This past September, 2018 marked the 10-year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. Perhaps I should say that it has flown by, but in reality it feels like a lifetime ago! Choosing alternative cancer treatment has led myself and my family down a lifestyle path I would have never imagined pre-cancer.

10 Things I’ve Learned 10 Years After Alternative Cancer Treatment

For those of you that don’t know the whole story, I was reluctant to try natural therapies at first, primarily because of my family history of cancer and my people-pleasing, rule-following personality, but my husband was adamant that the path of conventional care (chemo and radiation) was not right for us. Here are a few things I have learned along the way.

#10: Most people with cancer have time to explore their options.

I love how Chris Wark puts it: “Cancer is a natural, normal process in the body. Everybody has cancer cells….the tumor is a symptom of a bigger deficiency….a suppressed and overloaded immune system.”

Over the years I have heard hundreds of stories of people who are being rushed into treatment by their oncologist. Please know that in the vast majority of cases, you have time to research a second or even third opinion. Your doctor is a resource to HELP YOU make your treatment decision. You are not entitled to them once you receive your diagnosis. The better you understand your cancer and your options, the more empowered you will feel as you heal.

The average cancer diagnosis timeline is about 3-6 weeks from discovery and testing to treatment starting. What if were you to use that time to make major changes to your diet and lifestyle? (See HERE for nutrition info.)

This gathering of studies (observed mostly in countries with socialized healthcare where patients have to “wait their turn” for treatment) shows various survival outcomes if treatment was delayed. Most of the results were inconclusive- NOT showing an obvious disadvantage in patients who had to wait longer, up to 60 days without any conventional treatment.

When I was diagnosed, my first oncologist (who consulted with MD Anderson) suggested 4 rounds of R-CHOP chemotherapy + possible radiation. We got a second opinion from a second oncologist who said he would be comfortable with our desire to “wait” and change our lifestyle but did suggest I consider the immunotherapy Rituxan (rituximab.) We declined but knew that was an option if Plan A wasn’t effective.

Same cancer, same person, different opinions.

#9: There is no “one size fits all” alternative cancer treatment.

Over the past eight years of blogging I have chatted with A LOT of people recently diagnosed with cancer. The varying kinds of treatment options have only expanded and different people are drawn or led to certain treatments. The important thing is that you pour into research and pray for leading in the right direction.

Depending on your life’s circumstances and family dynamic, financial situation, etc. you will have to weigh the pros and cons of which treatment is best.

Sometimes a purely holistic path is the right choice for now and sometimes a change to a more integrative path is the right way as a reasonable Plan B. If you have a spouse who is unsupportive in the decision you want then some tough, prayerful choices will need to be made. Everyone’s circumstances are different. If you have young children or limited funds your decision may also look different.

I’ve talked to people who have used several months to change their lifestyle and then integrated some conventional treatment, went to an alternative cancer clinic, or had that surgery they were waiting for.

They feel more comfortable that way and I think that is great that they have prayed and researched to that point in order to decide. CancerTutor.com also has a wide variety of ideas for alternative cancer treatment.

Cancer Clinics in Mexico such as Hope4Cancer, or CHIPSA hospital are options as well.

#8: Sometimes a CT or PET scan is just what someone needs to not let their imagination get the best of them.

Some of you will gasp that I even said this- especially with my ongoing stance in support of nontoxic approaches to cancer as a first defense, but let me explain.

Although I don’t LOVE the idea of radiation and toxic, radioactive chemicals that is involved with a PET scan (it helps that I didn’t know any better at the time I received a PET scan), for me it ended up being a part of my diagnosis that was helpful in the long run. I had a very vivid imagination and throughout the staging process thought that cancer was probably all over my body due to the digestive problems I had for over a year prior to my diagnosis.

Turns out that my PET Scan showed very detailed evidence of cancer under my left jawbone and residual evidence in my right rib cage near where the largest tumor was removed for biopsy. But it wasn’t anywhere else that I was imagining it was!

