The recorded debut of Buddy the “mew-on-cue” Siamese cat is proving a hit for cancer patients.
Patients have reported feeling better and more empowered after listening to the serenading Siamese do the backing vocals on a relaxation tape titled Buddy Targets Cancer.
It is believed to be the first time an animal has been used in this way.
University of Queensland psychologist and Director of Student Support Services, Dr Maureen Burke produced the tape.
Dr Burke included Buddy’s meowing in a relaxation and visualisation tape she had made following a close friend’s diagnosis with breast cancer.
“Buddy ‘talked’ to my friend and was imagined in a visual imagery exercise ‘killing’ the vermin which was her cancer,” she said.
“After her positive feedback, I realised a generic tape for all cancer sufferers could be produced and would hopefully be equally as beneficial for them.”
The result is Buddy Targets Cancer where patients are asked to visualise Buddy killing vermin representing their cancer.
They are asked to visualise the treatment they are receiving to destroy the cancer cells and then visualise their white blood cells finishing the job through eliminating any remaining cancer cells.
Dr Burke presented findings of a pilot study involving the tape’s usage by 12 cancer patients at the VIIth European Congress of Psychology held in London in July.
“Of 1200 papers delivered from all over the world, our paper was among just 20 selected for media release,” Dr Burke said.
Before finding feline fame, Buddy had experience in helping ease pain associated with cancer. “Buddy came into my life six months after the death of my husband from bone cancer,” Dr Burke said.
“As time passed I realised how much Buddy had contributed to my well-being and the psychologist in me wondered how I could articulate this to help others.”
UQ School of Veterin-ary Science Associate Professor Judith Blackshaw said the health benefits of hav-ing animals in hosp-itals and nursing homes were well documented.
“Even though it is difficult to quantitatively measure the benefits, what matters is that people say they feel better after listening,” Dr Blackshaw said.
Dr Burke said while some members of the medical profession were sceptical about the use of complementary therapies, the pilot study results had been promising.
“Patients reported going from tense to relaxed in under half-an-hour. All said the tape had helped them in their resolve to recover,” she said.
UQ Health Services’ Director Dr Tony Arklay said the relaxation and visualisation techniques in the tape helped “in the process of providing comfort, relief, hope and relaxation to people living with cancer.”
The tapes, costing $25 can be ordered through the website below or by writing to: The Buddy Tapes, PO Box 6037, St Lucia. 4067.
A portion of sale proceeds will go towards cancer research at The University of Queensland.
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