Hiya Gorgeous!
The eleven tips you’re about to read have been life-changing for me. Some of them may seem simple, but I come back to these practices whenever I need to get grounded and remind myself that living with cancer can be healthy—it can even be vibrant, abundant and filled with beauty.
Whether or not you’re living with cancer like me, these tips are universal. I know you’re going to find something (or maybe a few things!) that resonates with you.
So, let’s dive in…
During my teens and twenties, I celebrated (or avoided) Valentine’s Day. Each year had its own flavor. Heartache, romantic plans gone awry and some very sweet moments, too. But, February 14, 2003 changed that day forever. That’s the day I was diagnosed with an incurable, stage IV cancer.
Life stopped… and then transformed.
Valentine’s Day is a very spiritual celebration now. I call it my “cancerversary,” a day of deep self-love, reflection, gratitude and re-birth. It took me over a decade, post-diagnosis, to get to that sacred place. But, I’m here now and if you’re newly diagnosed, trust that you will get there, too.
For many patients, cancer is no longer a death sentence.
Really take that in. The first doctor I spoke to suggested a triple organ transplant, the second gave me 10 years to live. Thankfully, both were wrong and I didn’t listen. If you’ve been given statistical projections or an expiration date, there’s a good chance your well-meaning doctor could be wrong, too.
Once I found a better oncologist for my disease, my entire world opened up. As you may know, I have a weird slow-moving (could get aggressive one day) sarcoma. And though I’m living with cancer, I do it in a healthy, harmonious way. In fact, today I call myself a cancer thriver and I bet that no matter what your personal, medical or emotional pickle is (cancer or something else), you can be a thriver, too.
I would never say that life with cancer is easy, but it can be quite stunning and rich, even in the midst of the pain. These tips have helped me feel better and get stronger along the way. I think they’ll be useful for you or someone you love, too.
11 Tips for Healthy Living with Cancer
1. When the going gets tough, take a really deep breath.
This is the first (and most important) move you can make when the shit hits the fan. There will be endless ideas, advice, theories and even some medical bullying slung your way. Your breath is the gateway to your intuition—it will help you navigate the noise. Breathe and listen. Your breath also has the power to reduce stress (more on that below). When we’re in prolonged fight or flight mode, it’s hard to make decisions and easy to get depressed, anxious and exhausted. Breathe.
2. Find the best oncologist for your disease.
If I had listened to the first doctor, I wouldn’t be here today. Thankfully, I was willing to travel to find the best oncologist for my sarcoma. If you’re newly diagnosed (with any medical issue), I highly suggest you do the same. Your life is in their hands. Do they have experience and access to the latest research? Are they tapped into a network of colleagues who can discuss your case? Your local hospital may not cut it. My oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute understands all the current traditional treatment options for my disease. I still haven’t had any conventional treatment, but should my disease become aggressive, he’d be my first stop (but not my last).
How to find an oncologist: Start by Googling the top 10 cancer hospitals in the U.S. Also, use the resources below to explore the best oncologist for your specific cancer. In addition to these tips, network! I’ve found the best support by asking my doctor, family and friends.
- National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Centers
- American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Cancer.Net Cancer Specific Resources
- Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)
3. Your oncologist (or other doctor) probably isn’t enough.
Build an integrative team. Integrative and functional medicine practitioners treat your whole body, not just the symptoms. How do they do that? With dietary recommendations, targeted supplements, IVs, stress management tips and other integrative therapies that improve your overall well-being, including boosting your immune system.
How to find an integrative MD: Check out the directories below. Again, network your butt off. Ask around and interview the prospective healing candidates—that’s right, they work for you.
- Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner
- American College for Advancement in Medicine
- American Association for Naturopathic Physicians
4. Reduce inflammation. Eat plants.
In a nutshell: Embrace gorgeous greens, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, sea veggies, fruits and vegetables galore. Crowd out inflammatory, hormone-filled dairy and other animal products (even organic) by filling your plate with plant-strong, whole foods. And while you’re at it, dump the processed white stuff, especially sugar (it feeds cancer and other bullshit). Speaking of sugar, choose low-glycemic fruits and desserts. If you’re not interested in going full tilt vegan, make plants your main dish and think of everything else as a condiment. If you don’t ditch animal products, reduce your consumption to 2-3 times per week and avoid factory farm products at all costs. For delicious recipes, check out our recipe section at Kriscarr.com, Crazy Sexy Juice and Crazy Sexy Kitchen.
5. Juice your ass off. Not sugary juices.
Avoid store bought processed juices and choose fresh, green, healing juices that you make yourself. Organic is definitely best if you can afford it. If not, check out the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen for guidance on avoiding chemical-laden produce. Without a shadow of a doubt, my daily, low-glycemic green juice practice has allowed me to thrive in spite of my obstacles. My basic juicing rule for patients is a 3:1 ratio—three veggies to one low-glycemic fruit. You can also add lemon, as it has very little sugar. Ginger rocks too. Juices are nutrient dense, hydrating, energizing and medicinal. If you only have a blender, that’s great, too. Make green smoothies instead. Cheers!
Hi Chris, I lost a brother to cancer @53,my cousin who is around that age is fighting it now! I have another older cousin that is also fighting cancer! I have recently had a hernia operation and colonoscopy-all ok. However am never confident of not becoming a cancer transporter? I am 56, try not to drink a lot of alcohol, eat quite well exercise regularly.
I try to encourage my cousin, with his treatment he is doing ok.
I have nothing more than admiration for you! and would love to experience a cancer free world for everyone! Bless you! Kris Carr.
Gershon, sorry to hear you’re having trouble accessing the Summit! Please reach out to Hay House’s customer service ([email protected]). They’ll be able to help get this sorted out. xo!
Love the Summit! Plan to visit Dr Block and crew in Skokie! I’m a nine year brain tumor “thriver”- love your words- and needed validation and inspiration- THANK YOU!!
Thanks for sharing this tips with us. I would share this post with my bother because my cousin has cancer
I love your seminar and you talk from the heart. I have made you my mentor and included you in my support team and hope l can be as strong as you as your story is incedable!! You give others hope knowledge and courage.
I am also a follower of Chris Wark as he had simalar cancer but my bowel has been removed which had its challenges. Having dealt with it after 12 months it had moved to my lungs and having worked so hard raw plant diet 90days changed my whole life l didnt undetstand why this had happened. I was told if l dont do kemo l would have less than 12months. I never had any symtoms and still dont. Taking lots of supplements and V C shots and my last scan showed little growth in 2 of the bigger tumors. Any suggestions as most of yr recommendations for doctors etc are in the US im in the UK.
I sadly missed you last month in London l found out to late.
Can you recommend anyone in the Uk
You are my insperation and l hope one day we can meet and l too can contribute and share my success storey to help others
Living on my own no children or partner also makes it very hard.
I lost my parents, my mum to cancer which i took extreamly bad and it took over 8years of greeving to comes to tetms wirh the loss the result being my sister and my dad not speeking to me and l think this is where my cancer came from as my diet has always been healthy and
Love Light and Peace
Always
Chrissie
Life always change if someone has the cancer. My uncle was suffering from the Cervical Cancer. In fact we find The cure for Cervical Cancer but their life changes and also there is a life effect on the life of closed once. the points in your blog are really good for the them while learning the new things for the life.
This information is meaningful and magnificent, Which you have shared here about the Tips for Cancer Patients. I am impressed by the details that you have shared in this post and It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. If anyone looking for the Best Oncologist in Bangalore then Dr Sandeep Nayak is good for Cancer Specialist.
Thank for the information. The blog is really informative. I am learning a lot about ayurvedic treatment from you and healthreactive
Dear Kris,
You are an inspiration.
