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In a heartfelt conversation, Lisa Ray advocated the importance of crying during her cancer treatment. Here are some curated medical research and reports supporting her statement.
Lisa Ray said, “All of our emotions are legitimate.”
Lisa Ray, a renowned actress known for her roles in Bollywood and international films, once gave a tough fight against cancer. In a heartfelt conversation with breast cancer survivor and actress Chhavi Mittal, Ray opened up about her challenging journey. She revealed her emotional battles throughout the healing process and advocated the importance of embracing one’s emotions during the same phase. Her battle with cancer, which began in 2009 when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable form of blood cancer, was a turning point in her life and career.
In a candid discussion with Chhavi Mittal for her podcast Candid Confessions, Lisa Ray shared insights into her emotional journey while finding self-compassion in healing. She mentioned that expressing emotions is not a sign of weakness and said, “All of our emotions are legitimate and sacred.” Ray also revealed that the real danger is in suppressing them. Prioritizing crying during her cancer treatment helped her find relief with the release of tensions.
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Ray further admitted that the diagnosis gave her a reason to pause in her life and step back to reassess all the things she had done till then. She expressed, “Finally, I can stop; I can get off this train,” adding how her illness forced her to slow down and confront her emotions.
Scientific research supports Lisa Ray’s perspective on the importance of crying during cancer treatment. According to a report published by Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, crying can help balance hormones, relieve strong emotions, and restore the body to its initial state. The body releases oxytocin and other endorphins while crying, providing relief from pain. The report also suggests that crying can help release tension, as tears contain stress hormones and the mineral manganese.
According to a report in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, crying has been shown to increase the levels of natural killer cells, which destroy cancer cells in the lymphatic system as part of the immune response. Thus, they recommend that crying therapy should be actively utilized in interventions for patients with cancer. The same report mentioned that the autonomic nervous system responds to increased blood flow by raising heart rate and blood pressure while initially shedding tears. However, after crying, stress hormones and adrenaline decrease. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated at this point, and the individual becomes calm. Hence, blood pressure decreases, improving cardiovascular functioning.
For those unaware, multiple myeloma happens to the white blood cells, also known as plasma cells, that produce antibodies. Following her diagnosis, Ray began writing The Yellow Diaries, a blog about her experiences of battling cancer. In April 2010, she announced she was cancer-free due to a stem cell transplant. Since then, she has been an active advocate of stem-cell therapy and often participates in several fundraisers and cancer awareness campaigns.
