What determines the accuracy of survival odds predicted by an oncologist? According to Valenzuela's book, this depends on the person's beliefs and support system. Does the client have a reason to live and the determination to do so? Are there positive people at home, at church, or among friends?

Fear dominates the thoughts experienced by most people on hearing the word "cancer." The author labels this a mild, trance state induced by negative perceptions. As a therapist, he uses hypnosis to induce a controlled trance state where clients can learn to utilize the amazing capabilities of their "bodymind" to reduce pain and heal.

The book sites personal and professional examples of how anger at frustrating circumstances can weaken the body's immune system, allowing the growth of cancer cells. It also documents the rise of cancer that followed in the aftermath of a Chilean uprising in the 1970s. While Valenzuela was a political prisoner, his wife experienced the frustration of having no control. After their deportation to Canada, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Afraid of losing her, the author could not immediately offer emotional help as her husband. Although Valenzuela apologizes for using medical and psychiatric language to support the alternative treatment for cancer, it was this knowledge that has kept his wife alive close to thirty years after her original prognosis. And it became the basis for writing the book.

While the layman will find Healing in Cancer encouraging, the therapist can utilize the methodology and documented scripts to implement hypnotic treatment. Especially unique are two of the author's recommendations: learning the client's internal vocabulary to use as part of hypnotic instruction and substituting death terminology with words of life. English as a the author's second language presents only an occasional distraction.

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