Knowing this allowed me to visualize healing in these areas and gave me peace that I wasn’t disease-ridden like I had thought. If I would have just opted for a blood test like the RGCC or urine test like the CAProfile or Navarro hCG test, I wouldn’t have know this.

#7: “Information overload” is a thing.

Informing yourself is important but overwhelm can kick in quickly. Having an advocate to help you with your research and plan of action within a few weeks after diagnosis will help with the feeling that you need to know more “or else.” The “If I don’t, God won’t” mentality can be overwhelming and taxing to your mental and physical health.

A few tips to help with this:

• As a general rule, transitioning to an organic high raw plant-based, nutrient dense, no processed food diet is a great start and will serve as a base for the nutritional side of your treatment.
• Doing your best to get 8-9 hours (or sleeping until you wake up naturally) while going to bed between 9 and 11pm will result in the best restorative sleep for healing to take place.
• Moving your body everyday through exercise, preferably in fresh air is always going to benefit your health.
• As you begin to form an idea for how you want to heal, find a practitioner who is an expert on this form of treatment.
• Monitor your progress carefully!
• Consider hiring a cancer coach such as Dr. Anja Sonst or Bailey O’Brien to help you get started and whittle down any research for you. You can also purchase the Square One Healing Cancer course which comes with access to the Square One online support group.

#6: Kids + strict anti-cancer lifestyle = HARD.

Enough said. The more my family has grown, the harder it has been to take care of myself in the super intentional way I did when I was first diagnosed. When our first child was born I still had a handle things and was super motivated because it was so soon after my diagnosis. But when baby #2 and then #3 came along several years later I had to be strategic and at times was barely holding onto my sanity. I have learned how to relax some of my strict standards and trust God for my health.

With baby #4 here now, I have to be REALLY intentional and have hired help in areas that I am no longer able to handle alone such as house cleaning and childcare several hours each week so I can prep food and meal plan and overall have some “self care”, aka ALONE time or just simply SLEEP.

I also found that the more time that has passed since my 5-year remission date in 2013, the harder it has become to stick to what I did in the beginning. I have ended up focusing on a clean, high organic plant foods diet with some clean meats, minimal to no processed sugar and making time for myself and my emotional needs, especially when my children are in their more needy baby and toddler years, (although this has been a sloooow learning process!)

I also still take many of my supplements including Beta-1, 3D Glucan and do an Essiac tea detox at the change of each season when I’m not pregnant or nursing.

As with anything, I listen to what my body shows a need for and consider getting labs run for nutritional deficiencies if I feel something is going on.

#5: There is also dishonesty and greed in the alternative cancer industry.

This is a tough one to talk about. I add this in here because in the ten years since my diagnosis, the popularity of alternative and nontoxic cancer treatment has blown up which is AMAZING! But with that has come greed and the ripe opportunity to take advantage of desperate people.

Just because someone is seemingly an “expert” and speaks confidently does NOT mean you should take their ideas and spend a bunch of money on their recommended supplements, herbs, memberships, courses, or clinic stays.

Research well, spot check for other references, and look for themes in advertisement. It is sometimes very difficult to spot a genuine recommendation over one that is fueled by commission on a product or sneaky marketing strategies. This is especially true in social media groups.

In many cases you can find studies on the product or genuine experience, so look for those too and check who sponsored the study. (Unfortunately many alternative cancer strategies are not studied because they are not profitable. When in doubt, go with your gut and not an impulse.)

When someone shares their healing story with the protocol they used, look for long term evidence of their testimony and be weary if they are making outrageous claims or selling something.

You can read my reviews of products and testimonies I trust on my Start Here page.

Often keeping it simple is 95% of a good plan for healing.

#4: Asking for HELP with paying for treatment can be a beautiful process.

It’s not uncommon these days to see GoFundMe campaigns in your Facebook or Instagram feed, but fundraising requires persistent and a shift in your belief to truly gain traction.

The Freely Funded program is an excellent place to start if fundraising is new to you. You can read my full review of what to expect with the program HERE.

