About

Hi there! I’m Cortney. Wife to Kevin, mom to five amazing girls + one sweet boy, and holistic cancer survivor through natural therapies since 2008. (One day I’ll post an updated picture!)

Since 2011, this has been my cozy place on the web to write about life during and after healing naturally from cancer. Here you will find the nitty-gritty about what an anticancer lifestyle and diet looks like. Whether it’s chugging giant vegetable smoothies, chopping colorful salads, pinching my nose to eat cancer-fighting concoctions, or shivering after wheatgrass shots– I hope you’ll join in!

Although my path to healing involved nontoxic therapies, I know that each person’s healing journey is unique. I want those stopping by here to know ALL of your options for cancer treatment and know that everyone can benefit from adopting an anticancer diet and lifestyle.

Whether you are preventing, taking a natural approach to healing cancer or are integrating conventional treatment, our diet and lifestyle choices matter and you have OPTIONS.

The blog is quiet these days as I spend my days homeschooling my 6 children, but you can check out updates and tips on my Facebook and Instagram pages. I also have a YouTube Channel, 🙂

The best way to keep up with me is by SUBSCRIBING to my weekly(ish) newsletter. You can subscribe HERE.

You can also check out my 60+ page Anti-Cancer Lifestyle Guide with 5 days worth of anti-cancer meal plans + 25 recipes + printable grocery list and a bunch more.

 

Here Are Some of My Most Popular Posts to Get Started:

Questions to Ask Before Chemotherapy Begins

That Time God Spoke to My Husband in the Chemo Room

An Oncologist Questions Chemotherapy

My Natural Healing Story: How I Beat Cancer

Series: A Day in The Life on Alternative Cancer Treatment

39 Funny Ways You Know You’re Healing Cancer Naturally

Online and Local Groups For Alternative Cancer Support

Also, you can visit the START HERE page to find archives of all of my past posts by topic.

A Bit About My Cancer Story…

When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 at 26 years old, it was my husband Kevin who felt a deep unrest about me receiving 4 rounds of chemotherapy plus follow-up radiation for my stage 2 NLP Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

I however JUST WANTED IT OUT OF ME!!! (That was what I really said!) And because I am the recovering people-pleaser that I am, I had a hard time telling my oncologist that we didn’t so much agree with his treatment options. 

You can read the details of my story HERE and watch it HERE, but after freaking out for a few days, I eventually agreed to give a nontoxic, natural approach to my cancer a try for a three-month period while monitoring my cancer’s behavior carefully.

Long story very short, after 3 months on my nontoxic healing protocol my palpable cancer was almost completely gone to the touch. This was extremely encouraging and we moved forward, strengthening my protocol even more as we continued to learn more about additional natural therapies.

Four months into my nontoxic cancer treatment, I discovered that I was pregnant which of course brought plenty of new questions and changed the dynamic of my healing considerably. My oncologist, my husband and I both agreed that we would continue doing what we had been doing and three months after that I was declared in “clinical remission” and have remained cancer-free since. 

Everyday I am incredibly grateful. I hope the word in this blog help make life less overwhelming so that you will thrive during your healing journey and after. 

Cortney 🌻

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68 thoughts on “About

  1. Hi, my husband diagnosed with classical hofgkins lymphoma in 2021… That’s stage 3…we tried abvd but failed then we tried immunotherapy with brentuximab and nivolumab but again relapse… Now they are suggesting us to do stem transplant…. We are planning to heal it naturally……… My husband has so much pain in the back n we are helpless… Please guide us anyone 🙏

  2. I am on the budwig protocol now for about 2 weeks. I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in July of this year, and went through 4 rounds of chemo in August which did very little on my cancer, but caused issues with my body which I am just now recovering. I am hopeful that this therapy will provide a remedy however I am to start some conventional non-chemo type targeted meds in the next week. We will see how that goes.

    I am curious how you are doing now?

  3. HI CORTNEY, thanks for all your great WORK.

    a friend just had a child, & of course their pediatrician is pushing them to get vaccinated, including the Hep B given just after birth.

    can you recommend a pediatrician who is not such a vaccination zealot ?

    thanks, Lew

  4. I enjoy reading about your journey, as I am traveling the cancer trail also. I have recently started a blog, and would like to reference yours with links from time to time if that is ok with you. Thanks for sharing and keep on keeping on!!

