The Unexpected Ways People Overcame Cancer

The Unexpected Ways People Overcame Cancer
Some cancer patients who were declared incurable by hospitals are able to achieve complete recovery. What are the secrets of these cancer survivors? (Abo Photography/Shutterstock)
3/22/2023
Updated:
4/4/2023
0:00

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases of our time. For many years, cancer has been the leading cause of death in East Asian countries such as Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and China. Many cancer patients have gone through a great deal of suffering during treatment, but still succumb to the disease in the end. However, some cancer patients deemed incurable by hospitals have defied the odds and made miraculous recoveries. What are the secrets of these cancer survivors?

Li Ou (a pen name) is a cancer survivor in Taiwan who was diagnosed with stage IVB nasopharyngeal carcinoma (terminal stage) four years ago, with a two-year survival rate of just 10 percent. Despite the odds, he is still alive today and has even better physical health than he did before his cancer diagnosis. So how did Li beat cancer? He attributed his success to his “optimistic and positive attitude” and daily exercise, with hospital treatments serving as a complementary aspect of his approach.
Li stated that despite the pain he endured during his battle with cancer, he refused to see himself as a patient. Instead, he likened cancer to a “severe cold” and persisted with his daily routine of going to work and completing his household chores. He even went to his hospital appointments alone. He also used the phrases “a brave person fears nothing” and “if you believe, miracles can happen” to encourage himself and others.

Mindset Is the Key to Curing Cancer

Many cancer survivors appear to be self-disciplined and optimistic, similar to Li. So how much of a role does this optimistic mindset play in curing cancer? Let’s take a look at some observations and interpretations of three experts who specialize in studying cancer survivors.

Dr. Okamoto Yutaka

Okamoto Yutaka, a Japanese expert in malignant tumors and the head of the E-clinic, conducted a questionnaire survey in which he asked 101 cancer patients who had achieved remission (most of whom were in the third or fourth stage) to select one of 10 keywords from the questionnaire to explain the “decisive difference” between themselves and cancer patients whose disease had progressed.
The 10 keywords were:
  • Physician
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Information
  • Treatment method
  • Diet
  • Mindset
  • Effort
  • Luck
  • Other
The results showed that the keyword with the highest number of votes was “mindset,” followed by “diet.” The total number of votes for the remaining eight options was less than half of the total. Surprisingly, the “physician” option received less than 3 percent of the votes, even lower than “luck.” In addition, if multiple options were allowed, almost all cancer survivors would select options related to “changing oneself” as decisive factors in curing cancer.
Okamoto believes that everyone has innate self-healing power, which is the primary force behind curing cancer. Therefore, to effectively fight cancer, patients must first acknowledge that “they are the protagonists in their own treatment.” He said that patients whose condition worsens are often unwilling to change, lack independence, and rely heavily on their doctors.

Kelly A. Turner

Kelly A. Turner, an American cancer researcher, interviewed more than 100 cancer survivors who experienced radical remission, which is defined as any statistically unexpected cancer remission, and analyzed over 1,000 cases of radical remission. Through meticulous and repeated analysis of the data using quantitative research, she found that almost all of the radical remission survivors shared the following nine common factors:
  • Radically changed their diet.
  • Took herbs and vitamins.
  • Took control of their health.
  • Followed their intuition.
  • Released suppressed emotions.
  • Increased positive emotions.
  • Embraced social support.
  • Deepened their spiritual connection.
  • Had strong reasons to live.
In her book, “Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds,“ Turner mentioned that what surprised her most about the research was that out of the nine factors most commonly mentioned by participants, only two (”radically changed their diet“ and ”took herbs and vitamins") were related to the physical body, whereas the other seven were primarily related to emotional and spiritual aspects.

Lothar Hirneise

Lothar Hirneise, a German cancer natural therapy expert, has traveled all over the world searching for various successful cancer treatments. He has also interviewed many doctors and end-stage cancer survivors. After years of research, he found that all successful cancer treatments included the following three factors:
  • Shift in mindset (observed in 100 percent of survivors).
  • Dietary changes (observed in 80 percent of survivors).
  • Thorough detoxification (observed in 60 percent of survivors).
In an interview with Ode magazine, Hirneise said, “In every clinic I visited it was the same story, always and everywhere. It is what the people who overcame cancer did. I have seen people on their deathbeds, where the cancer had spread to their bones, brains, lungs, and bone marrow—and they got better.”
Why are there so few cases of cancer recovery in the world if the method is so simple and unequivocal? Hirneise said, “Because success demands discipline and effort. It demands that the patient get moving, become active, develop a constructive fighting attitude. Most people choose the easy way: chemotherapy, radiation, or an operation ... Of course chemotherapy is no fun, but a radical change in your diet and lifestyle is more difficult. That’s why so few people survive cancer.”

