I remember sitting across from a woman, a mother of two, who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She wasn’t surprised. In fact, her exact words to me were, “Luke, I knew something wasn’t right in my body long before this.”

She had felt the exhaustion, the heaviness in her chest, the restless nights. But she pushed through because that’s what she had always done. There were responsibilities to manage, children to care for, a home and work that couldn’t wait. There was no time to be unwell.

And so, she ignored the signals. Until her body forced her to listen.

Today, more than ever, we are beginning to understand the deep connection between emotional health, chronic stress, suppressed trauma, and diseases like breast cancer.

What we do not release, the body holds.

That fight you never resolved. That heartbreak you never healed from. The years of putting yourself last, absorbing everyone else’s problems, suppressing your own. It all stays. And over time, it manifests—not just as stress, but as inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and sometimes, illness.

But here’s the most powerful truth: just as emotions can contribute to disease, they can also be the key to healing.

So, this isn’t about fear.

This is about listening to the signals your body has been giving you.

This is about making space for yourself—not just for others.

This is about understanding that your healing is just as important as the love you give to the world.

Because you are not just meant to survive. You are meant to thrive.

 

The Mind-Body Connection: Does Emotional Health Shape Physical Health?

For years, we’ve looked at cancer as something purely physical—a mutation, a genetic predisposition, an unfortunate accident of biology. 

And while we still need more evidence, there is already a vast amount of research showing the impact of chronic stress, trauma, and emotional suppression on disease. 

 

 

We see it everywhere. When people are emotionally stressed, they fall sick more often. And when stress reduces, their health improves. My patients tell me before I even ask. Women diagnosed with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or any reproductive, hormonally-driven cancer sit across from me and say, “Luke, I know exactly when this started.”

Even before their diagnosis, they had a feeling. They carried something heavy for years; deep-rooted unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, guilt, something they never truly processed. This isn’t about a small fight with a spouse or a bad week at work. It’s about the pain that has been buried so deep that the body had no choice but to speak up.

Many women come to me saying, “Luke, I feel bitter.” But where does bitterness come from? It comes from unforgiveness.

The biggest challenge with forgiveness is the question we keep asking ourselves: How could she do this to me? How could he betray me? Why did this happen? That very question becomes the obstacle to healing.

So, how do you begin the journey of forgiveness? How do you release emotions that have been trapped for years? How do you make peace, not for the other person, but for yourself? Because that is where true healing begins.

As BK Shivani, Renowned Spiritual Mentor, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization, explains so beautifully when we don’t process our emotions when we suppress resentment, pain, or guilt, we may think we have moved on, but the body remembers. 

When we don’t process our emotions, when we hold onto pain, resentment, or guilt, that energy stays within us. Even if we mentally move on, our body still carries it​.

She explains that:

• Every thought, every emotion, every unresolved wound is energy. If it is not released healthily, it builds up, affecting our internal chemistry, our hormones, and even the way our cells function.
• Unforgiveness is like a toxin within us. We think we are punishing someone else by holding onto resentment, but in reality, we are hurting ourselves.
• Stress is not just a feeling—it is a biochemical event in the body. It floods the system with cortisol and adrenaline, leading to inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and a weakened immune system.

I have seen women change the course of their illness—not just with medicine, but also with a shift in their inner world. A woman who, after years of carrying resentment toward her mother, finally chose to forgive, and within months, felt a change in her body. A woman who believed she was unworthy of love, who slowly started choosing herself, and felt an energy return to her that she hadn’t known in years.

We cannot ignore the role our emotions play in our health. We are not just bodies—we are energy, emotion, and spirit. And when we heal emotionally, we create a space where the body, too, can begin to heal.

 

The Emotional Blueprint Behind Cancer in Science POV

Dr. Rajiv Bhatt, a Surgical Oncologist, explains how our genes are not our destiny. The way we live, the emotions we suppress, and the stress we carry can all influence which genes are activated or silenced within our bodies. 

In other words, your emotions don’t just stay in your mind; they change your biology​.