  5. Hi I’m 2 end round of lymphoma, tried previous successful natural healing method , it seems this time it’s very hard to control and grow pretty quick…
    Crying, feel hopeless… can you please email me , I do need talk to someone to find some courage …
    Regards
    Ivy

  6. Greetings,

    I hope that you are doing well. Several questions on the Budwig protocol:
    Is is better to use lignan or non-lignan flax seed oil for the “quark” or in general?
    Can you use organic plain Greek yogurt (instead of cottage cheese)?
    Can I combine Yogurt or cottage cheese with goat’s milk kefir to make the “quark”?
    You are a wonderful resource. Thank you for your service. Many blessings!

  7. Hello,

    Courtney,

    very heartening to hear to your story.. I’ve SLL which is not dissimilar but rare (100 nodes). Ive been all raw for 3.5 years! really good food and do meditation, fasting, affirmations practice forgiveness, gratitude and do a huge amount more! but I’ve still not made progress.. I’m keen to try your protocol but I’m also afraid as this is very sensitive to things, cooked food for example blows up the lymphoma part (also have cll). I’ve not had any treatment (don’t want any) but as the budwig is dairy I’m afraid as Dairy is a massive no no amongst most top naturopaths (Dr Robert Morse for example who is a legend). But I’m running out of ideas.. I’ve literally tried everything.. I do have Essiac tea and have just started it but along with my other raw diet..not budwig. It’s only been two weeks and I’m drinking about 300ml a day.. I don’t know if that’s enough.. I’ve not seen any changes yet whatsoever.. Any pointers would be welcome.. Take care…

    • Hi Neville, WOW 3 1/2 years is great, but I can imagine you are ready to move past this cancer phase. I know that when I was at a crossroads and really didn’t know where to turn, I just prayed. Prayed for next steps and prayed for miracles. Really humbled myself before God and let him know I needed him and I didn’t know what to do. I don’t know where you are at with that, but that is my best two cents. 🙂

  8. Dear Anti cancer Mom hallo,
    My name isi Dimitris and iam writing you from Greece, to start with i hope you are all safe with all this Covid madness.
    I want to ask you for some advice.
    4years ago i found that i had Hodgkin Lymphoma stage 2, that time i didnt know much so i had the chemo. Up to a point i was handling it but the last 4 session i think i was getting really tired. I think it was to hard at the end and that cause me many neyrological and myskeletal problems not to mention the psychology. Anyway that was then. I was in remission and durinf that time i found your blog which realy inspired me and gave me something to fight about. I started plant base diet and some supplements.
    After four years in remmision i start to have an annoyance in the chest area and some brathong problems. I ll do the Ct scan the coming week and we ll see what it is.
    What i wanted to ask you is your preciouw advice on it. How should i begave? What shall i do ? What supplements shal i take? I am not pasing on you any of my responsibility i ust would like your honest opinion and advice, jusy one or two keypoints. I would like to avoid chemo this time.
    All the above is if you have the time and your are ok with.
    If you are busy its ok dont worry. I already know your everyday program with Beta glucan, Essaic tea and the rest.
    Thank you in advance
    Kind regards
    Dimitris

    • Hi Dimitris,
      If I were you, I would be praying for next steps and guidance. Start looking for a supportive integrative or holistic practitioner to walk with you and support you through your journey. I can only tell you about my own experience (which it looks like you have read up on,) but I think you are in a great position to heal. 🙂 Please keep me updated and I can help how I can!

      -Cortney

  9. Hello Cortney
    Thank You for creating this website to share what you have learned and educate others on to beat cancer and to prevent or lower our cancer risks.
    I would like to you about drinking water contaminants and filtration systems.

  10. Hi Courtney,

    Do you currently drink organic green tea today, daily? How much? 1 cup per day?

    I read that caffeine from teas are not good for cancer and is dehydrating to the body.

