Part 2

Similar Components and Psychological Characteristics in the Life History of Cancer Patients?

The Simontons found that many people who have developed cancer tend to have a belief that their life meaning equates with what they are doing for others. There seems to be identification with the outside world for their inner value. Many female cancer patients, who lost the ability to take care of the house, kids and husband, or find meaning as a caregiver for another, began to develop cancer. Men, on the other hand, found that when their careers ended or were drastically changed, their basic definitions of themselves changed. This stress contributed to the onset of cancer.
People who do not feel that they can meet their emotional needs without an excuse will also use cancer as a way to deal with emotional issues. Often times, people reward illness by giving attention, loving and nurturing because they feel sorry for the ill patient. It is this sympathy that drives people to become cancer patients. The description of the individuals above (care giving of everyone else) that brings about this situation. If one believes that other people cannot handle their lives, out of pity he often takes control of the situation for everyone around him. When the individual then has difficulty dealing with his own issues (which often happens if he has been ignoring them for a long time) the idea that people will now feel sorry for him may initiate the onset of illness. Sympathy is one of the most destructive emotions in man.
There are other ways of being that can also contribute to the onset of disease. People who tend to have a negative outlook in life send messages to the brain, which causes a suppression of immune system functions, and increase the production of cancer cells. Also, people who tend to get stressed out easily also (through suppression of immune system function) are prime targets in developing cancer.
It is important for the health of people that they develop their own identity, allow others to do the same for their own (and those of others) sake. Also, a positive, forward thinking attitude assists in an individual ability to remain healthy and cancer free.