He explains that:

• Chronic stress and unprocessed emotional trauma weaken the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to disease. The body becomes less effective at detecting and eliminating cancerous cells. Meanwhile, stress-driven inflammation creates an internal environment where cancer cells can thrive​.
• Unresolved emotions create inflammation, which plays a direct role in cancer development and progression.
• Metabolic dysfunction and obesity, which are often rooted in emotional distress, stress-eating, and unresolved trauma, significantly increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.

 

It is no coincidence that many women going through emotional distress, grief, divorce, betrayal, and childhood neglect, often struggle with hormonal imbalances, emotional eating, and eventually, a body that cannot cope with the accumulated stress.

 

What Next?

We are not victims of our circumstances or our past.

• Just as stress can turn genes on, peace can turn them off.
• Just as negative emotions can weaken immunity, love, gratitude, and inner work can strengthen it.
• Just as inflammation can be triggered by trauma, healing those wounds can reduce it.

 

Unforgiveness, Trauma & The Cancer Connection

One of the most powerful yet unspoken aspects of healing is forgiveness—not for others, but for ourselves. Because when we hold onto pain, it doesn’t stay in the past. It lives within us, shaping our biology, our immunity, and our ability to heal.

I have witnessed this firsthand.

I remember a bone cancer patient who was in excruciating pain, unable to find peace in his final days. No amount of medication could ease his suffering. Then one day, I asked him a simple question, “Is there someone you haven’t forgiven?” He broke down. His brother, someone he had not spoken to for years, someone he had once loved but had grown distant from.

The family made the call. His brother came. They spoke, they wept, they forgave. And just hours later, he let go. Peacefully. No more pain, no more resistance. 

His suffering had not just been physical—it was emotional. And the moment he released the burden of resentment, his body no longer needed to fight​.

I saw something similar in my father’s cancer journey. For years, he carried silent pain, unspoken family conflicts, and estrangements that had never been addressed. But in his final months, something shifted. He walked across the street to his sister’s home, which he had not stepped into for years due to unresolved property issues. No one expected it. His family welcomed him, they spoke, and suddenly, all the old wounds melted away.

After that, he was different. The suffering was reduced, his spirit was lighter, and when he eventually passed, it was peaceful. No struggle, no resistance. Just surrender​.

So many times, we think forgiveness is for the other person. That somehow, if we let go, we are excusing their behavior. But as BK Shivani so beautifully explains, unforgiveness is not harming the person we refuse to forgive—it is harming us​.

She says, “The past is coming to you, but the power is in your present karma.”

What does this mean? 

It means that no matter what has happened, we have the power to choose how we respond today. Holding onto resentment doesn’t change the past, but it does shape our future.

• Every time we replay the betrayal, we relive it. The body experiences the same stress response over and over again.
• Every time we hold onto anger, we poison ourselves. Resentment increases cortisol, weakens immunity, and contributes to chronic inflammation.
• Every time we choose to let go, we give ourselves the chance to heal. Not just emotionally, but physically.

We all have pain. We all have people who have hurt us. But the question is, how long do we want to hold onto it? How much longer do we want to let it live within us, shaping our health, our joy, our ability to move forward?

Because the truth is, our body listens to every emotion we hold onto.

And when we finally let go, when we finally say, “I release this,” something shifts. The body softens. 

The pain reduces. 

The healing begins.

Not because the past disappears. But because we are no longer carrying it into our future.

If we talk about breast cancer then it is not just about a tumor. 

It is about the silent stress, the unspoken pain, the emotions buried deep within, never given the space to be felt or released.

Every woman I have spoken to on this journey, whether battling cancer or supporting a loved one through it, has a common thread in their story. 

She was the nurturer, the caregiver, the strong one. The one who kept going even when her body whispered for rest. The one who put everyone else first—until her body could no longer be ignored.

And this is what we don’t talk about enough—the emotional side of healing.

Yes, medicine is crucial.

Yes, treatment matters. 

But what about the healing that happens within?

I remember a woman who had been through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. She had done everything her doctors told her—took the medications, followed the diet, and exercised regularly. But something wasn’t shifting. She felt exhausted, weighed down, as though she was fighting an invisible battle that went beyond her diagnosis.