    Thank you and God bless,
    Cindy

  11. Hi Cortney
    Quick question. Does Whole Foods have most of the sprouts and produce items you have in your Cancer Green Drink? I am looking to get jump started, and the Whole Foods for us is a little drive. We could not find some of the sprouts locally. Thanks in advance for your response

  12. More power to you! Love what you are doing and I know how brave you need to be to do this work. Thank you. Do you happen to know vaccine friendly preschools in the Decatur area of Atlanta?

  13. Cortney:
    Thanks for sharing your story and so much information on your site. Very inspirational. I live in Atlanta and just got diagnosed with grade 1-2 b-cell follicular non hodgkins lymphoma. Docs at Piedmont and Emory have both agreed to a Rituxan only treatment (no chemo!), but part of me still wonders about taking this on completely naturally (Ritux is still a little scary and, although rare, has some big possible side effects – irreversible brain damage, death)… And I’m consulting with a holistic doc later this week. Have you encountered anyone with b-cell follicular NHL in Atlanta that went the natural route? If so, I would love to talk with him/her. Thanks!

    And because of you and Dr. Axe posts, I’ve started the day with the Budwig goulash this week (and it’s not bad). I’ve also been juicing and coffee enemas similar to Gerson, but not exact. Nothing processed, very little meat/eggs, no sugar. I’ve got a really itchy detox rash all over my trunk right now, so I guess I’m doing something right.

    My Qs:
    1. Have you encountered anyone with b-cell follicular NHL in Atlanta that went the natural route? If so, I would love to talk with him/her. It might help me make a treatment decision.
    2. Did you get or know anyone who has dealt with a detox rash? Any tips?

    Thanks!

    • Hi there Todd!

      I completely understand where you are coming from and I think you are in an excellent place to take some time to explore and implement nontoxic strategies before considering some of the harshe conventional treatments. I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head with your specific cancer in Atlanta, but I have encountered many people with lymphoma choosing to heal with a nontoxic approach in online groups over the years and have celebrated many of their remissions! Another great place to find people are at HealingStrong groups. http://www.healingstrong.org/groups. There are several Facebook groups where you can connect with people. Here’s a list on my blog: https://www.anticancermom.com/online-support/. There’s also the E-book on my blog with tons of recipes. Glad you are liking the Budwig!! Yes, the Detox rash is usual. I never got that but I bet someone in the groups I recommended could help with some experiential advice for sure. Did you also see the Atlanta holistic doctors post I wrote? https://www.anticancermom.com/atlanta-holistic-and-alternative-doctors/

      -Cortney 🙂

  14. Hi! Stage 4 colon cancer here- your site is inspiring and I too have chosen the non toxic route. I started the Budwig Protocol last week and I have A few questions about it. I figured since you made it a part of your protocol you might know- I find myself using it like it’s yogurt. Mixing nuts and berries and a few of my greens powders and mushroom powders in with it. Did you ever mix other things in with it or does it have to be eaten alone. I was thinking of incorporating it in with my veggies as if it were a sauce. I went to Hope 4 Cancer down in Mexico and they recommend no dairy. I got off all dairy last Sept when I was diagnosed. Do you know how and why the Budwig Protocol is different and in your experience, does it cause inflammation like other dairy does? Just curios and thought you might have some answers for me. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this-

    • Hi Sherry!

      Good for you. I love hearing about your decision! Hope4Cancer is a great place, too. I’ve actually been there once, not for treatment but because my husband’s film company was capturing some of their patients’ stories. The Budwig and the Hope 4 Cancer approach are different approaches. Both are good in their own way. If I were you, I would choose what resonates with you and your body best for now and stick with it. Trying to add too many various protocols can get overwhelming and sometimes can affect the effectiveness. Since you spent the time there and they “prescribed” you a protocol based on your individual circumstance (and I imagine you’re doing some of their therapeutics), then I think it makes the most sense to stick to what they suggested to you for now. The Budwig is a wonderful protocol in addition to a high raw plant-based diet (and not inflammatory in my experience), but jumping around or adding protocols without waiting for evaluation could get confusing. Just my two cents. 🙂 Blessings to you and prayers for your healing! -Cortney

  15. Good morning and God bless you! So glad I found your site! I was diagnosed with breast cancer a month ago and my husband and I would like for me to take the holistic approach! Our doctor does not support this and we want to find someone who does! What was the name of your doctor and where are they located?? We have two children ages 3 and 1 and we do not want me going through such harsh treatments while taking care of the children (or going through them at all)! Please let me know! Thanks! God bless you!