The Connection Between Stress and Cancer

Hirneise found that many cancer survivors had made significant changes in their lives prior to their recovery. They had “broken free from the system” by leaving their original living environment, such as quitting their job, moving to a new home, traveling abroad, etc. Hirneise called this “systemic change.” In other words, these patients had all found a way to rid themselves of stress in some form.

Turner’s study also found similarities among those who experienced radical remission. She said that these individuals, at the diagnosis of their cancer, tended to engage in activities that brought joy and helped them avoid fear. By intentionally increasing these types of activities, they were able to reduce their stress levels and gradually improve their daily happiness index. These joy-inducing activities had a similar effect to painkillers, significantly improving their mood.

Hirneise claimed that cancer originates from stress, stating that “without stress, there would be no cancer.” He emphasized that cancer patients should prioritize addressing their stress levels over the tumors. Therefore, when cancer patients come to him seeking help, he always engages in a conversation with them, which can sometimes last for several hours, to help them identify any underlying stress they may be experiencing.

Numerous studies have shown that psychological stress can weaken the human immune system, affecting various physiological functions such as digestion, urination, and reproduction. Psychological stress is not only detrimental to health but also hinders the recovery process from illnesses. However, is there a direct correlation between psychological stress and cancer?

German New Medicine

In the 1980s, Ryke Geerd Hamer, a German physician, proposed a new medical theory based on his clinical research, which he called German New Medicine (GNM). This theory specifically explains the relationship between emotional stress and cancer. Hamer believed that the functioning of a person’s mind, brain, and organs is closely interconnected and interrelated. All diseases, including cancer, are caused by some severe “psychological conflict,” and recovery will begin when the conflict is resolved.

When Hamer was 43 years old, his son was tragically shot and killed, and a few months later, Hamer was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Before this, he had never experienced any serious illnesses, so he speculated that his cancer may be directly related to the grief of losing his son. He soon immersed himself in investigating and researching the connection between cancer and emotions and ultimately confirmed a clear causal relationship between the two. Using psychological counseling, he not only cured his cancer but also helped thousands of cancer patients recover.

Hamer discovered that all cancer patients seem to have some form of “unresolved emotional conflict” before the onset of the disease, such as experiencing significant shocks or trauma, interpersonal conflicts, lack of support, or difficulties in expressing emotions. After carefully examining 20,000 medical records of cancer patients of all types, Hamer discovered a circular “dark spot” on the X-rays of the brain of each patient. The location of the spot was identical among patients with the same type of cancer, and it appeared to be associated with specific types of emotional conflicts.

Hamer concluded that all cancers follow a consistent pattern of development:
  1. The patient has unresolved emotional conflicts.
  2. A dark spot appears in the corresponding area of the brain.
  3. Cancer develops in the corresponding organ of the body.
When a person has unresolved emotional conflicts, the corresponding “emotional reflex zones” in the brain will gradually deteriorate. Each emotional reflex zone is linked to a specific organ, and when one deteriorates, it will send erroneous information to its associated organ, leading to the formation of cancer cells.

Therefore, Hamer believed that different emotional conflicts can lead to different types of cancer. For example, bone cancer is related to feelings of self-deprecation and inferiority; lung cancer is related to the fear of death; left-sided breast cancer in women is related to conflicts involving children, mothers, or family, while right-sided breast cancer is related to conflicts with partners or other people. For left-handed women, the circumstances are reversed.

Hamer's GNM Biological Law: the corresponding relationship between several common cancers, emotional reflex zones in the brain, and psychological conflicts. (LearningGNM.com/The Epoch Times)
Hamer's GNM Biological Law: the corresponding relationship between several common cancers, emotional reflex zones in the brain, and psychological conflicts. (LearningGNM.com/The Epoch Times)

In clinical practice, Hamer discovered that the resolution of a patient’s conflict will lead to an immediate cessation of cancer cell growth, and the dark spot in the brain will begin to diminish. The emotional reflex zones in the brain and the cancerous tissues in the body will exhibit “healing edema” at this point, and the brain and body will restore normal communication. Eventually, the cancerous tumor will shrink, and the body will either eliminate or process it automatically, resulting in the disappearance of the lesion and the reappearance of normal tissue.

It is worth noting that Hamer’s GNM theory does not include the concept of “cancer metastasis.” According to his theory, cancer in any part of the body is triggered by the associated emotional conflicts, since the tissues or organs in various parts of the body are controlled by different emotional reflex zones in the brain. Without such emotional conflict, cancer will not develop in that organ. He believes that many secondary cancers are caused by new emotional conflicts that arise as a result of the additional mental burden placed on patients after they receive bad diagnostic results, poor prognoses, or shortened life expectancy.

