Pets can help with cancer. Dr Maureen Burke, counselling psychologist at the University of Queensland, has teamed up with her Siamese, Buddy, to help people undergoing cancer therapy. Designed to be used as an adjunct to conventional treatments, an audiotape entitled BUDDY TARGETS CANCER has shown promise in a pilot study, and has attracted interest from overseas health professionals.

"It was only a small study, but 11 of the 12 participants said the tapes made a positive contribution to their recovery," says Dr Burke. "People suffering from cancer often feel afraid, insecure and confused. What the Buddy tapes do is help them relax, give them back a sense of control and help them to believe that they really will recover."

The tapes feature Buddy's "meow" and Dr Burke's voice encouraging listeners to visualise their cancer cells as "vermin" being stalked by the cat, then to visualise the treatment they are receiving, either radiotherapy or chemotherapy, attacking the cancer, and finally their own white blood cells coming in to finish the job. Other offerings from Dr Burke and Buddy include BUDDY TARGETS FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF and, due out late this year, BUDDY TARGETS DEPRESSION.