Mental Health & Cancer: Using Psychology to Support Your Treatment
Featuring: Sheryl Anjanette, integrative hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner, cognitive behavioral neuroscience & stress management certifications
In short
Integrative hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner Sheryl Anjanette walks patients and caregivers through the psychological side of a cancer diagnosis — how the subconscious mind shapes fear and stress, and how practical mental tools can build emotional resilience. The session covers brain-body science, the power of language, and concrete exercises to move the nervous system out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer, more healing state.
- •Try box breathing daily: inhale 4 counts, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4 — repeat several cycles. It can quickly shift your body from a stressed state to a calmer one.
- •Notice how you talk about your diagnosis. Saying 'the cancer experience' instead of 'my cancer' is a small language shift that can reduce the sense that illness defines you.
- •Write down negative thoughts when they surface, then consciously rewrite each one with more supportive language — this self-talk exercise helps interrupt cycles of fear.
- •When emotions feel stuck, gentle physical movement like walking can help release them; pairing movement with visualization — picturing your body healing — adds another layer of support.
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Meeting Summary
Facing cancer, whether as a patient or caregiver, is not just a physical journey—it is deeply emotional and psychological. The subconscious mind often internalizes unhelpful beliefs, creating patterns of fear, stress, and identity around the illness. These patterns can affect not only emotional resilience but also the healing process.
By shifting our mindset and repatterning thoughts, we can foster a sense of empowerment and reduce stress, creating a more supportive inner environment.
As an author, integrative hypnotherapist, neuro linguistic programming practitioner (NLP practitioners help individuals reframe their beliefs, thoughts, and past experiences, enabling them to overcome obstacles and achieve their desired outcomes), and holder of advanced certifications in cognitive behavioral neuroscience and stress management, Sheryl Anjanette bridges the gap between mind and body.
Her work offers practical tools to navigate the emotional complexities of cancer, emphasizing the power of mindset in fostering resilience and well-being. What are the emotional and mental health challenges that patients and caregivers can face? Patients and caregivers face not only the physical challenges of cancer, but also the emotional and psychological toll it takes.
The subconscious mind can internalize the diagnosis, leading to fear, stress, and identity issues that hinder emotional resilience and healing. Why do current solutions for stress and mental health not work? Traditional cancer treatments focus primarily on the physical aspects of the disease, often neglecting the emotional and psychological dimensions. This gap can leave patients feeling overwhelmed and unsupported in managing their mental health.
What are some techniques for stress reduction you should consider? Harnessing the power of the mind through techniques like hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral neuroscience, and stress management can provide significant support. By reframing thoughts and using specific exercises, patients can navigate their journey with greater emotional resilience.
For example, referring to cancer as "an experience" rather than "my cancer" can shift the mindset from ownership to temporary challenge. Understanding the role of the subconscious mind and its influence on emotions helps in managing stress and fostering resilience. Anjanette) resilience.
•Box breathing: Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold for 4. Repeat for several cycles.
•Self-talk observation: Write down your negative thoughts and consciously replace them with supportive language.
•Visualization: Picture your body healing and overcoming challenges. What are the potential benefits of these tools and techniques? You can experience reduced stress, improved emotional well-being, and a more empowered approach to their cancer journey. Techniques like deep breathing and positive self-talk can enhance your body's healing environment and your overall quality of life. What are typical objections to these techniques and what are counterarguments? Some may argue that mental techniques cannot influence physical health. However, while the mind may not cure cancer, it plays a critical role in how individuals cope with and navigate the disease. Scientific studies support the connection between stress reduction and improved health outcomes. How can you learn more about the connection between the mind and healing so you can navigate your journey with strength and hope?
•Practice the "box breathing" technique daily for 10 days.
•Observe and write down your inner self-talk, and work on replacing negative self-talk with more positive and supportive language.
•Reach out to Sheryl Anjanette at Sheryl@Sherylanjanette.com.
