Surgery is often one of the most stressful parts of breast cancer treatment. Many women experience anxiety leading up to the operation and can face discomfort, phantom‐nerve sensations and emotional fatigue afterward. Medical hypnotherapy—a clinically applied therapeutic hypnosis approach—is emerging as an evidence‐supported way to ease some of this burden alongside standard cancer care.

In one breast cancer case, a woman used medical hypnotherapy both before and after surgery. Before surgery, sessions focused on relaxation, reducing fear and mentally preparing for healing. After surgery, hypnotherapy helped her manage phantom‑nerve sensations and support emotional recovery. Her surgical team noted strong healing progress and her breast reconstruction was moved forward by three months—although individual responses vary and hypnosis is not a replacement for conventional treatment.

Results of a randomized trial published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that a single pre‐surgery hypnosis session reduced anxiety, fatigue, nausea and pain‑medication use in women undergoing breast surgery. Other studies suggest hypnosis may support wound healing by lowering stress responses and improving comfort, and small studies show promise for phantom pain relief using guided imagery and self‑hypnosis. Findings reinforce the role of medical hypnotherapy as a complementary evidence-based tool to support surgical patients, reduce anxiety and pain, and promote recovery.

Medical hypnotherapy is safe when provided by a trained clinician and works best as a complement to medical and surgical care—helping patients feel calmer, more in control and supported through their recovery.

Lata Patel, a Certified Medical Hypnotherapist and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with Soul Speaks Therapies, offers powerful therapeutic solutions, including NLP and hypnotherapy, to help individuals improve their emotional, mental and spiritual well-being to assist healing alongside conventional medical treatment. With 20-plus years of experience, Patel supports patients through cancer care, trauma recovery and surgical preparation dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, trauma and more.

For more information or to schedule a free, 20-minute, online consultation, call 617-444-9236, visit SoulSynergyMedicalHypnotherapy.com or SoulSpeaksTherapies.com.