New Support for Those Touched by Cancer

Deb Langhans will be facilitating another Cancer Support Circle series. Here she is with more…

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I’ve had the privilege of providing foot reflexology & life coaching to patients receiving treatment in PIMC’s Cancer Center’s Complementary Therapies Program. My positive interactions with these patients & their families, coupled with the strong emphasis on self-compassion in my business (Journeys To Healing), led me to begin facilitating a “Cancer Caregivers Support Circle” two years ago. These participants have inspired me with their willingness to be vulnerable & open to new ways of perceiving & optimizing their lives.

Their courageous work actually reflects the latest findings in brain & mind/body research: the modern science of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) studies the influence of the mind & nervous system on immune function, especially in relation to their effect on the onset & progression of both disease & healing. PNI research shows that, in addition to factors like heredity, age & environmental toxins, stress & “negative” (& especially suppressed) emotions like anger, grief, hostility, depression, hopelessness & chronic self-deprecation, can weaken our immune system & thereby increase our risk of developing disease.

We used to believe our genes controlled our destiny, but the field of epigenetics is now proving that, besides factors like nutrition, exercise & the environment in which we live, our thoughts, beliefs & feelings can even influence how & whether our DNA gets expressed. The bottom line: We have more control over our destiny than ever imagined. These findings are important enough in maintaining health; when it comes to tackling disease, it becomes crucial.

Starting this May 24th, I’ll be offering a new “Islanders Cancer Support Circle” for any in our community touched by cancer–patients (past or present), cancer caregivers or loved ones. Please see the attached flyer for details. Besides offering a safe, confidential space for participants to share & process their lives, this will also be a time for learning how to practice greater self-compassion, better deal with loss & difficult emotions, & manage stress while increasing gratitude, joy & purpose–all important ways of strengthening their immune systems & empowering their lives.    

The great violinist, Itzhak Perlman, once played an entire concert with only three strings on his violin–the fourth had suddenly snapped soon after he began to play. Many claim Perlman played the most beautiful music of his career that evening. After the standing ovation, he delivered one sentence to his audience: “Our job is to make music with what remains.”

Especially in these unsettling, uncertain times, we all deal with brokenness & we sometimes “fight great battles.” Still, we can choose to focus on all that we can control, & create more beautiful music–for both ourselves & others–than we might ever have imagined possible.    

If your life has been touched by cancer & the description of this upcoming “Islanders Cancer Support Circle” resonates with your current health goals, please contact me by Monday, May 15th at [email protected] / 378-8907.

“Two months before my beloved wife, Sharon, died, I began attending Deb’s “Cancer Caregivers Support Circle.” Over the past two years, Deb has been a loving & caring friend to our group. Her counseling skills are superb & her compassion is very obvious. She has helped me with issues like survivors guilt & unexpressed feelings between Sharon & myself. I’ve also learned that loss is very personal & we all react in our own unique ways. I still benefit by membership in the group. I would strongly recommend Deb to anyone dealing with grief and or loss.”
~ John Maya

“When I first heard about the “Cancer Caregivers Support Circle,” I figured trying it a time or two would be all I’d want to consider. Well, two years later, I’m eagerly attending and finding great support!  It took me awhile to get to know the others in the group, but now I find them helpful when I need support and they also contribute various ideas on how to cope with the problems of caregiving. I also know that I can give support to others having problems in their lives. This appears to be a win-win group…”                                                                                                          
~ Christina, Heritage Farm

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