    • Hi Cortney, my name is Jenny Espinoza, I am 73 years old diagnosed with stage 4 liver and lung cancer I am taking Chinese herbs. I live in Riverside California, I need help finding a program like you did, but I keep hitting a brick wall no programs where I live. Could you please help me you know many people. Also I tried down loading for your book with recipes on my I pad did not download, need help. Thank you for any help you can give me. Is there a phone number I can call for Anti cancer mom?

      • Hi Gloria, I am so sorry to hear you are dealing with these issues. If I were you I would look at going to a clinic in Mexico in Tijuana. It’s not far from you and they are more affordable than options in the U.S, although they are run by U.S. doctors driving over the border in most cases. Are you still having problems getting the E-book? I can email it to you directly if so. Please let me know. 🙂

  16. I was diagnosed with breast cancer about a month ago. We have seen some doctors and my husband and I feel strongly about going the holistic route. We have two children ages 3 and 1 and we don’t want me to have go through such harsh treatment, especially while taking care of our sweet babies (I’m a stay at home mom)! What was the name of your doctor?? Our doctor does not support our holistic approach! We want to find someone who will work with us! Please let me know. So encouraged reading your story. I know we will have a lot of people disagreeing with us on this approach but we already hear it from them about va((ines 😉 God bless you!

  17. Cortney,

    Just wanted to comment on your article on “Alternatives to Obamacare”, great research btw, but I think you have an error in your article regarding Christian Health Ministries. According to their web-site, “CHM shares 100 percent of bills for any medical incident exceeding $500 as long as all other Guidelines are met. (Total bills incurred per incident must exceed $500 in order to be eligible for sharing.) You can receive assistance up to $125,000 per illness. You stated that, “Their GOLD package is $150 monthly per person (unit) and includes maternity coverage (and will even cover home births) All medical bills are shared (paid) after a $500 TOTAL personal contribution per year.” It looks like its $500 out of pocket per incident, not once you meet $500. in total per person per year. Glad I found your site though. Tons of good info and It was very helpful.

    Warmest Regards,
    Kristine

  18. Dear Courtney,
    Thank you and Kevin for your involvement with Healing Strong. I was aware of the organization but did not realize they were that alternative therapy supportive as well as Christian oriented. Thumbs up on both counts! I was able to watch most of the live streaming and ordered their videos of same. Have updated my FactorReady.com site and of course still advocate your site in the Health tab article. Thanks again for all ya’ll do and May The Good Lord Bless You BIG! Sincerely, Joe Lanier, an Ol’East Texas Turkey and Cancer Veteran in Jasper,Texas…

  19. Hello,
    I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma 5/11/18, and it’s located on the base of my tongue. It’s caused by HPV. Also, just in last 2 months I have a lump on my neck that we don’t know the cause of (yet). I’m hoping it’s my lymph node clogged with dead cancer cells or perhaps a blocked salivary gland.

    I really don’t want to do the harsh conventional treatments so I’ve been doing a bunch of natural treatments such as:
    Keto diet, green drinks (spinach,kale, dandelion greens), Beta 1 Glucan (per body weight), Vitamin D Supreme, mushroom complex, Humic-monolaurin, DIM (with turmeric), Omega Pure (Omega 3), Intravenous Vitamin C (22 treatments so far), lysine, Infrared sauna (10 treatments so far), and other things.

    I’ve been following these natural treatments for almost 4 months.

    I was wondering if you knew of anyone else that had a tongue tumor (caused by HPV) that was healed naturally?? Or anyone that had lump in neck that wasn’t cancer? It would really help to know there ARE others out there who had similar situation as mine and were healed naturally!

    I’m a born again believer in Christ and I totally believe God can heal me supernaturally or naturally.
    BTW I LOVE Your story about your husband hearing from God in the chemo room!!

