EFT and the Cancer Experience: Part 1

Many of us have had some experience of cancer, either personally or someone close to us has been affected. Just the word “Cancer” can evoke strong emotion in many people, and the effects of a cancer diagnosis can reach into and disrupt every area of life. It really is a journey into Fear and back again. But if the client is up for it and the practitioner isn't afraid, it's possible to regain a sense of personal peace, no matter what happens along the way.

Where Does Cancer Come From?

The truth is no one knows for certain where tumours come from, but everyone develops multiple tumours during their lifetime. Mostly, the immune system spots them and destroys them before they have a chance to get large enough to be noticed. Occasionally, for reasons that aren't yet clear, the immune system doesn't cope. The tumour settles in, makes itself at home, begins to grow, and eventually becomes large enough to cause problems.

There are many theories about the origin of cancers. Here are just a few.

• It's random – just bad luck. There is nothing we can do about it!
• It's environmental – something in our food, the air, the water. Maybe we could do something about that?
• It's genetic. We're all born with an array of genes that might predispose us to develop certain cancers. However, we also know that not everyone who has those genes actually develops cancer. It seems that other “epigenetic” factors are also at play which moderate gene expression.
• Holistic theory says that the physical body does exactly what it's instructed to do by various levels of the mind. This is the concept of the Creative Triad: Thought>Word>Deed. Our thoughts, both conscious and unconscious, generate our words and also our emotions. Our thoughts, words and emotions are translated by the body into action as electrical or biochemical activity that creates states of health or non-health.
• EFT theory says unresolved traumatic core events disrupt energy flows to generate consequences, such as thoughts and emotions. From these come the writings on our walls, limiting beliefs, behavioural and coping strategies. All of these may interact to produce the conditions in which a serious disease, such as cancer, might arise.

It seems those early events plus our thoughts may have enormous power. These are definitely areas which EFT can reach.

If we follow the theories through logically, are able to resolve the core events and change our thoughts, we may also change the effects and consequences of those thoughts. If that happens, might a cancer go into remission or even resolve?

There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that resolution is possible and has happened in some cases, but as practitioners we should never suggest that outcome. Even if those theories are true, much would still depend on the ability and willingness of the client to keep on engaging with the EFT process and see it through to the end. We do what we can, and as much as the client can handle or wants to handle, without promises.

As interesting as these theories are, it's always more productive to focus attention on what the client is bringing to each session. Perhaps asking the client where they think the cancer has come from could open up interesting areas when and if the time is right.

The Cancer Process

Usually when a patient or a doctor suspects a cancer, this triggers a well-defined sequence. The patient, willingly or not, becomes part of the ongoing cancer process. The cancer process may look something like this:

• Initial appointments with the GP. Waiting time.
• Referral to a specialist. Waiting time.
• Multiple diagnostic appointments and procedures. Waiting time.
• Choices to make about treatment. Waiting time.
• Stages of treatment (maybe surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or more recently immunotherapy). Waiting time.
• Possibly more tests and more treatment. Waiting time.
• Treatment over. What now?

The process varies for different types of cancer, but overall it's a structured process that rolls along like a conveyer belt. In the UK, the government gives maximum times that should elapse between each stage, but frequently these are not met. People are swept along by the process. They frequently report that it feels like it's going on forever, and that they have little control.

The process of dealing with cancer, or helping someone else to deal with it, can seem huge, complex and overwhelming. EFT can be a superb tool for navigating through the whole cancer experience when it's used as a complementary therapy alongside the normal medical treatments. Find out more about working with cancer patients in EFT and the Cancer Experience: Part 2.

This article is taken from material presented at the EFT Gathering, 2020.

Christine Sutton and Philip Davis of Phoenix EFT. Christine Sutton is an EFT International Accredited Certified EFT Master Trainer of Trainers, and Philip Davis is an EFT International Accredited Certified EFT Master Trainer.