2007年VOA标准英语-Hypnosis - Effective Pain Reliever for Breast C

By Melinda Smith
Washington
31 August 2007
 

Centuries ago doctors used hypnosis to help relieve the excruciating pain of surgery.  It then fell out of favor with the introduction of anesthesia.  Now as VOA's Melinda Smith reports, new studies show a host of benefits when hypnosis is used before breast cancer surgery.

In recent years, health professionals have used hypnosis as a tool in psychotherapy, and weight loss management, even on an experimental basis when Parkinson's disease patients undergo surgery for deep brain stimulation¹.

Now a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute underscores the benefits of hypnosis to reduce the side effects of breast cancer surgery.

Dr. Guy Montgomery

Dr. Guy Montgomery of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York is the study's author. "We found patients in the hypnosis group had less pain, nausea² and fatigue³, and they were less emotionally upset or less anxious, so it really was a win for the patients."

In a randomized clinical trial, 200 women scheduled for a breast biopsy or lumpectomy [removal of tumor⁴ without mastectomy] underwent a 15-minute hypnosis session before they went into the operating room.  Others just had a consultation⁵ with a psychologist.

While hypnosis has been studied before, this was the first time it was part of breast cancer treatment. 

Helen Dorman describes the pain of her surgery: "You sort of feel like you've been rolled over by a Mack [a brand of large truck] truck when you wake up."

Dr. Montgomery with Helen Dorman - "I'd like you to close your eyes and let yourself relax."

Patients under hypnosis were told to place themselves mentally somewhere pleasant, like the beach on a summer day. 

The hypnosis also cuts the amount of time spent in surgery, and that cuts back on medical expenses by at least $700.

A leading proponent⁶ of hypnosis says it has taken more than a century to rediscover the power of the mind in controlling pain.

1 stimulation   

n.刺激，激励，鼓舞

参考例句：

• The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
• You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。

2 nausea   

n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶)

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕期常有恶心的现象。
• He experienced nausea after eating octopus.吃了章鱼后他感到恶心。

3 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

4 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

5 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

6 proponent   

n.建议者；支持者；adj.建议的

参考例句：

• Stapp became a strong early proponent of automobile seat belts.斯塔普是力主在汽车上采用座椅安全带的早期倡导者。
• Halsey was identified as a leading proponent of the values of progressive education.哈尔西被认为是进步教育价值观的主要支持者。