeks. Because cancer can spread quickly, it is vital that the patient is set on a positive path, preferably before treatment starts. The sooner their first session, the better their attitude and outcome will be. Oncologists with whom I have ongoing dialog have unequivocally stated, “If you can help our patient to have a confident and positive attitude, and to more easily adjust to the treatment and its side effects, you would both improve the patient’s overall wellbeing and make administering their treatment much easier.”
Goals:
• Provide the patient statistical evidence of successes in the treatment of head and neck cancer.
• Using hypnotic suggestion tailored to the goals and background of the patient, we will replace the patient’s subconscious negative beliefs with more positive expectations.
• Produce one or more hypnotic induction audio CDs or downloads for the patient to listen to each day during and after treatment, with the purpose of programming the patient’s subconscious mind to experience reduced anxiety, speedier recovery, fewer side effects, and a future free of recurrences.
• Become the patient’s advocate, helping them identify potential pitfalls, examining the pros and cons of any treatments not approved by their oncology team, and remaining available to consult with the patient throughout their treatment, and after-treatment followup as requested.
• Administer hypnotherapy treatment at my office in Palo Alto, California, or at their home or hospital, or via Skype, and follow up with phone calls, daily at first and then as needed.
Typically, it will take one hypnotherapy session specifically targeted for the treatment, a second session for the post-treatment healing process, and a third session to address prevention of recurrences.
The patient will not be charged a fee or expenses of any kind. All sessions, visits, phone calls, and/or written and audio materials are provided. This program is absolutely free for all past or present members of the U.S. military.
The patient is assured in writing that their health information will remain secure and private as spelled out in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The client’s case study will not be shared with any other party, without the patient’s prior written consent.
It is my desire to work closely with the patient’s oncology team. The patient should share any potential decisions of importance with their primary oncologist(s). I will not make any diagnoses, nor prescribe any treatment, nor make any recommendations for any supplements, foods, and/or medications, medical treatments or surgery, but rather will have open dialog about any subject the patient desires to discuss with me, in order to help the patient sift through the mass of information available from sources of differing merit. I will advise each patient to share all potential decisions with their medical team before incorporating any additional treatments. Oncologists can best explain to the patient any potentially positive and negative outcomes from alternative treatments. My role as a Cancer Advocate is to help examine any areas not addressed, filling any gaps and eliminating any pitfalls in order to restore the wellbeing of the whole patient. Time is of the essence. Ideal patients will be in an early stage of their treatment when starting their sessions with me.
In our first meeting the patient will provide the oncology team’s diagnosis and other information, which is important for my writing the patient’s hypnotherapy inductions. It is necessary to know the kind of cancer (e.g., P16 Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Carcinoma), TNM classification, and any other important information. Equally important will be my understanding of the recommended treatment plan. We will spend up to two hours discussing the cancer, the patient’s lifestyle, their emotional and physical states, and their hopes and fears about the present and future. I will also invite the patient to share any positive insights and spiritual growth they may be experiencing. The fact-finding interview will be interactive, providing the patient ample time to ask questions. Continuing after the first visit, the patient will provide updates or changes in the oncological plan, new goals being set, and any other areas they desire to discuss. If the patient needs to contact me, I am available seven days a week.
The patient is in no way obligated to receive services from me. They can continue to receive help for as long as they like, including regular telephone follow-up, generally for six months to a year.
Before learning I had cancer, I had been professionally practicing hypnotherapy in Palo Alto, California. I was specializing in helping patients who had a negative and often fearful outlook on life, including anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, a lack of faith in themselves, and the belief that they simply would not succeed at anything, including being cured of a disease and enjoying wellness. I discovered that the protocol quickly changes clients’ perceptions, and even during the first visit they see that the negative viewpoint emanates from their own minds, not an outside circumstance. This understanding gives them a new and positive way of looking at the totality of life.
The protocol is based on well-documented clinical evidence that in addition to the best oncology treatment plans for a cancer patient, the patient’s positive attitude and faith in their oncology team, plus their understanding that their own mind can play a significant role in healing, contribute to the success of the treatment, and the patient’s quality of life. Even previously depressed patients become hopeful and adopt a positive outlook within the first session.