One day, during a conversation, she said something deep. “I have done everything for my body, but I haven’t done anything for my heart.”

She had spent years in an unhappy marriage, suppressing her emotions, avoiding confrontation, believing that keeping the peace was more important than her well-being. She had never permitted herself to express what she truly felt, to release the anger, the sadness, the resentment.

When she finally started doing the inner work—when she forgave, when she set boundaries, when she finally spoke her truth—something changed. Her energy shifted. Her pain was reduced. Her healing took on a new depth.

BK Shivani speaks about how healing is not just about the body; it is about the energy we carry. She says, “Cancer is not just about what we eat; it is also about what is eating us.”

This is why self-care is not selfish.

This is why setting boundaries is not selfish.

This is why choosing yourself is not selfish.

If a woman spends her whole life pouring into others, leaving herself empty, never allowing space for her own emotions, her own needs, her healing—what message is her body receiving?

I have seen women transform their healing journeys, not just by changing their diet or following a treatment plan (which are equally necessary), but by choosing to heal their inner world.

 

Your Healing Toolkit: How to Heal from the Inside Out Beyond Medicine

1. Acknowledge the Emotions You’ve Been Holding Onto

• Take a moment to reflect on the emotions you may have suppressed over the years—resentment, guilt, fear, sadness, grief.
• Ask yourself: What pain have I buried instead of addressing?
• Write it down. Name it. Bringing it to awareness is the first step toward healing.

2. Let Go of Unforgiveness—For Yourself

• Forgiveness is not about excusing someone’s behavior; it’s about freeing yourself from the emotional burden.
• Start by saying this out loud every day: “I choose to release this pain. I choose to free myself. I choose peace.” Even if you don’t fully believe it yet, repetition rewires the mind.

3. Practice Emotional Release

• If you feel overwhelmed, find a safe space to release your emotions, whether through journaling, speaking to a therapist, or even sitting in silence and allowing yourself to feel.
• Try breathwork, meditation, or guided visualizations to release stored trauma from the body.
• Movement helps too. Dance, yoga, or even walking in nature can help shift stuck emotions.

4. Rewire Your Thoughts & Self-Talk

• Be mindful of the thoughts you repeat to yourself. Are you holding onto fears? Are you constantly reliving past pain?
• Replace these thoughts with affirmations:
  • “I am safe in my body.”
  • “I am allowed to rest.”
  • “My past does not define my healing.”
• Your body listens to every word you speak to it—choose words that promote healing instead of fear.

5. Prioritize Stillness & Self-Care

• Create daily moments of stillness—whether it’s deep breathing, sitting in nature, or simply pausing in gratitude.
• Self-care isn’t selfish—it is essential. Start new hobbies that bring you peace and commit to them daily.

6. Build Healthy Emotional Boundaries

• Say no without guilt.
• Set boundaries with toxic people, draining relationships, and overwhelming responsibilities.
• Protect your energy by surrounding yourself with people and experiences that uplift you.

7. Seek Support & Community

• Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Connect with support groups, therapists, or trusted friends who encourage your emotional well-being.
• Talk. Share. Be open. Sometimes, just being heard is enough to start the healing process.

8. Choose Love Over Fear

• Every single day, make choices that come from a place of love instead of fear.
• Love for yourself, love for your body, love for your journey—no matter where you are today.

Emotional health is the missing piece in true well-being. Join us in the #FindYourCalm movement—a journey to balance, healing, and a healthier, more resilient you.

Remember: Regaining your peace, joy, and life is the goal of healing, not only surviving. Your body is listening. Your healing begins now.

 

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Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While emotional health plays a significant role in overall well-being, breast cancer is a complex disease influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and environmental triggers. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer or any other health condition, please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment plan. The insights shared here are meant to encourage self-awareness and emotional well-being as a complementary approach to healing, not as a replacement for medical care. Every individual’s journey is unique.

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True care goes beyond treatment—it nurtures the mind, body, and emotions. 

Our Cancer Care Program takes a holistic approach, integrating medical expertise, nutrition, and emotional well-being to support you. 

Take the first step toward a balanced and comprehensive approach today.