A Note from Dr. Amit M. Gupta

As an Onco surgeon who has given hope to thousands of Cancer warriors and their caregivers, I often think of how life catapults us from being healthy, bonny babies to self-destructive havocs over 40-50 years. And I might just be on to something here.

You might have noticed how a child is something we are all simply drawn to; be it the effusive joy, the breathing patterns, the mirroring patterns, the unrestrained energy levels, the unconditional love she emanates, or even the unconditional cries, she forms an instant connection with us.

The same child absorbs the toxicity of the environment and grows into a careworn and grumpy adult who does not express her happiness or sorrow. Her breathing pattern would have changed, and by mirroring her environment, she is now bound by the unhealthy social norms that leave no human being unscathed. Soon, like most of the humanity around her, she is caught in a vicious circle that does not permit a release of emotions: She has just joined the millions around her who have lost touch with their real selves.

It is precisely this pent-up state of emotions—a persistent state of stress—that forms a breeding ground for disease. Such stress results in the release of cortisol, a steroid hormone in the body. Sustained releases of this steroid cause immunosuppression inside the body; they can also cause a state of hypoxia where your cells are gasping for breath and losing their intelligence. In other words, you become more prone to illnesses because of the sheer mismanagement of stress.

“Stress”: A word that everyone loosely tosses over their dinner conversations, it does seem overwrought to the point where it is glossed over. But I am not trying to boil the whole ocean here: I completely understand that one cannot escape stress, but I refuse to believe that one cannot release stress. Take the case of a simple act like crying. Can you deny the cleansing and clarifying effect it has?

The autonomic nervous system of the human body comprises three parts: the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the enteric nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is considered the fight-or-flight response as the body’s response ought to be when facing a threat or perceived danger. The parasympathetic nervous system restores the body to a state of calm. If you approach your Yoga instructor, she can immediately help you see how your default setting is usually a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system, and how practising Yoga can activate your parasympathetic nervous system.

When I was growing up, I used to play Cricket before my exams, without having a language for how wonderfully it released the subconscious energy that gets released only in a state of relaxation. Though Cricket is a competitive sport, when played for fun, it can have a different outcome as it did in my case. It contributed to better grades and higher performance – clearly because my parasympathetic nervous system had taken over.

Unhappiness is the flipside of the loneliness of the subconscious. While most of us consciously perform at work, take care of our families, and live up to our social responsibilities, if we don’t take care of our subconscious, we end up with addictions. Addiction is a slippery slope to destruction, and there is no use fighting addiction without creating a healthy environment, a healthy lifestyle, and good thoughts. What is the use when the root cause (loneliness of the subconscious/unhappiness) is not taken care of? Addictions give us only momentary pleasure, and a healthy and holistic life has no place for them. Simply put, if we can crack the puzzle of happiness, we have far fewer chances of ending up with illnesses.

During the decade I spent at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, I have counseled thousands of Cancer warriors, and there was hardly any soul who had not experienced inner turmoil in the five years preceding the onset of the disease. At some point in their disconnected lives, the loneliness of their subconscious or unhappiness had caught up, forming a breeding ground for cancer tissue. I would venture to say that a vast majority (95%) of cancer cases are a result of poor lifestyle choices.

Interestingly, even our Ayurveda supports this line of reasoning. According to this sage school of medicine, we have eight chakras associated with the organs of our body. If the energy flow along the axis is disrupted, one or more of the chakras are stuck and the corresponding organ enters a state of distress or “dis-ease”. The longer the duration of the “dis-eased” state, the greater the chances of the cancer cells to proliferate.

(In fact, my logo is derived based on this line of reasoning. The eight-legged crab represents the individual wading through the web ready to take on the world. The eight legs represent the eight chakras. When they are in disharmony, the individual enters a state of “dis-ease”.)

Yes, many allopathic treatments for cancer have been successful at instantly lowering the rate of proliferation of cancer cells: Chemotherapy, Surgery, Radiotherapy, and targeted therapy give hope to several cancer warriors every day. But why even go that far? Why can’t we try to nip cancer in the bud by adopting a lifestyle that is holistic, closer to nature, and aiding in the release of harmful chemicals in the body?

The writing on the wall has never been more clear to me. Chronic stress is the root cause of cancer, and the sensible way to deal with it is to take part in activities that release toxins and enable a smooth flow of energy along the axis of the chakras. Contrary to what the naysayers say, Yoga and meditation are not placebo solutions. Eating healthy and body cleansing are proven ways to release toxins. Family vacations and spending time with friends are extremely important to the well-being. Taking up a sport for the sake of play. Investing in oneself for personal growth. The list goes on.

Even the patients undergoing allopathic treatments need to show a sustained response and a decreased rate of recurrence, and this is possible only when there is a simultaneous focus on the elimination of toxins inside the body by consciously adopting the happy habits of expressing oneself, accepting oneself, and loving oneself unconditionally. If this does not prove the efficacy of these lifestyle adaptations, I don’t know what does.

I hereby make a plea to one and all to believe in these lifestyle modifications and understand that cancer is not a matter of destiny but a matter of the choices you make. Cancer is a blueprint of your life, so don’t leave it to chance.

Be holistic. Be happy. Be cancer-free.

Let’s pledge to make this world a cancer-free world.

Dr Amit M. Gupta