I don’t think any medical treatment is worse than that for cancer. The cancer itself bashes the body and soul both in what it does physically to the body and in presenting the prospect of dying. Add to that the debilitating effects of the conventional treatment, and you have the formula for one of the most stressful experiences that a person can imagine. Even when in remission, survivors maintain a significant level of stress regarding recurrence. Stress affects the realms of the physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral. Symptoms include headaches, poor appetite, digestive track problems, fatigue, aches, sleeping difficulty, sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. Scientists have determined that, although slight or short-term stress can be beneficial for motivation and protection, chronic stress can substantially harm the immune system. This compromising of the immune system in cancer patients comes at a time when this system is crucial to fighting the cancer. Therefore, reducing stress should be a critical part of the overall cancer treatment. Sadly, it’s often not.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the pre-eminent U. S. Government organization for cancer research and information. It operates from your taxes. Each year, among the many statistical trends they report is the current number of cancer survivors in this country. According to their new data just released, the total 2007 cancer survivor population in the U. S. was 11.7 million. Note that the 2007 figure represents the latest count, since there is usually a three or four year delay in accumulating the data. The 11.7 million number was celebrated in the report as a continuance of marked increases in survivors since 1971 when gathering such statistics became part of President Nixon’s national War on Cancer. The report touted that 3 million survivors in 1971 had grown to almost 12 million now. A four-fold increase in people who have lived through cancer seems like something in which to take comfort. However, before we plan a victory parade, let’s look at the new numbers from a different perspective.