Cancer: from fear to hope

CANCER: From Fear to Hope

Cancer is a disease that terrorizes and creates chaos on all levels for everyone involved.

Beyond its purely biological dimension, cancer raises profound questions about the connection between the mind, emotions, and body. Its history shows us how perspectives on this disease have evolved—from being seen as a curse or a fatality to a more holistic understanding that includes the impact of emotional suffering on physical health.

Antiquity: Disease as an Imbalance of Soul and Body

The earliest evidence of cancer dates back to Ancient Egypt, where medical texts described breast tumors treated with cauterization. The Egyptians believed that health depended on energetic balance and harmony between body, mind, and spirit. Illness was seen as a manifestation of internal imbalance.

In Ancient Greece, Hippocrates (460–370 BC), considered the “father of medicine,” used the term karkinos (Greek for “crab”) to describe tumors because of the crab-like shape of the blood vessels surrounding them. This term became the root for the modern word “cancer.” Hippocrates developed the humoral theory, which stated that health was determined by the balance of four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Cancer was associated with an excess of black bile, which symbolically can be interpreted as an excess of “darkness” or negative emotions such as sadness and melancholy. Even then, the connection between emotions and physical health was evident.

The Middle Ages: Disease as Divine Punishment

During the Middle Ages, the perspective on cancer was heavily influenced by religion. The disease was often seen as a punishment for sins or a spiritual trial. Negative emotions and psychological suffering were not analyzed as possible causes but interpreted through a moral lens.

This period was marked by a lack of medical progress, but personal experiences of patients revealed that, despite religious beliefs, many recognized the subtle link between prolonged emotional stress and the onset of illness.

The 19th Century: Early Psychological Theories and the Rise of Microscopy

The 19th century brought a revolution in understanding cancer at the cellular level. Rudolf Virchow demonstrated that the disease originated in normal cells undergoing pathological changes. However, another important aspect began to be explored—the link between the psyche and the body.

Physicians such as Wilhelm Reich and Carl Jung proposed that repressed emotions and unresolved traumas could contribute to chronic diseases, including cancer. Although these theories were controversial, they paved the way for a more integrative perspective on health.

The 20th Century: Stress and Emotional Impact on Health

After World War II, research in psychosomatic medicine gained more validation. Hans Selye, a pioneer in stress theory, demonstrated that chronic stress profoundly affects the immune system, creating a fertile ground for degenerative diseases, including cancer.

During this period, conventional medicine began to pay more attention to psychological trauma and its impact on physical health. Early studies revealed a connection between traumatic events and an increased risk of cancer.

Modern research in epigenetics confirmed that emotional experiences could influence gene expression, activating or deactivating processes that contribute to disease development.

Contemporary Perspective: Holistic Healing

Today, understanding cancer is more complex than ever. Conventional medicine focuses on treating cancer at the cellular level, using surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. At the same time, more and more doctors and therapists recognize the crucial role emotions and mental states play in the healing process.

• Childhood traumas, toxic relationships, and feelings of guilt or abandonment can become unhealed wounds that weaken the immune system.

• Chronic stress contributes to systemic inflammation, promoting cellular imbalances.

• Repressed emotions—especially anger, sadness, and fear—can be somatized and manifest as serious illnesses, including cancer.

Many patients who choose to combine conventional treatments with emotional release therapies, meditation, and inner work report significant improvements. In fact, real-life stories of miraculous healing are often linked to profound emotional and spiritual transformations.

Conclusion: A Disease, A Deep Lesson

Beyond its biological dimension, cancer can be seen as an invitation to introspection. What message is the body trying to convey? What emotions have we hidden for too long? The history of cancer is, in essence, a history of humanity—of our relationship with our bodies and our inner world.

As medicine continues to advance, perhaps the most important lesson is not to separate the mind from the body. True healing involves a deep understanding of who we are—not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually.

Let me know if you want to make the tone more scientific or personal, or if you’d like to include more real-life examples of psychosomatic healing!