•See our other discussions of mental health and cancer, including:
•“Using Psychedelics to Get Comfortable with Your Mortality" (Jeff Krolick, Robert Ellis, Manish Agrawal, Rebecca Ehrenkranz)
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•“Exercise as a Countermeasure to Hormone Deprivation Therapy Side Effects and for Bone and Mental Health”
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•See our discussion with Dr. Michael Liss on the connection between the microbiome and cancer . The information and opinions expressed on this website or platform, or during discussions and presentations (both verbal and written) are not intended as health care recommendations or medical advice by Cancer Patient Lab, its principals, presenters, participants, or representatives for any medical treatment, product, or course of action. You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health. ing Cancer with the Mind as Your Ally ” medical treatment, product, or course of action. You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health. Meeting Notes KEYWORDS Cancer patient lab, mental health, emotional issues, cancer care, subconscious mind, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral neuroscience, stress management, deep breathing, parasympathetic nervous system, autonomic nervous system, emotional well-being, biomarkers, AI support, gut microbiome. SPEAKERS Sheryl Anjanette (74%), Cindy Ness (12%), Brad Power (6%), Craig Martin (4%), Brian McCloskey (3%), Paul Van Camp (2%) SUMMARY Sheryl Anjanette discussed the importance of mental health in cancer care, emphasizing the role of the mind in healing. She highlighted the subconscious mind's impact on emotions and suggested techniques like deep breathing and visualization to manage stress and improve well- being. She also stressed the significance of language in shaping one's mindset, advocating for reframing cancer as an experience rather than an identity. The discussion included the potential of wearable devices for continuous biomarker monitoring and the role of AI in providing emotional support. The session concluded with practical exercises to help participants manage their emotions and improve their overall well-being. OUTLINE Introductions
•This session was focused on mental health and emotional issues surrounding cancer care.
•Sheryl Anjanette has a personal connection to cancer through her husband's prostate cancer diagnosis eight years ago.
•She emphasized the importance of the mind in the cancer journey, particularly for men, and set the stage for discussing the powerful connection between the mind and healing.
•She clarified that she is not claiming the mind can heal cancer but rather how it can be used to navigate the journey.
•She reflected on the weight of the word "cancer" and suggested reframing it to reduce its psychological impact. Understanding the Subconscious Mind
•Sheryl explained the concept of the subconscious mind, its role in emotions, and its constant activity, even when we are conscious.
•She described the subconscious mind as the seat of all emotions and experiences, always on and non-critical.
•She used the analogy of an elevator to explain how the subconscious mind operates at different levels, with deeper levels containing more profound and older experiences.
•She discussed how the subconscious mind protects us by suppressing emotions and experiences, which can lead to issues if not addressed. Emotions and Their Impact
•Sheryl described emotions as energy in motion, with different emotions having different physical sensations and weights. ette)
•She explained how emotions can get stuck and how physical activities like walking or jumping can help release them.
•She introduced the concept of emotions taking on momentum, where one emotion can trigger others, creating a cycle.
•She emphasized the importance of understanding and processing emotions to prevent them from becoming stuck and causing issues. Brain-Body Science and Nervous Systems
•Sheryl explained the role of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in the brain, highlighting their functions in the fight-or-flight response and critical thinking.
•She discussed the impact of stress on the body, including the redirection of resources away from the prefrontal cortex and digestive system.
•She introduced the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, explaining their roles in the body's response to stress and relaxation.
•She emphasized the importance of getting the body into a parasympathetic state to facilitate healing and better mind-body connection. Breathing Techniques and Relaxation
•Sheryl taught the "box breathing" technique as a quick way to shift from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic state.
•She encouraged participants to practice this technique regularly to build the habit of deep breathing.
•She led the group in a breathing exercise, guiding them to focus on their breath and relax their shoulders.
•She emphasized the importance of choosing positive thoughts and focusing on the body's responses to relaxation techniques. Language and Mindset
•Sheryl discussed the power of language in shaping our mindset and how changing our language can change our perception of cancer.
•She suggested reframing cancer as an experience rather than an identity to make it easier to deal with.
•Brad shared his perspective on cancer as a teacher and the serenity prayer, emphasizing the importance of focusing on what we can control.
•Sheryl and Brad discussed the importance of letting go of things we cannot control and focusing on our thoughts and actions. Men's Emotional Processing
•Sheryl addressed the differences in how men and women process emotions, noting that men are often conditioned to suppress their emotions.