As a Medical Hypnotherapist and Cancer Advocate, I continue to draw together past, recent, and present findings from allopathic medicine, multidisciplinary Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and the Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection, with the intention of utilizing my protocol for U.S. military veterans undergoing head and neck cancer treatment.
A state of emotional dis-ease is conducive to physical disease. There is clear evidence that a positive attitude about the future improves a cancer patient’s longevity and quality of life. Happier people tend to live longer, experiencing fewer physical and mental health issues. Skilled hypnosis can counterbalance a patient’s negative beliefs with ideas that are both positive and realistic.
Psychotherapy (counseling or therapy) can address some of these issues but, historically, psychotherapy requires many sessions. Some studies show only 50 percent of patients recover after 20 sessions, 75 percent after 50 sessions. Cancer doesn’t wait, however. The tremendous advantage of clinical hypnotherapy is that the cancer patient can experience immediate positive results. Every patient I have seen felt more positive about their future by the end of the first session. When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, they are typically in treatment within a few weeks. Because cancer can spread quickly, it is vital that the patient is set on a positive path, preferably before treatment starts. The sooner their first session, the better their attitude and outcome will be. Oncologists with whom I have ongoing dialog have unequivocally stated, “If you can help our patient to have a confident and positive attitude, and to more easily adjust to the treatment and its side effects, you would both improve the patient’s overall wellbeing and make administering their treatment much easier.”
Goals:
• Provide the patient statistical evidence of successes in the treatment of head and neck cancer.
• Using hypnotic suggestion tailored to the goals and background of the patient, we will replace the patient’s subconscious negative beliefs with more positive expectations.
• Produce one or more hypnotic induction audio CDs or downloads for the patient to listen to each day during and after treatment, with the purpose of programming the patient’s subconscious mind to experience reduced anxiety, speedier recovery, fewer side effects, and a future free of recurrences.
• Become the patient’s advocate, helping them identify potential pitfalls, examining the pros and cons of any treatments not approved by their oncology team, and remaining available to consult with the patient throughout their treatment, and after-treatment followup as requested.
• Administer hypnotherapy treatment at my office in Palo Alto, California, or at their home or hospital, or via Skype, and follow up with phone calls, daily at first and then as needed.
Typically, it will take one hypnotherapy session specifically targeted for the treatment, a second session for the post-treatment healing process, and a third session to address prevention of recurrences.
The patient will not be charged a fee or expenses of any kind. All sessions, visits, phone calls, and/or written and audio materials are provided. This program is absolutely free for all past or present members of the U.S. military.
The patient is assured in writing that their health information will remain secure and private as spelled out in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The client’s case study will not be shared with any other party, without the patient’s prior written consent.
It is my desire to work closely with the patient’s oncology team. The patient should share any potential decisions of importance with their primary oncologist(s). I will not make any diagnoses, nor prescribe any treatment, nor make any recommendations for any supplements, foods, and/or medications, medical treatments or surgery, but rather will have open dialog about any subject the patient desires to discuss with me, in order to help the patient sift through the mass of information available from sources of differing merit. I will advise each patient to share all potential decisions with their medical team before incorporating any additional treatments. Oncologists can best explain to the patient any potentially positive and negative outcomes from alternative treatments. My role as a Cancer Advocate is to help examine any areas not addressed, filling any gaps and eliminating any pitfalls in order to restore the wellbeing of the whole patient. Time is of the essence. Ideal patients will be in an early stage of their treatment when starting their sessions with me.
In our first meeting the patient will provide the oncology team’s diagnosis and other information, which is important for my writing the patient’s hypnotherapy inductions. It is necessary to know the kind of cancer (e.g., P16 Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Carcinoma), TNM classification, and any other important information. Equally important will be my understanding of the recommended treatment plan. We will spend up to two hours discussing the cancer, the patient’s lifestyle, their emotional and physical states, and their hopes and fears about the present and future. I will also invite the patient to share any positive insights and spiritual growth they may be experiencing. The fact-finding interview will be interactive, providing the patient ample time to ask questions. Continuing after the first visit, the patient will provide updates or changes in the oncological plan, new goals being set, and any other areas they desire to discuss. If the patient needs to contact me, I am available seven days a week.
The patient is in no way obligated to receive services from me. They can continue to receive help for as long as they like, including regular telephone follow-up, generally for six months to a year.