    • H Steve, I am so sorry to hear all that you are going through. I can’t think of anyone off the top of my mind with tongue cancer. Did you check Chris Beat Cancer’s survivor stories on his blog? If you search “survivors” on my blog there are also a lot of testimonies to look through. All my best to you! -Cortney

  20. Hi Cortney,
    Your website is incredible. Lots of great info.
    However, I didn’t see a proper “contact” or media contact. Do you ever do
    radio interviews? I would love to have you on my show.

    You have lots of great info and I think it would be great to expose to our
    “15” listeners. Interested?
    Let me know. Meanwhile I’m off to do my paper route so that I can
    afford a juicer and a water filter. Lol.

    Have a great day……..and congratulations!!

    Robb
    Pacific Northwest

  21. I saw that you recommend the Living Food Institute in Atlanta? Would you recommend that for someone who does not have a cancer diagnosis to date, but does have a concerning low white blood count that is undiagnosed thus far?

  22. Thank you for your helpful post which compares the three most popular Christian healthcare sharing ministries. I’d like to point out just one correction. With Christian Healthcare Ministries, the $500 deductible is per incident rather than per year. So if there are multiple incidents per year that are each less than $500, they will all be paid out of pocket. If, however, an incident exceeds $500, it is eligible for sharing in it’s entirety, including the first $500. Again, thank you for your post.

    Paul

  23. Your site is amazing. Are there additional specific programs and/or direction you would steer for multiple myeloma, particularly in the Atlanta or southeast area?

  24. Hi Cortney!

    Your story is amazing. WOW! I am so happy for you.

    I recently launched a site– NutmegAspirin.com. We are on a mission to help everyone “feel, get and be better” by crowdsourcing personal stories/experiences and triumphs. All our content is user generated. The intention is to bring together all these amazing stories and document what works in the world of alternative medicine. And by your sharing what works for you, others can discover what might work for them. So many have no idea options exist. We want to change that.

    And for bloggers and advocates like you, think of us as another platform to get your message out and direct traffic to your site. When you post, we share what you write in our newsletter and across social media.

    Sharing is so easy! I hope you will check us out and contribute to our ever growing list of possibilities for healing.

    Thanks so much.

    Mara Landis

  25. So glad to have stumbled upon your site Cortney. My name is Avinoam Lerner and I’m a practitioner in the field of Complementary Medicine with specialty in Cancer recovery and the author of The New Cancer Paradigm.

    You can watch my TEDx talk on: The Missing Element in Cancer Recovery at: http://avinoamlerner.com/avinoam-media-page/

    if this interest you, send me a note and we can set up a time to chat.

  26. Dear Cortney.
    I hope you see this soon. My son was recently diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. I shared with him the option of defeating this disease with a complete lifestyle change to healthy anti-cancer eating and exercise. I found you through Chrisbeatcancer. My son had a question for you. He was wondering about once you had started this journey, how long was it before you saw a noticeable reduction in lymph node swelling?

  27. You’re so inspiring! I tried searching your blog but couldn’t find what water filtration system you recommend. Thanks!

  28. Courtney, hi I’m Linda. I have non-hodgkins lymphoma, round 2. Guess I didn’t learn anything after the first time. I am try a completely different approach this time and I need someone to ask questions as they keep coming up. I would like you to be my helper because others have different kinds of cancer. Right now I am just overwhelmed with all the info and how many days I have spent trying to muddle through everything. Just made my first 64 oz green kick butt smoothie and I didn’t have everything so I used what I did have. I couldn’t figure out what dulse was then I looked it up with kelp and found the answer. I did buy some kombu and was wondering how to use it in place of the others. Can I just put it right in the smoothie without being boiled or anything. My other question is the broccoli, seems awful to throw away the stalks. Can they be used as broccoli in smoothies or just throw them away and stick with the florets? I’m sorry to do this to you but I hope you can help. Thank you so much and I love your story and I love your site. God Bless You

    • Hi Linda, be gentle with yourself. This cancer stuff isn’t as easy as some people make it out to be. And for some reason it just goes easier for some than others. I can help as much as I can. My blog is full of my thoughts over the last 6 years. Yes- for the smoothie you can use pretty much anything. Don’t go too extreme at first if you don’t want to. Might be good to ease into some of the more challenging veggies. You can use all of the broccoli! I usually juice the stalk and use the florets for my smoothies. Hugs to you! -Cortney

  29. Aloha Cortney,

    I am a cancer survivor, nutritional health coach, and cancer patient advocate. I have just published a new book on some important alternative cancer treatments titled Timely Proposal To Cure Cancer, (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KEGLZY4).