•She emphasized the importance of giving language to emotions to help process them and let them go.
•She discussed the role of caregivers in supporting emotional processing and the importance of creativity in dealing with cancer.
•She encouraged participants to turn problems into projects and focus on what they can control and change. Biomarkers and Measurement
•Cindy Ness discussed the importance of measuring the impact of emotions and lifestyle changes on cancer outcomes.
•She mentioned a study on lifestyle management and its impact on early-stage myeloma, focusing on social connection, emotional well-being, and stress reduction.
•Cindy highlighted the challenge of measuring biomarkers like dopamine and serotonin accurately and the need for better measurement tools.
•Craig Martin suggested potential biomarkers like advanced glycation end products, reactive oxygen species, and metabolomics, and discusses the role of deep breathing exercises in relaxation and oxygenation. AI and Emotional Support
•Sheryl mentioned her company's AI-based support system, designed to provide empathetic coaching and support in real-time.
•She suggested that wearable devices with continuous monitoring capabilities could be beneficial for tracking biomarkers and providing real-time feedback.
•Cindy emphasized the importance of wearables for patients, not just researchers, to provide validation and reinforcement.
•Sheryl and Cindy discussed the potential of AI and wearables to support emotional processing and lifestyle management. Final Thoughts and Contact Information
•Sheryl encouraged participants to focus on their bodies and use their imagination to visualize their bodies attacking cancer and healing.
•She shared her contact information and offered to be available for support and further discussions.
Full transcript
[This transcript has been edited for clarity and flow. ] Brad Power This is the Cancer Patient Lab. We're honored to have Sheryl Anjanette with us today. She is going to talk with us about mental health. Emotional issues surrounding cancer care is something that's, of course, very important, and we've had a couple of sessions on that. This is for informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
We try to arm our patients with information they can take to their medical team. We are a small nonprofit. We are all volunteer-led. org, and there's a Donate button. Sheryl Anjanette 1:16 I came to this group because we are joining and becoming part of this group. My husband and I say the two of us are going through this journey together. He's the one that's carrying the load. But we look at it as going through this as a unit.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It will be eight years ago, now, almost to the day, that he had his first surgery. We've been going through this for a while. Things have changed recently, and we're very grateful for this community. One of the th things that I'm hopeful that I can bring that may be not completely different, but an adjunct to so much that you all are doing, is the role of the mind in your journey, and how powerful it can be.
It seems to me that this is primarily a male group. It's not that it's completely different, but there are certain things that men do a little bit differently with their emotions than women do. I'm going to speak to this broadly, but I also want to speak to you as men, which may seem strange coming from a woman. I just really want to talk about the powerful connection between the mind and healing.
Now what I want to be very clear about is that this is not about coming at you and saying your mind can heal you. I am not that person. You can speak to those people. I'm not discounting it at all. This is more about how you can use your mind through your journey, and what that really means, and how much choice we really have through this. Now, I have had my own cancer experience. By the way, the word “cancer” has a lot of weight, doesn't it?
You say that word, and I don't know what you see or what you feel, but I'd like you to tune into that. The first thing I want to say is that we and society have given this name a lot of weight. Back in the day, when people had this diagnosis, it was often, if not even usually, a death sentence. Today it is not. It is at a different place.
One of the things that we can begin with is maybe in our own minds, just take some of the weight away from that word, and see it and feel it a little differently. It's a disease state. Now I do understand in this group that a lot of you are a little more advanced, and it may feel a lot more serious to you than that. It's not like looking at this just getting the diagnosis. Okay. No problem. We're going to be fine.
You've been dealing with this for a while. I understand that there's a different perspective, depending on where you are. But the mind is very, very powerful, and so every time we use a word or we use our language, it does have an effect on how we feel and how we see things. It's our own perspective. The other thing I want to talk about is the subconscious mind.
I am going to leave most of this time open for questions, but I think it would be helpful for all of you if I lay out a few ideas, and then we can dive into them more based on your questions, your experiences, but I want to talk to you a little bit about the subconscious mind. I am an integrative hypnotherapist. I still practice that. I run a completely separate AI company that is not involved in that.
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