The Journey through Cancer
Healing and Transforming the Whole Person
By Jeremy Geffen, MD
Reviewed by Angela Hutchinson
Spirit-Works.net
Attending to patients on multiple levels is a vision and reality for renowned physician and author Jeremy Geffen, an oncologist skilled in the mind-body-soul connection. He presents progressive wisdom in a highly organized and accommodating manner, offering readers his “Seven Levels of Healing” to promote significant understanding and opportunity for greater health of the whole person.
After experiencing deep frustration regarding the often one-dimensional cancer treatment of his father’s stomach cancer many years before, the author now offers help to others so that they can more easily select the best treatment options for them and their loved ones focusing on the whole person approach. Dr. Geffen writes that the ultimate purpose of medicine is “to assist all beings to experience unbounded love, joy, and inner peace, and to know this is the essence of who we truly are.” When a person connects the mind, body, and soul aspects in treatment, the patient’s perspective can be significantly transformed and the world as he/she knows it is changed.
The Journey through Cancer offers the following levels of healing:
“Level One: Education and Information”
We learn what cancer actually is and the options available. Geffen goes into great detail regarding cancer sites and the challenges each patient may experience. He also includes a helpful questionnaire to discuss with the patient’s personal physician. It is a great place to educate yourself about the disease and where to begin.
“Level Two: Connection with Others”
Finding a source of support is vital for emotional and physical health. Whatever form the support takes depends upon the patient and their specific needs. Various options and considerations are given to better select how this need will be met.
“Level Three: The Body as Garden”
“What can I do to cultivate the garden of my being in such a way that the fruits and flowers of health, well-being, and self-knowledge can blossom and grow?” Included are many avenues of complementary medicine from diet and nutrition to Reiki therapy with brief and easy to digest information. This wealth of options is incorporated in such a way that comfort is given to the often overwhelmed seeker.
“Level Four: Emotional Healing”
“When people are diagnosed with cancer, these deeper issues can instantly and dramatically rise to the surface. Basic changes invariably begin to occur in how the patients perceive their lives.” While considering the “whole patient”, Dr. Geffen must connect with the patient emotionally so that they may turn this journey inward and grasp an opportunity to heal and balance their total being.
“Level Five: Nature of Mind”
How we think, focus, and use our minds is very important when dealing with a traumatic diagnosis and the stress that can result. An in-depth questionnaire is offered to better understand one’s own belief system and how it may affect overall health. A change of focus, belief, or perception can transform a life and bring greater understanding while on this difficult road.
“Level Six: Life Assessment”
Clarity of your life mission, vision, and purpose to gain a sense of direction helps the patient to bring their life into the light of understanding. “You can do everything right, even perfectly, and it may not turn out the way you want. So along the way, each and every day, it’s important that you find and experience the love and joy you truly want.”
“Level Seven: The Nature of Spirit”
This level is fantastic when addressing the vital spiritual component. “The journey through cancer is a time when it is vitally important to look beneath the surface, into the vast depths that are untouched by even the greatest and most turbulent waves.” Geffen goes on to write about our existence and connection with a higher power. His gentle and fluid manner is undeniably from a source of inspired love.
The Journey through Cancer is without a doubt the most comprehensive and humane work on cancer treatment in my opinion. I can highly recommend this work to those facing cancer and to their loved ones who support them. It is a much needed light when you feel yourself grasping in the dark for guidance. Geffen is indeed a courageous man to connect the Western and Eastern worlds of medicine as he has. This work is an excellent resource for any journey.