Cancer Fighters Thrive

SUMMER 2015

Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.

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16 C A NCER FIGH T ER S THRI V E | sUMMER 20 15 C A NCERFIGHTER S THRI V E .COM "Expressive and refective writing is one of many tools in the Mind-Body Medicine Program available to sup- port the unique and individual ways that patients process the losses associ- ated with having cancer," says Corliss Ivy, LCPC, MA, Mind-Body Thera- pist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Zion, Illinois. "Writing can help patients explore and express their emotions and help them structure their thoughts, allow- ing them to fnd meaning in what could be described as an unpredict- able and distressing life event." Tiffany Glisson, MSW, a Mind- Body Therapist at CTCA® in Newnan, Georgia, agrees: "Writing can be cathartic. You have freedom of expres- sion. Sometimes we get so caught up in our thinking that our thoughts play like a recording. To get the thoughts in control, it takes getting them out of our heads and writing them down." Not only is writing cathartic, but it has also been linked to a positive im- pact on health outcomes. Research is ongoing into the impact that writing about our experiences can have physi- ologically and emotionally. A recent New York Times article references sev- eral studies suggesting that the power of writing can lead to behavioral changes and improve happiness. 1 Psychologist James W. Pennebaker's research on the connection between writing and health found that through writing we can fnd some relief from worry. This frees up a person to be more present in his or her life to enjoy what is happening in the moment. People who write about their expe- riences can feel less depressed and anxious as well as more positive in general. 2 Ivy explains that Pennebaker's work suggests that writing about ex- periences, particularly traumatic ones, can improve overall immune func- tion, improve memory and contribute to healthier blood pressure and heart rate. The benefts are also mental and emotional. Glisson explains that one of the benefts of writing is that it helps patients regain control and power over their lives. "I've heard from patients that cancer makes them feel like they've lost control and power. Writing helps us recapture that control," she says. Writing also allows a person to look toward the future. "When you write your own story, you also have the ability to write the ending of the story and how you'd like to see things go," explains Glisson. "Patients can write about the day-to-day but also project into the future what they want to happen." Writing can take a wide variety of shapes and forms, depending on a person's preference and comfort level. For example, some patients may wish to share their experiences through a public forum like a blog or on social media, whereas other patients may prefer writing by hand in a diary or creating a personal vision board. Yes I Can-cer: Healing Through Publishing Linda Kohliem, mother of fve, grand- mother of 17 and great-grandmother of four, has always understood the importance of expressing gratitude, even in tough situations. When Linda was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer in February 2011, her oncologist at the time gave her three years to live. Unsatisfed, Linda sprang into action and began researching other options. She found CTCA in Zion and began treatment there just one month later.

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