My Nonprofit Reviews

In November I attended the virtual ‘Getting Well Again’ program run by the Simonton Cancer Center.

I was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2019. I was treated with radiation, immunotherapy and a variety of chemotherapies. The cancer progressed slowly. I began feeling pessimistic about the outcome . Then in 2021 I found Dr Simonton’s marvellous book — Getting Well Again.

Packed full of stories of patients recovering from terminal diagnoses, with a range of practical self healing exercises, this book became my bible. What I most liked about it was that it encouraged me to do more to help myself rather than leaving everything up to the doctors. The Simonton method works alongside conventional medicine. It does not replace it.

I followed a lot of the advice and exercises in the book. I think this and the medical treatment I was receiving was why my cancer reduced significantly and remained stable for two years.

Then last summer bad scan results sent me in search of more help which is how I discovered the Simonton online program. It’s a six-week program— four hours of presentations, discussions and small group work every week — providing training in the psychoneuroimmunological approach to healing. One-to-one appointments with a member of the excellent therapy team are available on request. Three months of follow-up are offered after the course has ended.

The sessions I found most helpful were:

*Belief work — understanding how unhealthy beliefs such as cancer being stronger than you, chemotherapy being poisonous, side effects being worse than the treatment and emotions such as despair and fear can impede healing and learning how to change these beliefs
*Using imagery and creative visualisation to promote healing;
*Support and communication with carers;
*Play — how to use play to bring joy and happiness into your life. During this session I could feel my spirits lifting.

That is just a taste of this remarkable program. . It is exceptionally good value. A bonus is that carers and spouses are encouraged to attend and do so free of charge.

I can’t recommend this program highly enough to anyone with a cancer diagnoses.