Practical hypnotic interventions during invasive cancer diagnosis and treatment

Novel advances in biotechnology and medical imaging techniques have enabled all evolution toward earlier diagnosis and treatment by way of "minimally invasive" surgical techniques performed oil the conscious patient without the rise of general anesthesia. Although the risks of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions have been reduced with these approaches, patients still face many physical and psychologic challenges. Several randomized controlled trials have shown that hypnotic techniques arc effective in reducing pain, anxiety, and other symptoms; in reducing procedure time; and in stabilizing vital signs. The benefits of adjunctive hypnotic treatments come at no additional cost. Patients, health care providers, hospitals, and insurance companies arc advised to take advantage of hypnotic techniques.