Self-Hypnosis and EFT Therapy: A Science-Based Look at Recovery After Thyroid Cancer
The emotional burden commonly experienced by cancer patients.
Thyroid cancer is currently one of the most common endocrine cancers. Although the survival prognosis is generally quite favorable compared to many other cancers, the treatment process can still have significant impacts on the patient's physical health, mental state, and quality of life.
After thyroidectomy, many patients face prolonged worries about the risk of recurrence, subsequent treatments, hormonal changes, declining health, and accompanying psychological instability. Therefore, alongside standard medical treatment, a growing body of research focuses on the role of psychological support methods to help patients enhance their ability to adapt and recover.
The story of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuan is a notable personal experience regarding the combination of mainstream medical treatment with psychological support techniques such as self-hypnosis and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques).
Initial health situation: Thyroid cancer diagnosis
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuan (Son Tay), she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent total thyroidectomy.
After surgery, she continued to receive radioactive iodine treatment (internal radiation therapy) at the 108 Military Central Hospital.
Besides the thyroid cancer, health check-ups also revealed:
- Appearance of multiple neck lymph nodes
- Fatty liver
- Declining physical health
- Prolonged mental stress
Psychological impact after cancer diagnosis: Common emotional burden in cancer patients
According to research from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the majority of cancer patients experience various emotional stages after diagnosis:
Psychological shock: Many people find it difficult to accept the reality of having cancer.
Prolonged anxiety: Patients often worry about:
- Survival rates
- Risk of recurrence
- Treatment costs
- Burden on family
Depression: Studies show that depression rates in cancer patients are significantly higher than in the general population.
Biological stress: Prolonged anxiety can increase:
- Cortisol
- Adrenaline
- Inflammatory responses
Consequently affecting:
- Sleep
- Immunity
- Post-treatment recovery ability
Ms. Thuan shared that after learning she had cancer, she fell into a state of sadness and mental collapse for a long period.
Beginning to approach psychological support methods: Participating in a course in 2014
In July 2014, Ms. Thuan participated in the "Igniting a New Vitality" program.
After the course, she began regularly practicing two methods:
Self-hypnosis: Self-hypnosis is a technique that helps individuals actively bring themselves into a state of deep relaxation, heightened focus, and reduced stress responses. During this process, she practiced:
- Body relaxation
- Breath regulation
- Visualizing a healthy body
- Visualizing stable endocrine system function
- Building positive images of the recovery process
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): EFT is a method combining:
- Focusing on emotions
- Self-identification of negative thoughts
- Gentle stimulation of specific points on the body in a certain sequence
Preliminary studies suggest that EFT may help reduce:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress symptoms
However, EFT is currently still considered a supportive method and has not been recognized as a cancer treatment.
Changes in the first month: Overall health improvement
According to Ms. Thuan's account, after about one month of regular practice:
Neck lymph nodes reduced in size: Examination results showed that the neck lymph nodes tended to become smaller.
Improved appetite: Her taste and desire to eat improved markedly.
Deeper sleep: Sleep became more stable and of better quality.
Weight gain: Body weight increased after a period of decline.
From a medical perspective, these changes could be related to multiple factors:
- Natural post-treatment recovery
- Effectiveness of prior surgery
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Better nutrition
- Reduced psychological stress
- Improved sleep quality
Continued recovery phase: Results after many months of follow-up
Ms. Thuan stated that she continued to maintain daily practice of self-hypnosis and EFT.
According to subsequent health check-ups:
Neck lymph nodes continued to decrease: Lymph node size was recorded to gradually diminish over follow-up visits.
Fatty liver improved: Some indicators related to fatty liver returned to within normal limits.
Laboratory indicators stabilized: Blood test results were more positive than before.
No second radioactive iodine treatment: Results that surprised the patient
According to Ms. Thuan's account, when she returned to the 108 Hospital to prepare for the next treatment round, test results showed no further indication for continued radioactive iodine therapy.
This made her very happy and she considered it a major turning point in her health recovery journey.
However, it should be noted that the decision to stop or continue cancer treatment must always be based on:
- Professional test results
- The treating physician's assessment
- Current clinical guidelines
It cannot be concluded from a single individual case that self-hypnosis or EFT has the ability to cure cancer.
Scientific perspective on the role of psychology in recovery: What current science has demonstrated
Today, many studies in the field of Psychoneuroimmunology show:
Prolonged stress affects the immune system: Chronic stress can:
- Elevate cortisol
- Disrupt immune responses
- Increase inflammatory reactions
Relaxation helps regulate physiology: Techniques such as:
- Meditation
- Clinical hypnosis
- Deep breathing
- Progressive muscle relaxation
can help:
- Reduce sympathetic activation
- Lower heart rate
- Reduce blood pressure
- Improve sleep
- Increase sense of control over illness
Quality of life improves: Many studies on cancer patients show that psychological support measures can:
- Reduce anxiety
- Reduce depression
- Reduce pain
- Increase adaptability
- Enhance quality of life
The role of positive visualization in self-hypnosis: Neural mechanisms
One practice Ms. Thuan performed regularly was visualizing a healthy body and the stable functioning of her internal systems. In modern neuroscience, guided imagery techniques have been extensively studied. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies show that when people visualize an event with intense focus, many brain regions are activated similarly to when that event actually occurs.
This may contribute to:
- Reducing anxiety
- Increasing recovery motivation
- Reinforcing positive beliefs
- Enhancing treatment adherence
Significance of this case: An example of comprehensive health care
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuan's case illustrates a reality increasingly recognized by modern medicine: the treatment process does not only occur at the biological level but is also deeply influenced by the patient's psychological and emotional state.
The combination of:
- Standard medical treatment
- Regular specialist follow-up
- Appropriate nutrition
- Reasonable physical activity
- Stress management
- Practicing relaxation and emotional self-regulation
can help patients improve their quality of life and support long-term recovery.
Conclusion
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuan's story is a personal account of a journey through a difficult period after thyroid cancer. The positive changes she reported after practicing self-hypnosis and EFT demonstrate the importance of mental health care alongside medical treatment.
From a scientific perspective, methods such as self-hypnosis, deep relaxation, and emotion regulation can help reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance quality of life, and support the body's adaptive capacity. However, these methods are not considered replacements for modern medical cancer treatment but should be used as supportive tools within a comprehensive, evidence-based health care strategy.
References
- American Cancer Society. (2024). Mental Health and Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/emotional-concerns.html
- National Cancer Institute (NCI). (2024). Psychological Stress and Cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings/stress-fact-sheet
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2024). Hypnosis. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hypnosis
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2024). Relaxation Techniques: What You Need To Know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/relaxation-techniques-what-you-need-to-know
- PubMed Central (PMC). (2019). Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for anxiety and depression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6381429/
- Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society. (2024). Stress, Immunity, and Cancer. https://www.pnirs.org/
Course information
Related course: Haruva – Igniting a New Vitality
Methods: Self-hypnosis, EFT, deep relaxation, emotion regulation, stress reduction, sleep support
Instructor: Hypnosis Expert Nguyen Manh Quan
Hotline: 0904.606.965
Under the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations, the center trains special methods to improve health, prevent and support treatment of physical and mental issues, and provides training in learning methods, thinking, and applied psychology for communication, business, negotiation, and sales.
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