If you haven’t been diagnosed with cancer, I also highly recommend obtaining a healthcare sharing membership in place of insurance. Samaritan Ministries is the only one (to my knowledge) that will share expenses for alternative medicine and alternative cancer treatment. We have been members for 6 years and I have had about a dozen various needs paid for, most of them using an alternative practitioner for mine or my families’ needs. I HIGHLY recommend. You can check out all of my blog posts on Samaritan Ministries HERE.

#3: It’s not just about the food.

Healing from cancer is as much an emotional healing as it is a physical healing. For many years I focused intensely on food, ignoring the other aspects to healing.

Many others neglect it too. Your EMOTIONAL health and needs are just as important if not MORE important than your physical needs. Addressing where you are not at peace in your life, where you are holding on to regrets, unforgiveness, heartbreak, or negative patterns of belief is a significant part of your healing and it is ongoing.

I often meet people who just can’t understand this (or perhaps they don’t want to.) They live their life existing and simmering in their own angry, bitter, anxious, depressed juices and have just given up.

There is so much you can do to remedy this once you decide to. Here are just some of the self-help resources that I’ve used and recommend:

• An excellent therapist or life coach. Talk therapy, CBT, or just plain accountability can help so much. Complaining about the cost is another self-defeating behavior. YOU are worth it. Invest in yourself and your healing. Welcome the change and believe God will open new doors!
• Physical exercise and investing in yourself to better yourself is just as much emotional as it physical. A regular exercise schedule is proven to increase hormones that help you think more clearly and live with more joy and less anxiety.
• De-stressing from burdensome people and places is NOT easy, but for those with the strongest will to heal and live, it must be done. Sometimes the most radical decisions are needed to move on from these situations.
• Books I have read and found helpful for Emotional Healing:
  • Jesus Today: Daily Devotional by Sarah Young (the perfect healing devotional)
  • The Purpose Driven Life: Rick Warren
  • You Can Beat the Odds: Surprising Factors Behind Chronic Illness and Cancer: Brenda Stockdale
  • The Art of Extreme Self Care: Cheryl Richardson
  • DARE: The New Way To End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks: Barry McDonagh
  • A Mind of Your Own: The Truth About Depression and How Women Can
    Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives: Dr. Kelly Brogan, MD
  • Feelings Buried Alive Never Die: Karol K. Truman
  • The Feeling Good Handbook: Dr. David D. Burns, MD

#2: Like-minded community and support is SO important.

I have written an entire post devoted to online community for holistic and alternative cancer support, but the best support is in person.

HealingStrong natural healing support groups are currently a network of over 130 groups mostly in the U.S. and Canada and with 35 groups internationally. Our groups support our attendees at all levels: education, connection, community, and prayer.

Learn more about our groups at HealingStrong.org.

#1: Don’t be stubborn and dogmatic about ONLY doing natural therapies.

This is a hard one for me to write, but the fact is I have gotten close to people over the past ten years who, for various reasons, did not want to change course on their alternative cancer treatment plan even though it wasn’t working.

If after six months on a focused nontoxic protocol your cancer has continued to worsen and/or you have run out of funds, a prayerful discussion with your doctor and support advocate can help guide you in the direction of next steps.

When my husband and I decided to move forward with a 3-month trial period of nutritional and lifestyle overhaul, we were not dogmatic about it. We knew what our next options were if my body did not respond to what I was doing.

We knew what additional alternative therapies we could add, we knew we could pursue going to a clinic overseas, and we knew we could possibly add in an immunotherapy drug which would not impact my fertility or cause me to be sick like the chemotherapy would have. We also knew where we could pursue funding if we needed more money.

We had next steps in mind but at the same time believed fully in what we were doing at the time. Constant progress evaluation and monitoring is needed when pursuing alternative treatment.

Well there you have it. If I were to summarize all I have learned in the past 10 years in a nutshell, it is don’t lose sight of the forest through the trees.

Healing from cancer is not just about one change or one fix. It’s the result of many small decisions day after day and after day, one step at a time.

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