Congratulations on your good news!
Thank you and blessings.
I don’t have cancer, but it runs in my family. I am very aware of this. After coming across your book, Crazy Sexy Diet, in 2011 and reading it three times I have completely changed the way I eat and live. Because of you I came up with my own personal motto: prevention is the best cure. Thanks for all you do!
Hi Lisa! This is Jennifer from Team Crazy Sexy. What a huge compliment! I’m forwarding to Kris right this minute because this will totally make her day. What a beautiful thing to say! I can already see her huge smile when she reads this. Thank you from Kris and the whole team! We love having you here with us.
You are an inspiration and I try to practice something of yours daily.
God Bless You!
Thank you for telling your readers that they need to be brave in order to embrace their current situation. My mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and although it is treatable, she had seemed to have given up on her condition. My brother and I are having difficulties cheering her up and providing comfort words so she’ll have hope for her future, and I think it will be easier if she will accept it on her own. Also, we might look for a possible cancer support network online to see if there are other cancer survivors who are willing to talk to her.
Hi Zoe, this is Jennifer from Team Crazy Sexy. We’re so sorry to hear about your mom, she is very lucky to have you and your brother. Support is so important and you’re a kind soul to help her find a group that will help her. We’re sending you so much love and lots of healing energy to your mom.
Thanks for providing such a helpful and informative blog.
Dear Kris,
you keep me going!! Thanks so much, Constanze
Hello wonderful Kris, thank you for this.
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, I saw “crazy, sexy cancer” and immediately began working with the integrative doctor who spoke on the panel after your film. Among other things, she had me checked for mutations to the MTHFR gene, and found that I had two. It’s estimated that about 50% of the white population of the USA has MTHFR gene mutations. I researched and found that I needed to take activated B’s because my body could not process B vitamins from food or from ordinary supplements or even shots. The presence of B vitamins in the blood does not show whether or not your body can actually use them.
As the B’s are your anti-stress vitamins, I’ve surmised that these mutations could explain the high levels of stress in my family growing up. Our household always seemed “on edge” with super-sensitive individuals needing hospitalization and medication. My older sister had a baby with severe spina bifida, my older brother committed suicide, another brother suffers mood disorders, my father was alcoholic, we were all self-medicating one way or another. AND the MTHFR gene mutations are key to estrogen processes which also affect breast cancer.
How much of this could have been avoided if we had known to take activated B’s? I now take them twice a day. How many of us know whether or not we have these MTHFR gene mutations?
Kris, have you got any further info re this? Would appreciate your experience.
Hola buenas y bendecida tarde , he empezado a ver sus comentarios en los enlaces que me compartió , pues yo soy una mujer de 50 años, docente de profesión y desde hace 4 años fui diagnosticada con cáncer de seno metastásico , desde el comienzo la enfermedad ya estaba metastásica porque, desde el inicio me diagnosticaron fibromialgia y artrosis , razón por la cual el cáncer avanzo y me dejo con problemas de movilidad porque afecto seriamente mi columna, en la actualidad uso corset, pero el tratamiento de radioterapia y quimioterapias dio resultados y el cáncer cedió, pero este año por causa de la pandemia perdí tres meses de tratamiento y pues con la ultima gammagrafía me di cuenta que regreso.. he vivido estos 4 años desde mi diagnostico agarrada de la mano de DIOS, enriqueciendo mi vida espiritual y eso me ha ayudado mucho, aparte de que me cuido en mi dieta alimenticia, comprendo su experiencia y me gustaría conocer mucho mas , un abrazo desde la distancia, que DIOS la bendiga.
Thank you lovely Kris.. This is exactly what i needed right now to help me and give me the courage and faith to continue on my next journey. I’m glad to know i’m not alone going through these emotions and with a positive and life loving attitude we can concur it all no matter what and as you said so well, with the whole package, because it’s ours. I will definitely read your suggestions and keep on reading you.. ????