Mrs. E

Here's a story for you; it comes from a book by Hildgard and Hilgard called, Hypnosis in the relief of pain (1975):
Mrs. E suffered from terminal breast cancer that had metastasized into the bone of her right arm and hand. She described the pain in her arm as “terrible,” and reported that on most days the pain forced her to take codeine every three to four hours, and it was then only effective in taking off the edge. Her constant pain was a perpetual reminder of her terminal illness. Left in this state, Mrs. E was unable to truly live during what she knew to be her last months of life. She was depressed and unable to enjoy even the simple things that had previously filled her life, like her family and friends, reading, or relaxing at the beach.
Mrs. E was referred to Ernest Hilgard for therapy involving hypnosis. Once induced into a state of hypnosis using imagery related to her positive experiences at the ocean, she was able to use the suggested analgesic technique to completely remove the pain in her arm. Before being instructed to wake from hypnosis, Mrs. E was told that she would retain a mild discomfort in her right arm—just enough to serve as a warning not to overdo any activity. In addition, she was instructed that she would retain the freeing and pleasant feelings associated with her idyllic time at the beach.
For the remainder of that day, she reported not needing any more codeine; in fact, after this point, an overall reduction in usage of pain medication continued. As treatment continued, Mrs. E was also taught a suggestion technique that helped her sleep through the night. Although Mrs. E eventually passed away, her therapy not only helped to reduce the pain in her arm, it greatly improved her overall quality of life.