Woolacombe. And a Controversial Psycho-Oncologist.

            The Postcard

A postcard bearing no publisher's name that was posted in Woolacombe using a 2d. stamp on Monday the 29th. June 1942. The card was sent to:

Miss Woolrich,
28, Seymour Place,
London W1.

The pencilled message on the divided back of the card was as follows:

"Dearie,
I am not quite certain
that this is the bungalow
but it is about the
situation.
I spent a lovely day
yesterday - a walk along
the sands in the morning,
tea and a bathe in the
afternoon, and left the
beach about 7 o'clock.
Sunday morning sitting
in the garden writing a
few cards. We are having
an early lunch and then
tea on the beach.
Hope you are well and
Peter is recovered, drop
me a line some time.
Love Amy."

Woolacombe

Woolacombe is a seaside resort on the north Devon coast. It lies at the mouth of a valley or "combe". The beach is 2.5 miles long, sandy and gently sloping. The waves are gentle when the tide is out, and more vigorous when it is in, thus it is a popular destination for surfing.

During WWII, the U.S. Army Assault Training Center was based at Woolacombe, where thousands of small boat crews and infantry practised amphibious landing assaults on the beach in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. 

The long, flat shape of the beach and the conditions of the hinterland were considered to closely resemble the Omaha Beach landing area.

Mersa Matruh

So what else happened on the day that Amy posted the card?

Well, on Monday the 29th. June 1942, the Egyptian port of Mersa Matruh fell to Axis forces.

Benito Mussolini

Benito Mussolini flew to Derna, Libya in anticipation of leading a triumphal entry of Axis forces into Cairo.

HMS Thrasher

Also on the 29th. June 1942, the Italian Navy ship Diana was torpedoed and sunk in the Bomba Bay by HMS Thrasher of the British Royal Navy. 

There were 336 dead and only 119 survivors.

O. Carl Simonton

The day also marked the birth in Los Angeles of O. Carl Simonton. He was a specialist in radiology and oncology, most notable for his unproven cancer treatment methods. 

He founded and directed the Simonton Cancer Center in Malibu, and was one of the pioneers of psycho-oncology. For over 30 years he worked with cancer patients who wanted to actively support their recovery process. 

Simonton was the author of the book 'Getting Well Again' (1992). He claimed that cancer can be treated by relaxation and visualization techniques, and that patients were healed using his methods. 

Key elements of his philosophy and techniques have influenced consulting work in psycho-oncology in the United States, Europe and Japan.

The Death of O. Carl Simonton

Simonton died at the age of 66 on the 18th. June 2009 in Agoura Hills in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Criticism of Simonton's Approach and Work

An investigation into five of Simonton's most impressive cases discovered that some of his patients had undergone standard cancer treatment, or probably did not have cancer to begin with. A number of medical health experts have described his therapy as dubious.

Physician Edward R. Friedlander, who investigated Simonton's techniques in depth, noted that:

"Although some of Simonton's patients 
found his approach helpful, his case 
histories are very poor evidence for the 
claim that his treatment controls tumours."

Psychologist Tomasz Witkowski devoted a whole chapter of his book 'Psychology Led Astray: Cargo Cult in Science and Therapy' to Simonton and his method, and concluded: 

"A deadly illness and its terminus are extreme 
situations; too difficult to be judged from the 
perspective of an outsider. However, when the 
process is joined by professionals, not only can 
we, but we should, assess what they are doing. 
The effectiveness of psychotherapy according 
to the methods of O. Carl Simonton has, for 
almost forty years, not been verified in accordance 
with the standards applicable in science and 
medicine. 
The majority of trustworthy studies indicates that 
the descriptions of effectiveness in advertisements 
for the method are false. 
The sources invoked by its supporters do not 
account either for the position of the American 
Cancer Society, nor other critical studies."

The American Cancer Society issued a statement entitled 'Unproven Methods of Cancer Management' that summarized Simonton's methods as follows: 

'After careful study of the literature and other 
information available to it, the American Cancer 
Society does not have evidence that treatment 
with O. Carl Simonton's psychotherapy method 
results in objective benefit in the treatment of 
cancer in human beings.'
   

Taken on: May 29, 2023

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