Hamer firmly believes that unresolved emotional conflicts are the primary factor (necessary condition) of cancer, while other factors are only secondary. If his theory holds, it could explain why the vast majority of cancer survivors are individuals who have experienced psychological and spiritual transformations.

Methods related to diet, herbs, detoxification, or exercise cannot eliminate the root cause of cancer, but they can be used to manage it. Research has found that many natural plants have the effect of enhancing the immune system and inhibiting cancer cell growth. Some cases of cancer recovery have also shown that certain dietary therapies can shrink tumors, improve conditions, and even lead to full recovery. However, at its core, if a patient’s unresolved emotional conflicts are not addressed, even if they appear healthy on the surface and show normal results on medical tests, the root of the disease may still be lurking inside their body, waiting for an opportunity to strike. When patients become lax in their dietary and lifestyle habits, cancer may quickly recur or worsen, according to HealingCancerNaturally.com. There have been such unfortunate cases in some documented examples of effective cancer dietary therapies.

According to records collected by the German government in 1997, 6,000 out of 6,500 cancer patients who received Hamer’s psychological therapy (most of whom were in the terminal stage) survived four to five years later, indicating a success rate of over 90 percent.

The relationship between emotions and organs has long been discussed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Excessive stimulation of a person’s seven emotions (joy, anger, anxiety, grief, contemplation, fear, and fright) can damage the internal organs. Each emotion corresponds to a specific organ. However, in TCM, these organs are referred to as “meridians,” which belong to a comprehensive set of human body systems covering both tangible (organs) and intangible (energy channels) structures. Therefore, from the perspective of TCM, Hamer’s theory may make sense.

The Power of Belief in Health

Hamer suggested that patients who experienced similar traumatic events could develop different types of cancer depending on their perception of the event, which creates different emotional conflicts. For instance, if a woman discovers her husband is having an affair, her inner conflict over “sexual frustration” may lead to uterine cancer, while conflict over “fear of losing her partner” may lead to breast cancer, and feelings of “insecurity” may lead to cancer in the pelvic bone.
In other words, a person’s emotional response to an event depends on their mindset, thoughts, or beliefs. David R. Hawkins, an American psychiatrist who used “applied kinesiology” to measure the level of human consciousness, claimed in his book “Power Vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior“ that all stress is formed based on a person’s inner attitude. According to him, ”It is not the events in life, but rather your reaction to them that triggers the symptoms of stress.”

Hawkins’ view on illnesses aligns with Hamer’s, as he believes that all diseases can be reversed by changing one’s thought patterns and habitual responses. The crucial factor that determines a sick person’s recovery or deterioration is their inner attitude. Hawkins used muscle testing to demonstrate the connection between specific acupuncture points in the body and specific mindsets, and such connection is “instantaneous.” When a person has negative thoughts, a particular muscle will weaken, while positive thoughts will strengthen the same muscle.

Hawkins also measured the levels of human consciousness and identified various influences of consciousness. The following are the levels of consciousness quantified by Hawkins, listed in ascending order:
  • Shame (20)
  • Guilt (30)
  • Apathy (50)
  • Grief (75)
  • Fear (100)
  • Desire (125)
  • Anger (150),
  • Pride (175)
  • Courage (200)
  • Neutrality (250)
  • Willingness (310)
  • Acceptance (350)
  • Reason (400)
  • Love (500)
  • Joy (540)
  • Peace (600)
  • Enlightenment (700–1000)
(Note: These numbers are on a logarithmic scale with a base of 10, and the original values are quite large)
According to Hawkins, consciousness levels below 200, whether expressed in thought or behavior, have a counterproductive effect and trigger resistance. Malicious intentions can cause illness, and even harboring hostile thoughts in secret can have a detrimental effect on one’s physical well-being. People who have managed to reverse and recover from serious illnesses have often been able to improve their capacity for love and realize the importance of love in the healing process—that is, to stop condemning, stop fearing, and stop hating.

Overcoming Cancer

Hirneise has said that the cause of cancer may be different for each patient. If they are willing to investigate the cause of their illness and are committed to making changes, even those on the brink of death can recover.

There’s a Chinese proverb that says, “He who ties the bell must untie it.” If cancer is indeed, as Hamer claims, rooted in unresolved emotional conflicts, then addressing these conflicts may lead to its reversal. For cancer patients, it may be worth considering whether there are any long-standing emotional conflicts (such as heartache, trauma, ill intentions, or fear of the disease) buried deep within oneself. By acknowledging and addressing these conflicts, one may be able to ultimately eliminate them. A crucial aspect of self-healing is learning to let go of one’s “obsessions” about certain people or things, and replacing them with “kind intentions.”

Perhaps you will find that this shift in thinking is the ultimate secret to defeating cancer.

Chinyi Li is a health writer for The Epoch Times.
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