The Relationship between Mind-Body-Spirit Integration and Spontaneous Remission of Cancer: A Multiple-Case Study

The overall intent of this research is to bring a scholarly perspective to the mind, body, and spirit integration and its possible healing effects that may lead to the spontaneous remission (SR) of cancer. Since SR has been recorded to exist for as long as cancer has been recognized as a disease, researchers have been interested in the reasons that have contributed to this phenomenon in order to understand key factors that have led to cancer survivors’ healing. The primary purpose of this research is to offer another perspective on the healing of cancer by learning about the alternative means by which a specific group of cancer survivors was able to achieve SR in lieu of the ministrations of modern medicine. Due to the limited number of studies on SR, this researcher hopes to build upon existing theories developed in other qualitative research studies to yield insight into how SR may have occurred through lived experiences of cancer survivors. The multiple-case study method was used to address the research question. The primary research question guiding this dissertation investigated: In what ways does a participant’s experience and understanding of her or his mind, body, and spirit integration contribute to the SR of cancer? The author worked with 5 participants who, after learning from Dr. Tien-Sheng Hsu to integrate their mind, body, and spirit, were able to achieve SR from their cancer. Data collected from Hsu’s patients provided insight as to how participants experienced their whole system integration as manifested in their spiritual, emotional/mental, and physical wellbeing that had led to SR. The researcher examined data collected to identify possible commonalities and shared meanings in both what participants believed had led to their illness as well as the subsequent shift in beliefs that had contributed to their healing