People with cancer who are depressed are more likely to die than patients with good mental health, psychologists say in the science journal Cancer, the peer-reviewed science journal of the American Cancer Society.

The study reported that death rates from cancer “were up to 25 per cent higher in patients experiencing depressive symptoms and up to 39 per cent higher in patients diagnosed with major or minor depression.” Lead researcher Jillian Satin, of the University of British Columbia in Canada, told AFP: “In both of those groups, you can predict cancer mortality,”

The study by Satin and co-authors Wolfgang Linden and Melanie Phillips was an overview, called a meta-analysis, of 26 previous studies on the effect of depression on the progression of cancer and survival rates in 9,417 patients.

“The field of psycho-oncology has experienced exponential growth,” noted the study. “Eighty-five percent of cancer patients and 71.4 per cent of oncologists endorse the belief that psychological variables affect cancer.”

Satin and her co-authors observed that other researchers earlier linked heart disease, depression and higher risk of death.

Citing another study, they noted: “Depressed patients with coronary heart disease have a two-times greater risk of mortality than non-depressed patients after adjusting for clinical factors,”

Well, sheesh, who doesn’t know that your state of mind can affect your health and even your chances of recovery! This is why it’s important to avoid negative influences like pessimistic people and people who simply rub you up the wrong way, unhealthy thoughts and beliefs, bad news and disturbing TV programs. You’ve got to be discerning about what you spend your time and energy on. What are you feeding your mind and spirit with? What are you exposing yourself to everyday? What are you saying about your situation?

If you’re dealing with an illness, especially a serious one, don’t just feed your body with health-giving foods. Nourish your spirit and your mind as well. Surround yourself with positive forces such as life-affirming people, uplifting spiritual messages, happy music and things which make you laugh and bring you joy. Read and watch only uplifting material. Dwell only on things which will build you up. Sow what you want to reap. You can turn things around!

Posted: September 15th, 2009 under Cancer, Enemies To Health, Healthy Spirit.
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People are made up of more than just mind and body. We’re spiritual beings too. Deep within us, when we’ve tried everything and the trial is just too much for us to handle, we need to believe that our Creator cares. We need to know that He hears when we call and is there for us. We need to know that God will help us win the battle.

Psalm 91 from the Bible has been called the psalm of protection, as it defies the enemy and makes a stand that our Heavenly Father will not fail those who trust in Him. Many people have drawn strength from it. The interesting thing is that it’s all about taking refuge and resting in God’s love, faithfulness and promises, the kind of rest which can result in miracles. Here is Psalm 91 from the New King James version of the Bible:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “[He is] my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth [shall be your] shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, [Nor] of the arrow [that] flies by day,
[Nor] of the pestilence [that] walks in darkness, [Nor] of the destruction [that] lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; [But] it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, [Even] the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
In [their] hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Psalm 91 is from the Old Testament, written in Hebrew. In verse 16, the last verse, the word ’salvation’ in the original Hebrew is ‘Yeshua’, or Jesus. Salvation and Jesus are synonymous. That’s something to think about.

Don’t let negative thoughts get to you. May Psalm 91 protect you and encourage you.

Posted: August 22nd, 2009 under Healthy Spirit, Rest & Sleep.
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Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson have just passed away. This is so sad as the former had battled cancer for three years and was not ready to die, while the latter was just 50 years old when he died suddenly of cardiac arrest.

Michael Jackson had styled himself after Peter Pan, the boy who refuses to age. He took extraordinary measures to stay youthful-looking. Well, he certainly didn’t look like a typical 50-year old, but what is the use of looking young if you don’t have health, happiness and peace? He was such a tormented soul, in spite of all his wealth and success. Apparently, he was on various medications, including painkillers, in the lead-up to his farewell concert series “This Is It!”. What an ironic title!

Did drugs kill Michael Jackson? Was stress the culprit? Stress has been proven to be harmful to health. Did he push himself too hard? Did having too many medical procedures contribute to his premature death? The results of the autopsy will only be out in a few weeks time, so we can only wonder for now.

Farrah Fawcett was once the epitome of youth, health and beauty. Women the world over longed to look like her. Who ever imagined that something as pedestrian as cancer would one day cut her life short? She had played sports regularly before her cancer diagnosis in 2006, so what did she do wrong?

Every day of life is a gift from God. While it’s important to be responsible about how you live and try to make wise choices, keeping close to your Maker is really the smartest thing you could ever do. My oncologist told me recently that I’m in remarkably good shape, with healthy organs and blood. I’ve done many stupid things in my life, so credit must go to Jesus for saving me and preserving me, in spite of all the odds. Every day, I thank my heavenly Father for the day before, as well as the day ahead. I thank Him for loving me and protecting me, and thank Him that the day will end well. I also stand by the Word of God and declare that He will satisfy me with a long life (Psalm 91:16). I never start the day without Him.

Too many people are dying too soon. We’re only human, so don’t leave home without Him.

Posted: June 26th, 2009 under Cancer, Health Basics 101, Healthy Spirit.
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