The Mailer Review/Volume 4, 2010/Norman Mailer: From Orgone Accumulator to Cancer Protection for Schizophrenics: Difference between revisions
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Noting that one of the side effects of Cytoxin is suppression of the immune system, Dr. Ader observed that although the dead rats were not receiving the drug, they thought that they were. That thought shut down their immune systems and left them vulnerable to the ordinary germs which killed them. Obviously a critical connection existed between the rats’ minds and their immune systems. {{sfn|Ader|1992|p=6-8}} Practical wisdom has always known that there is a connection between the will and the cure. It took an additional six | Noting that one of the side effects of Cytoxin is suppression of the immune system, Dr. Ader observed that although the dead rats were not receiving the drug, they thought that they were. That thought shut down their immune systems and left them vulnerable to the ordinary germs which killed them. Obviously a critical connection existed between the rats’ minds and their immune systems. {{sfn|Ader|1992|p=6-8}} Practical wisdom has always known that there is a connection between the will and the cure. It took an additional six | ||
years to prove what the stoic Lucius Seneca said near the time of Christ, “It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.”{{sfn|Hoyt|1896|p= | years to prove what the stoic Lucius Seneca said near the time of Christ, “It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.”{{sfn|Hoyt|1896|p=688}} | ||
In 1981 it was Neurobiologist Dr. David Felten, (currently a Research and Medical Director at the Beaumont Hospital Research Institute and a former recipient of the MacArthur Foundation genius award), a leading researcher in mind-body medicine, who finally discovered the hardwired connection between the immune system and the central nervous system controlled by the brain. Although ideas of cellular structure and function had existed for some time, they could not be proven because it was impossible to observe submicroscopic compositions like viruses. Advances in technology, including the invention of the electron microscope, greatly expanded the verifiable. The Felten research team led the way in a new field named Psychoneuroimmunology, or PNI. Researchers used fluorescent stain to trace nerves from the brain to bone marrow, lymph nodes, and the spleen. They discovered a network of nerves leading to blood vessels as well as cells of the immune system. At last the connection was visible and scientific research had proven | In 1981 it was Neurobiologist Dr. David Felten, (currently a Research and Medical Director at the Beaumont Hospital Research Institute and a former recipient of the MacArthur Foundation genius award), a leading researcher in mind-body medicine, who finally discovered the hardwired connection between the immune system and the central nervous system controlled by the brain. Although ideas of cellular structure and function had existed for some time, they could not be proven because it was impossible to observe submicroscopic compositions like viruses. Advances in technology, including the invention of the electron microscope, greatly expanded the verifiable. The Felten research team led the way in a new field named Psychoneuroimmunology, or PNI. Researchers used fluorescent stain to trace nerves from the brain to bone marrow, lymph nodes, and the spleen. They discovered a network of nerves leading to blood vessels as well as cells of the immune system. At last the connection was visible and scientific research had proven | ||
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would be published later that year, Dr. Bishop quotes Norman Mailer, a fellow | would be published later that year, Dr. Bishop quotes Norman Mailer, a fellow | ||
alumnus. He refers to Mailer’s “cancer trigger” theory with a quote from | alumnus. He refers to Mailer’s “cancer trigger” theory with a quote from | ||
''Tough Guys Don’t Dance'': “None of the doctors have a feel for the subject.... The way I see the matter, it’s a circuit of illness with two switches.... Two terrible things have to happen before the crud can get its start. The first cocks the trigger. The other fires it. I’ve been walking around with the trigger cocked for forty-five years.” {{sfn|Mailer|1984|p=158}} Bishop further explains, “The speaker here was a smoker who died of lung cancer four pages later in Mailer’s novel . . .Mailer’s conservative estimate of two ‘triggers’ has since been revised upward for most cancers, but otherwise, the imagery is on target.” Dr. Bishop, completes the reference with “Norman Mailer gets it,” meaning that Norman Mailer understands how cancer works.{{sfn|Bishop| | ''Tough Guys Don’t Dance'': “None of the doctors have a feel for the subject.... The way I see the matter, it’s a circuit of illness with two switches.... Two terrible things have to happen before the crud can get its start. The first cocks the trigger. The other fires it. I’ve been walking around with the trigger cocked for forty-five years.” {{sfn|Mailer|1984|p=158}} Bishop further explains, “The speaker here was a smoker who died of lung cancer four pages later in Mailer’s novel . . .Mailer’s conservative estimate of two ‘triggers’ has since been revised upward for most cancers, but otherwise, the imagery is on target.” Dr. Bishop, completes the reference with “Norman Mailer gets it,” meaning that Norman Mailer understands how cancer works.{{sfn|Bishop|2003b|p=53}} | ||
Anne Harrington, the chair of the History of Science Department at Harvard, writes in her book, The Cure Within, that Mailer authorized his defense lawyers to develop the argument that if he had repressed his rage, | Anne Harrington, the chair of the History of Science Department at Harvard, writes in her book, ''The Cure Within'', that Mailer authorized his defense lawyers to develop the argument that if he had repressed his rage, | ||
