"Why Me?" - Ten Tenets

Carl & Stephanie Simonton together with James Creighton wrote a book back in 1978 titled “Getting Well Again”, a step-by-step self-help guide to overcoming cancer. Reading this book just four years later revolutionised my thinking regarding the way my reaction to stress and other emotional factors were contributing to the onset and progress of cancer in my own body. - LYC
O. Carl Simonton, M.D., D.A.B.R., is a radiation oncologist,

Associate of Oncology Associates, Fort Worth, Texas, and the medical director of the Cancer Counselling and Research Center in Fort Worth. He is a frequent lecturer at hospitals and medical schools, a consultant for cancer counselling programs, and has written numerous articles for professional publications and co-authored the book, Stress, Psychological Factors, and Cancer.
Stephanie Matthews-Simonton, the director of counselling at the Cancer Counselling and Research Center, is a psycho-therapist. She developed the center's intensive psychotherapy program, which has become a model for other programs across the country, and designed a three-phase training program for cancer councellors. Stephanie co-authored 'Stress, Psychological Factors, and Cancer'.
James Creighton has worked closely with the Simontons as well as independently in cancer patient counselling and care.

1. Our emotions significantly influence health and recovery from disease (including cancer). Emotions are a strong driving force in the immune system and other healing systems.

2. Our beliefs and attitudes influence our emotions thereby affecting our health and healing systems.

3. We can significantly influence our beliefs and attitudes. As a result we shape our emotions, and therefore, significantly influence our health.

4. Ways of influencing beliefs, attitudes and emotions can be readily taught and learned by using a variety of accessible methods that are presented in this program.

5. All of us function as physical, mental, social and spiritual/philosophical beings. These aspects need to be addressed in the broad context of healing, with a focus on the particular needs of a person who is ill, and that person's family, community, and culture.

6. Harmony is central to health - balance among the physical, mental, and spiritual/philosophical aspects of being. This extends to relationships with self, family, friends, community, planet, and universe.

7. We have inherent (genetic, instinctual) tendencies and abilities that aid us in moving in the direction of health and harmony (physical, mental, spiritual/philosophical and social).

8. These abilities can be developed and implemented in meaningful ways through existing techniques and methods that are presented in this program.

9. As these abilities are developed, proficiency evolves, as when learning other skills. The results is greater harmony and improved quality of life, which significantly impacts one's state of health.

10. These skills and insights also change our relationship with death by lessening our fear and pain, and freeing more energy for getting well and living life more fully today.