Spontaneous Remission of Cancer: Theories from Healers, Physicians, and Cancer Survivors By Kelly Ann Turner A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in Charge: Professor Lorraine Midanik, Chair Professor Andrew Scharlach Professor Joan Bloom Fall 2010 Spontaneous Remission of Cancer: Theories from Healers, Physicians, and Cancer Survivors © 2010, all rights reserved by Kelly Ann Turner Abstract Spontaneous Remission of Cancer: Theories from Healers, Physicians, and Cancer Survivors by Kelly Ann Turner Doctoral of Philosophy in Social Welfare University of California, Berkeley Professor Lorraine Midanik, Chair BACKGROUND: Spontaneous Remission (SR) of cancer is defined as “the disappearance, complete or incomplete, of cancer without medical treatment, or with treatment that is considered inadequate to produce the resulting disappearance of disease symptoms or tumor” (O’Regan, 1995, p. 2). PURPOSE: This study sought to answer two questions: 1) What causative theories do alternative healers, physicians, and SR survivors propose for SR?; and, 2) Do SR survivors have a strong Sense of Coherence (SOC)? METHODS: Healers and physicians from 11 countries (n1=50) and SR survivors (n2=20) were interviewed in-depth; 17 of the 20 cancer survivors also completed an SOC scale. RESULTS: Six treatments that may elicit SR emerged frequently among both SR and Healer/Physician subjects: 1) Deepening one’s spirituality; 2) Trusting in intuition regarding health decisions; 3) Releasing negative and/or repressed emotions; 4) Feeling love/joy/happiness; 5) Changing one’s diet; and, 6) Taking herbal/vitamin supplements. In addition, three underlying theories about health emerged: 1) In order to remit cancer, one must change the underlying conditions that allow it to thrive; 2) Illness=Blockage/Slowness; Health=No Blockage/Movement; and, 3) A body-mind-spirit interaction exists. SOC scale results tentatively indicate that SR subjects may have a higher SOC than general populations, but not than other cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS: Researchers are encouraged to use the results of this study to design research studies that assess the impact that these six treatments and three theories may have on cancer survival. 1 Table of Contents Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 Literature Review............................................................................................................................ 3 History of Spontaneous Remission (SR) Research..................................................................... 3 Incidence of Spontaneous Remission (SR)................................................................................. 5 Reasons to Study Spontaneous Remission (SR)......................................................................... 6 Physiological Hypotheses of Spontaneous Remission (SR)....................................................... 7 Psychological Hypotheses of Spontaneous Remission (SR) ...................................................... 8 Current Challenges...................................................................................................................... 9 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................. 10 Theoretical Background................................................................................................................ 11 Salutogenesis............................................................................................................................. 11 Salutogenesis in this Study ....................................................................................................... 12 Sense of Coherence................................................................................................................... 12 ‘Sense of Coherence’ and Health.............................................................................................. 14 ‘Sense of Coherence’ in this Study........................................................................................... 14 Mechanisms of ‘Sense of Coherence’....................................................................................... 15 Psycho-Neuro-Immunology Mechanisms ................................................................................ 16 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 17 Methods......................................................................................................................................... 18 Design ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Sample & Study Sites ............................................................................................................... 18 Sampling Strategy..................................................................................................................... 23 Recruitment & Retention .......................................................................................................... 24 Measures ................................................................................................................................... 25 Procedures................................................................................................................................. 26 Analytic Strategy ...................................................................................................................... 27 Reliability & Validity ............................................................................................................... 28 Ethical Issues ............................................................................................................................ 28 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 29 Findings ........................................................................................................................................ 30 Qualitative Findings.................................................................................................................. 30 Underlying beliefs................................................................................................................. 30 Frequent treatments among healers and SR subjects............................................................ 42 Frequent treatments among SR subjects............................................................................... 54 Frequent treatments among healers. ..................................................................................... 57 Qualitative findings summary............................................................................................... 60 Quantitative Findings................................................................................................................ 61 Discussion..................................................................................................................................... 63 Research Question #1 ............................................................................................................... 63 Treatments for cancer. .......................................................................................................... 63 Underlying beliefs................................................................................................................. 68 Applicability to Other Diseases. ........................................................................................... 72 Research Question #1 Summary........................................................................................... 74 Research Question #2 ............................................................................................................... 75 Limitations ................................................................................................................................ 76 Implications............................................................................................................................... 78 i Theoretical implications........................................................................................................ 78 Research implications. .......................................................................................................... 79 Practice implications............................................................................................................. 80 References..................................................................................................................................... 81 Appendix A: Introductory Emails................................................................................................. 92 Appendix B: Close-Ended Questions for Phase II Subjects ......................................................... 93 Appendix C: Interview Guides for Phase I & Phase II Subjects .................................................. 97 Appendix D: SOC Metric Results from the SOC-13 Scale .........................................................