instead of stabbing his wife Adele, he would have gone on to develop cancer.{{sfn|Harrington|2008|p=90-91}} She does not suggest that he thought fear of cancer allowed one to act out one’s rage, nor do his characters propose such violence. However, Mailer had no doubt that failure to act in a moment of great emotion causes the disease. | instead of stabbing his wife Adele, he would have gone on to develop cancer.{{sfn|Harrington|2008|p=90-91}} She does not suggest that he thought fear of cancer allowed one to act out one’s rage, nor do his characters propose such violence. However, Mailer had no doubt that failure to act in a moment of great emotion causes the disease. | ||
An estimated two million Americans have schizophrenia, a biological condition that affects a person’s ability to think clearly, distinguish reality from fantasy, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. The World Health Organization has identified schizophrenia as one of the ten most debilitating diseases affecting humans. The fact that those who suffer from schizophrenia are a population of very heavy smokers (up to 88%) would lead one to expect that they had a high incidence of cancer | An estimated two million Americans have schizophrenia, a biological condition that affects a person’s ability to think clearly, distinguish reality from fantasy, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. The World Health Organization has identified schizophrenia as one of the ten most debilitating diseases affecting humans. The fact that those who suffer from schizophrenia are a population of very heavy smokers (up to 88%) would lead one to expect that they had a high incidence of cancer{{sfn|Hughes|Hatsukami|Mitchell|Dahlgren|1986|p=995}} However, the opposite is true. Norman Mailer believed that their mental illness protected them. | ||
Researchers at National Institutes of Mental Health emphasize that many of the genes associated with schizophrenia are the same as those that are associated with cancer, but the disorders use them in opposite ways. While cancer results from changes in the genes that cause the cells to go into {{pg|448|449}} overdrive and multiply rapidly, the same genes cause cells in schizophrenia to slow to a crawl. | Researchers at National Institutes of Mental Health emphasize that many of the genes associated with schizophrenia are the same as those that are associated with cancer, but the disorders use them in opposite ways. While cancer results from changes in the genes that cause the cells to go into {{pg|448|449}} overdrive and multiply rapidly, the same genes cause cells in schizophrenia to slow to a crawl. | ||
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Dr. Amanda Law of the University of Oxford, who heads a team at National Institutes of Mental Health, explored specific pathways that cells use | Dr. Amanda Law of the University of Oxford, who heads a team at National Institutes of Mental Health, explored specific pathways that cells use | ||
to make basic decisions about their development and their fate. She says,<blockquote>“This is about basic decision making by cells—whether to multiply, move, or change their basic architecture....Cancer and schizophrenia may be strange bedfellows that have similarities at the molecular level. The differences lie in how cells respond to external stimuli: in cancer the molecular system functions to | to make basic decisions about their development and their fate. She says,<blockquote>“This is about basic decision making by cells—whether to multiply, move, or change their basic architecture....Cancer and schizophrenia may be strange bedfellows that have similarities at the molecular level. The differences lie in how cells respond to external stimuli: in cancer the molecular system functions to | ||
speed up the cell and in schizophrenia the system is altered in such a way that causes the cell to slow down.” {{sfn| | speed up the cell and in schizophrenia the system is altered in such a way that causes the cell to slow down.” {{sfn|Genetics|2007}}</blockquote> | ||
Dr. Daniel Weinberger of NIMH says, “It’s very curious that a brain disorder associated with very complicated human behavior has at a genetic and cellular level a striking overlap with cancer, a very non-behavior related disorder. | Dr. Daniel Weinberger of NIMH says, “It’s very curious that a brain disorder associated with very complicated human behavior has at a genetic and cellular level a striking overlap with cancer, a very non-behavior related disorder. | ||
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* {{cite magazine |last=Dotinga |first=Randy |date=1 July 2008 |title=Scientists Find Way to Dim Cancer Switch |magazine=The Washington Post |publisher=Washington Post Company |ref=harv }} | * {{cite magazine |last=Dotinga |first=Randy |date=1 July 2008 |title=Scientists Find Way to Dim Cancer Switch |magazine=The Washington Post |publisher=Washington Post Company |ref=harv }} | ||
* {{cite magazine |date=8 December 2007 |title=Genetics Might Explain Why Schizophrenics Have Lower Cancer Rates |magazine=Science 2.0 |publisher=ION Publications LLC |ref= | * {{cite magazine |date=8 December 2007 |title=Genetics Might Explain Why Schizophrenics Have Lower Cancer Rates |magazine=Science 2.0 |publisher=ION Publications LLC |ref={{harvid|Genetics|2007}} }} | ||
* {{cite book |last=Harrington |first=Anne |date=2008 |title=The Cure Within: A History of Mind-Body Medicine |location=New York |publisher=W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. |ref=harv }} | * {{cite book |last=Harrington |first=Anne |date=2008 |title=The Cure Within: A History of Mind-Body Medicine |location=New York |publisher=W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. |ref=harv }} | ||