Cure in the Mind

Summary:

A man referred to as “Mr. Wright” was dying from cancer of the lymph nodes. His neck, groin, chest, and abdomen were being occupied by orange-size tumors. Doctors had tried many treatments, none of which were successful. “Psychological Variables in Human Cancer”, a report by psychologist Bruno Klopfer of the University of California, Los Angeles had convinced Mr. Wright that Krebiozen, a newly discovered anticancer drug was the answer. Prior to receiving his first treatment, Mr. Wright was bedridden and gasping for each breath. Within just three days Mr. Wright was happily walking around and making jokes, and his tumors had shrunk to half their size. Ten days later he was released from the hospital. Others patients who received the same treatment of Krebiozen remained unaffected by the treatment.

During the next two months Mr. Wright was troubled by reported who questioned Krebiozen’s efficiency, and suffered a relapse. The doctors decided to test the placebo effect with Mr. Wright. They told him that a new doubly effective version of Krebiozen was arriving the next day, which thrilled Mr. Wright. This time after receiving the treatment, which contained absolutely no Krebiozen, Mr. Wright improved even more than he had after receiving the actual Krebiozen the first time. After a short while he left the hospital with no remaining symptoms. Over the next two months Mr. Wright remained perfectly healthy, until he read reports stating that Krebiozon was a worthless/useless treatment; he died within the next few days. Mr. Wright’s case is an example of the placebo effect, of how a patient’s expectations and beliefs can affect the course of their illnesses.

The psychological component of placebos can help to alleviate pain, depression, and anxiety as well as to lessen symptoms of certain diseases or as in Mr. Wright’s case shrink tumors. New research has shown that placebo effect does not only arise from a conscious belief, but also subconscious associations between recovery and the actual experience of being treated. If a patient has previously experienced a situation, for example: receiving a shot, that has made them feel better, a reenactment of the same situation could (with the placebo solution in the shot of course) have the same effect.

My Response:

I think it is really interesting that Mr. Wright’s adamant belief in the supposedly “anticancer” drug Krebiozen was enough to shrink the size of his tumor drastically. It reminds me when the Bible talks about having faith as small as a mustard seed. Mr. Wright truly believed that Krebiozen would cure him; it ended up that it was actually the drug but his belief in the drug that cured him. Within mere days of learning that Krebiozen was worthless Mr. Wright died-it was as if the rug had been pulled out from under him. In a similar way when we lack faith we fall flat on our faces, which reminds me of when Peter walked on the water with Jesus but as soon as he looked down he become afraid and began to sink. Faith is crucial to the Christian walk.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=placebo-effect-a-cure-in-the-mind