    Looking at your web information, I believe we have much in common as to how we approach cancer. Timely Proposal To Cure Cancer applies to most forms of cancer, whereas my original book Release Prostate Cancer Now! is specific to the cancer I am facing.

    I believe the more we do to help others understand alternative cancer treatment options are possible, the sooner we will see change and the more lives will be saved. If I email you a copy of my new book in epub and mobi format, would you be willing to read it and provide your review of the book on Amazon.com?

    As you know, book reviews will greatly help with more people receiving this important information.

    Please email me to let me know I can send you a copy of the book. Thank you for your consideration and help. Working together we can make a difference.

    Steve Warren
    CSuccessToday@gmail.com
    PS. I would also be willing to send anyone else a copy now, and will be doing a free distribution of the book on Amazon soon.

  30. Hi…,I happened upon your site while looking for a medi share-type dental plan, if one even exists. If you find one would you please let me know? In the few minutes I’ve had to review your site, I’m already blessed. I look forward to reading more. Thank you and may God bless You, your family and your efforts.

  31. Hello Cortney, I am a 27 year old male and am facing lymphoma. I am very scared and confused. I really don’t want to do chemo or radiation or even surgery!! I don’t have my support right now and its making me feel very crazy. There are so many options for alternative treatment but I can’t feel confident about any of them. I guess I am looking for reassurance that if I go for it I can beat this using only alternative treatments. I have a girlfriend that I have been with for 8 years and love so deeply I can’t bare not having a long life with her. I have been secretly very suicidal and discouraged. It lead me to not eating because I was frozen by the fear that I won’t make the choices. Yesterday I literally passes out and felt very close to death because of this. I am begging you to please help me get going in the right direction. I have been a vegan for the last 7 years and raw is not a problem. I would eat dog**** a hundreds times a day just to spend more time with my significant other. Any help or direction would be very appreciated. I know you don’t have time to coach everyone but I feel as though without direction I will probably kill myself. It scares me that I feel this way.

      • Bryan, please don’t do anything rash. There is always hope and tomorrow and God. If you know Him you know that and if you don’t I can honestly say I don’t know how people ever make it through these situations without knowing Him. Please find a support group of Godly people where you are and first put that at the forefront of your healing. When you have Him and can fully put your trust in Him, the rest is so much easier to handle. It ‘s not easy, just easier to handle. I’ll be praying for you. I hope since this last post you are doing OK.

  32. Dear Cortney: I like your web site new name and various updates. You indeed have a very professional, yet personal site, with some great information and beautiful family! Thanks too, for hosting the Bill Henderson Protocol facebook site. You do a great service and tribute to Colonel Bill. Needless to say, he will be greatly missed. His Heavenly rewards should be immense, as many folks as he has helped world wide, and of course the facebook site you administer has greatly assisted his efforts. The Lord Himself will probably be Mr. Henderson’s next co-author! May the Good Lord Bless Both of You BIG! This is a personal e-mail message for you, but feel free to post if desired.

  33. Do you ever give consultations on alternatives to health insurance? I think I know which one I want to go with, but it would be good to get a second opinion.

    Thank you,

    Bob

  34. Small world! I wrote to you last week asking for a referral, and turns out your sister is my husbands nurse! It gives me chills, I just know this came from God. We would love to meet with you if that is a possibility or talk to you and pick your brain. Thank you again for your quick response, we are contacting the doctors you mentioned.
    Dayany

  35. Corts.. I am so proud of you.. so impressed with you and SO proud to have you as one of my oldest and dearest. I count you among those in my life who have meant so much to me. I can’t tell you how happy I am for you, how much love I feel when I see you with your little one, and how proud I am for sharing with the world. I love you always and SO look forward to following your life for years to come!
    Issa