Visualisation

The idea behind visualisation is that you use the power of your imagination to help relieve symptoms or manage problems. Learning to direct and control images in your mind can help you to relax. This may help to

• Relieve stress
• Control some of the symptoms caused by your cancer, or cancer treatments
• Boost your immune system to help your body fight off infections and promote healing

You may also hear visualisation called ‘guided imagery’.

A therapist can help you learn how to practise visualisation. While you are learning the technique, your therapist talks you through the sort of images that it may be helpful to picture. They may ask you to imagine a peaceful place where you’d like to be. Or they might teach you to imagine yourself feeling well and strong. Many people do find they feel better after they imagine feeling stronger. Some people like to picture their body fighting off the cancer cells. A therapist may be able to teach you the best visualisation techniques for the times when you feel most stressed. They can show you short visualisation exercises or deeper relaxation techniques.

You can practice visualisation without a therapist, using a CD or tape. You can buy these online, from some book stores or health shops, and from some cancer support groups or centres. Ask your nurse if they can recommend any. Or contact one of the complementary therapy organisations.

Relaxation and imagery are two of the most popular types of complementary therapy that people with cancer use. Research has looked into visualisation to help control symptoms and treatment side effects in people with cancer. Health professionals are becoming much more aware of the close connection between mind and body.

Visualisation to improve mood and quality of life

In 2010 a study reported that looked at visualisation and guided imagery for patients with bowel cancer. The study included 151 patients and found that relaxation and guided imagery did not significantly change people’s mood or quality of life. But a review of 6 studies in 2005 suggested that guided imagery may be helpful in managing stress, anxiety, and depression for people with cancer. One study has shown that visualisation greatly improves the mood of people having treatment for breast cancer. A clinical trial in 1999 involving women with early stage breast cancer found that guided imagery helped to ease anxiety related to radiotherapy, including fears about the radiotherapy machine, pain from their breast surgery, and recurrence of cancer.

Visualisation to control symptoms and side effects

A systematic review in 2005 looked at the use of guided imagery as part of cancer treatment. To draw its conclusions, the review pulled together the published results of several trials investigating the use of imagery for people with cancer. Although the trials were designed differently and, in some cases poorly, the review summed up the research by saying that guided imagery might be able to provide psychological support and comfort. There was no real evidence to prove that it helped with physical symptoms such as sickness and vomiting. But in general, the researchers felt the results were positive enough to justify more research. 

A review of 46 studies in 1999 also suggested that imagery may reduce pain, and some of the side effects of chemotherapy. One study has suggested that imagery can reduce anticipatory nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. A 2006 review of clinical trials of imagery found that only three of the studies showed improvement in anxiety and discomfort during chemotherapy. Two other studies showed similar results between people who used imagery and those who used other methods of reducing anxiety. Overall, imagery is considered one of the more useful psychological measures to reduce some side effects of chemotherapy. But more well designed research is needed to see how it can best be used.

Visualisation to boost the immune system

Some studies suggest that imagery can directly affect the immune system. But current scientific evidence does not support that these techniques can cure cancer or any other disease. Some well designed studies have shown that imagery can improve quality of life in some patients, but have not found that it can increase survival.

Anyone can call themselves a visualisation therapist, so beware of paying a therapist without checking what training they’ve had. There are specific courses for training people to become experts in relaxation, visualisation and guided imagery techniques. Some nurses and doctors have training in this area. And psychotherapists, psychologists and psychiatrists will all have training in the use of relaxation and visualisation techniques.

For information about how to find a therapist and the questions you should ask, look in our about complementary and alternative therapies section.

You can also look at our list of complementary and alternative therapy organisations.