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Hypnosis Before Breast Cancer Surgery
Hypnosis before breast cancer surgery, according to research, resulted in less fatigue, emotional distress and less pain. In short, hypnosis allowed a difficult procedure to be a little less difficult.
I am a long-term survivor of an incurable cancer called multiple myeloma. I’ve been researching and writing about my own cancer as well as breast, prostate, skin, etc., since the launch of The Galen Foundation DBA PeopleBeatingCancer in June of 2004.
I’ve learned two important things. First, that conventional oncology treatments- surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy- have an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. But more importantly, cancer patients and survivors should learn about and include evidence-based non-conventional therapies like hypnosis in their therapy plan.
I say “cancer patients and survivors” must do this because conventional oncology prescribes FDA-approved, conventional therapies. Hypnosis before breast cancer surgery is definitely not a conventional therapy. But it is supported by research and can ease the life of a BC patient undergoing surgery.
Jackie hypnosis for breast surgery
Are you a BC patient or survivor? Why type? What stage? If you’d like to learn more about evidence-based non-conventional BC therapies, scroll down the page, post a question or comment, and I will reply to you ASAP.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Hypnosis Before Breast Cancer Surgery Eases Post-Op Symptoms
TOPLINE:
In women undergoing surgery for breast cancer, a 15-minute hypnosis session before surgery resulted in less fatigue, emotional distress, and use of fentanyl after the operation than a mindfulness session.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial at a hospital in Norway to assess whether a hypnosis session before surgery for breast cancer reduced symptoms after the surgery.
- They included 203 women (mean age, 53.1 years) scheduled to undergo breast surgery to remove tumor or the whole breast between October 2020 and March 2022.
- Within 2 hours before surgery, women were randomly assigned to receive either a 15‑minute live hypnosis session focused on relaxation, pleasant imagery, and suggestions to reduce symptoms or a 15‑minute recorded mindfulness session focused on breathing and relaxation delivered via headphones.
- Postoperative intensity and unpleasantness of pain, fatigue, nausea, discomfort, and emotional distress were rated on a 0-100 visual analog scale about 30 minutes after recovery from general anesthesia. The use of medications for anesthesia and analgesia was assessed.
TAKEAWAY:
- The hypnosis group had lower scores than the mindfulness group for postoperative fatigue (mean difference [MD], 6.4 points) and emotional distress (MD, 5.7; P = .04 for both). Both differences were clinically meaningful, based on a Cohen’s d effect size.
- The hypnosis group used a mean of 0.03 mg less fentanyl after surgery than the mindfulness group (P = .02), and the difference was clinically meaningful.
- Women with high levels of anxiety before surgery experienced greater reductions in emotional distress after surgery than those who had lower levels of anxiety (interaction effect [β], -16.2; P = .003).
- Levels of pain, nausea, and discomfort after surgery did not differ significantly between groups. No adverse events related to hypnosis were reported.
IN PRACTICE:
“The study findings support the use of a brief hypnosis session prior to breast cancer surgery to reduce postoperative side effects and to reduce postoperative use of the analgesic fentanyl,” the researchers reported.
“Healthcare providers should consider incorporating hypnosis into perioperative care protocols to improve patient outcomes,” they added.
Hypnosis before breast cancer surgery Hypnosis before breast cancer surgery