Why Is Forgiveness So Important to Cancer Patients? [Podcast Ep. 26]

This week’s episode is certainly for those who go through cancer, but it’s uniquely relevant to all the family members and caregivers of someone walking through cancer. We know forgiveness is healing. However, newer research shows that forgiveness is specifically important to a cancer patient’s health. Most surprising, the greatest benefit of forgiveness comes if her caregivers practice self-forgiveness.

It’s easy to feel like you’re falling short when you’re going through cancer. You feel awful, and more stuff is just going to get under your skin. Your loved ones probably feel awful too for different reasons, and so exhaustion, bad moods, and crankiness is going to set in. It happens.

Or what if you’re the caregiver? Literally nothing a caregiver does can be enough–not that your loved one feels that way. But, practically speaking, you are physically unable to cure the disease, and nothing really can make your loved one feel “comfortable.” And that’s all that probably matters to you right now. You’re going to make mistakes. You try to help, but you say something insensitive, and there are tears. You adjust the pillows the wrong way, and your loved one screams in pain.

Why is it so hard to let go of certain insults and injuries during major health crises? Why is it even harder to forgive ourselves of our own shortcomings? Moreover, why does it all matter?

Health Benefits of Forgiveness

Dr. Loren Toussaint is a psychologist, professor, and researcher from Luther College. He studies how forgiveness impacts both the mind and the body. In this episode, he shares the results of some recent studies that reveal a fascinating benefit of forgiveness: people who practice forgiveness are not only happier, but physically healthier too. Loren explains how to better practice forgiveness. He also dispels some harmful myths that often keep people from taking that important first step to forgive.

So many questions are discussed in this episode. Why should we forgive? Is forgiveness the same thing as saying someone did nothing wrong? Does forgiveness always come hand in hand with reconciliation? How can you forgive someone without appearing weak? Loren addresses all these questions and more in a thought-provoking interview about how both cancer patients and their caregivers can forgive others and themselves for harm they may or may not have meant to cause.

Listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher, or click the play button below.

Music Credit: Scott Holmes of https://scottholmesmusic.com/

What We Talked About

The benefits of forgiveness on the body when healing from physical trauma
The benefits of forgiveness on the mind and how those who are more forgiving generally experience better global physical and mental health
How caregivers’ self-forgiveness impacts cancer patients
Common misconceptions about forgiveness and reconciliation
How forgiving becomes easier when you make the conscious decision to forgive
How forgiveness can be an important step to moving on
Why what you think someone needs isn’t always what they do need and how harm can be unintentional–especially in the context of caregivers and family members
The concept of self-forgiveness and how to forgive yourself for your own shortcomings