Recovery
In this video, Carl Simonton spends about 17 minutes speaking on "Recovery" at the 31st Annual Cancer Convention held on Labor Day weekend by the Cancer Control Society.
About Dr. Carl Simonton
CARL SIMONTON, M.D. received his Medical Degree from the University of Oregon Medical School, Portland, where he also completed his residency in Radiation Therapy in 1971. He was board certified by the American Board of Radiology in 1973.
From 1971 to 1973, Dr. Simonton was Chief of Radiation Therapy at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California.
From 1973 to 1983, he was an Associate in Radiation Oncology with Oncology Associates and also the Medical Director of the Cancer Counseling and Research Center in Fort Worth, Texas. He instituted patient and family orientation as part of the patients radiation program and group and family counseling as a formal part of cancer therapy.
In 1985 Dr. Simonton became the Medical Director for the Simonton Cancer Counseling Center in Los Angeles, a non-profit Foundation for cancer patient education and research into the emotional aspects of cancer.
Dr. Simonton has co-authored numerous publications including two books: The best seller Getting Well Again and The Healing Journey. In his latest book, Dr. Simonton outlines the program currently in use in his California Center. He presents convincing new information on the value of mind/body methods and shares with us the tools central to his program: guided imagery and meditation. These are simple and practical exercises for changing unhealthy beliefs, tapping into your inner wisdom and finding new purpose and enjoyment in life.
Dr. Simonton developed the first standardized counseling program for cancer patients and training for therapists in the U.S. In addition to his California location, he has centers in Japan, Germany and Switzerland.
The Simonton Center can be reached by phone at (818) 879-7904 or (800) 459-3424, on the website at www.simontoncenter.com or e-mail at [email protected].
Transcription
Well, thank you, Frank, and thanks to the Cancer Control Society. I had no idea. Thirty two years ago it would take so much effort to communicate the obvious, nor that it would end gender such intense hostility. Just to say that the beliefs and attitudes of the patient influences the course of their disease. Over those 32 years, we've done the studies necessary.
We did four preliminary studies and then watched as two randomized match controlled studies were done showing that effective counseling, which is known as cycle on college in most of Europe, increases long term survivors by four times the doubles effective survival time, as well as improving the quality of life of the counseled individual. Now, if this were a drug, we would be clamoring to get a hold of it.
It certainly would be integrated in the treatment of patients at every major cancer center.
Yet psycho oncology, effective, systematic counseling is included and none. No medical school in the world.
Not only not in the United States, but none in the world. We've also standardize counseling. This was done in 1990.
But when we went back to update the standards, we met such hostility and resistance to updating the standards. We don't want to address that was the official word that came through primary channels in Germany for the official standards had been set initially. We've also established standardization of training of counselors. We now have centers in Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Japan. Thanks to Ocky Moriyama, who is here, and his efforts to establish this work in Japan. And I thank you all very much.
So what are these are some of the key elements of the counseling that we present to decrease the suffering of the individual with with cancer and virt, if I could have you turn the slide on the overhead on.
First, we.
Appreciate that. We are healthy by nature. Lewis Thomas said the greatest tragedy that has happened in American medicine is the lack of confidence in our body's ability to heal itself. Our bodies have been recognizing, identifying and transforming cancer cells in us since before we were born. We are healthy by nature. Part of our work in regaining health is identifying what is our nature moving in that direction, such that when I am curious about how to be, I move in the direction of gentle, compassionate street. This is the most agreed upon concept surrounding our nature is that we are gentle, compassionate and strong beings by nature. The second point is hugely important.
How do we increase our energy?
We know that with illness there is a decrease in vital energy, a decrease