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 Kris,
When my wife told me about your story (from Marie’s campaign) I thought : “Waouw, this is awsome”. As a Holistic Practitioner I love reading Inspiring Stories like yours. It give so much energy and hope to others!
On the other hand, I cannot read such awsome energy without sharing my own expertize. I may have some references that you would like to know (not well known in US yet) and I would be more than happy to give them to you. Have a wonderfull day and thank you for your Energy! From Belgium, David.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Kris, your positive insight has created a shift in my life and I’m going to pay it forward.
Peace & Blessings!!
You’re very inspiring to allot of people ,I find some of this advice great if you don’t have colon cancer .We cannot eat whole foods or cleanse our bowels . Especially if you have stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. This is all very confusing to me because I before I was diagnosed with canser .I ate a healthy , high fiber and did regular workouts . Now my life has me eating low fiber and not great nutritional options . The chemo they put most of us on we cannot drink cold smoothies and have to have everything at room temperature . I have been searching for answers to remain healthy while in treatment . Is there anything in anyone’s research that help ?? I feel someone needs to speak out on behalf of the some of us who simply aren’t giving up on living but want a chance to eat healthy , recover and live life !!
The Dietician’s at The Block Center in Chicago would be able to advise you honey. I can imagine that’s difficult. You could also email Jen Reilly RD. Check out her blog, The bitchen dietician.
Have you considered weed oil? Look up weed the people on YouTube and Rick Simpson RSO.
I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge as well as your crazy sexy experiences. I being a nurse and having a husband who had been diagnosed with the same cancer that you have helped me to help him. For some reason I was lead to believe that you needed a referral for every thing so there fore we were a little late in seeking another specialist. We also traveled to Dana Farber Cancer Institute thanks to you and your help providing us with the information. The sarcoma specialist that my husband was seeing had refused to call Dana Farber Cancer Institute after I had read about you Kris, I think he thought I was crazy. All I knew is that you were alive and well and I wanted for my husband the best possible treatment . When I informed his oncologist {not the sarcoma specialist} that we had called and made arrangements to see a sarcoma specialist at the Dana Farber Cancer institute he was so excited and practically speechless . He couldn’t believe that we had gotten in. It wasn’t hard to do and they were so helpful. He learned from my husband as this is such a rare cancer and It wouldn’t surprise me if he would now recommend Dana Farber to other patients. I wish that I would of known sooner that I could call on my own and not take no for a answer from the sarcoma specialist here. Thanks again Kris you truly are amazing!
So glad you went to DFCI! Thanks for sharing! x
thanks!
What a terrific and insightful article, thank you!
May I suggest #12 – write about it! American psychologist Dr James Pennebaker did the first research in this area as long ago as 1986 and since then hundreds of studies have been carried out. The majority of studies have confirmed that writing about emotional trauma has positive physical health effects. These effects are not only measurable through subjective self-reporting – ‘I feel so much better after that’ – but are objectively measurable through such key markers as fewer visits to the doctor, improved sleep and changes in immune function.
The Chemo Chic Project is a not-for-profit website that exists to tell YOUR story. If you have been affected by cancer, either your own diagnosis or that of a loved one (and, hey, doesn’t that include just about everybody on the planet?) then this is the place to share your story. Whether it be insight into how you have coped, a recipe, a poem or some tips about wigs, clothes or beauty products, sharing your story will help another person – and will probably help you too.
I’m also a cancer survivor!
I’ve been through some difficult times, but now I know cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me (no joke!). I have never felt more alive and peaceful. I trust life more than ever before and have learned to manage fear.
I am now working a s a therapist over Skype and in person in Stockholm, Sweden.
More about stress relief here:
http://opentherapy.se/?p=124
Hi Kris –
You are such an inspiration to me. I have Stage 4 esphogeal cancer. Diagosed in October 2012 I was given six months to live. 16 months later I’m still here and feeling great. Yes I will probably have cancer the rest of my life, but that is fine with me. I live in Boise, Idaho and plan on attending the Wellness Program in Sun Valley in May. I look forward to your presentation.
Steve
Looking forward to meeting you steve!
Thank you Kris!!!
Excellent post. You cover a lot of important topics with regard to cancer. My wife is 10 years out from her metastatic breast cancer. I advocate a whole foods, plant-based way of living to all of my patients after I witnessed what it did for my wife’s health and mine. Plants are remarkable medicines and anti-inflammatory and ALL animal products are inflammatory. I have a female patient with a history of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Three years ago she was nearly 100% disabled. She adopted a plant-based way of eating and is healthy today and working at Whole Foods. Plants contain MORE cancer-fighting phytochemicals than what has been discovered and used by oncologists. Eating a wide variety of highly colored plants is the BEST medicine for not only preventing, but fighting cancer.
My Mother was recently diagnosed with a Sarcoma. Will you please share with me which Dr. and clinic you finally found to help you????
Kris, I wanted to say how much you have inspired me to make a difference since my cancer diagnosis in 2010. I watched your DVD which I loved and follow you. I have since created Focus on Living School which is an online program for women with a cancer diagnosis to take charge of their life. I would love you to have a look and see what you think. Last year we ran the first pilot program and had some great results. I also did Bschool which I found really helpful to get an online business up and running. Love Brigette xx
Hi Kris, up until yesterday I didn’t know of your journey. A family member was diagnosed with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. She contacted me and asked if I could somehow ask you a couple of questions that would hopefully help her. She wanted to know what medicines you took and if you are completely cured or if you were still fighting. She does not speak english but is following all your advice. Thanks for any information. I asked these questions on your FB page as well, hope you dont mind i wasnt sure where you would respond first
Kris, you are truly a gift to so many. Thank you!
Hi Kris,
My sweet niece gave me your name after I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August. You are a complete inspiration to me and I told everyone in radiation about you!!! I love your energy. You are a wonderful human being.
Thank you for helping me believe in myself and giving me the courage to tackle this nasty disease.
I adore you sweet friend.
Barbara Pompea
I have been diagnosed with Lung Cancer again. I had 3/4 of my right lung removed a year ago, and now the cancer is back in the lobe they left me. IT IS SLOW GROWING! I have time, thank god. Your books have become my bible and give me hope. Thank you! I am a 76 year old great-grandmother who up until now have been pretty healthy, and still have things to do and see. thanks again for your words of wisdom.
Thank you for the tips! Two time breast cancer survivor just diagnosed with EHE. Meeting with Dr. Cusack, MGH, on Tuesday.
Would appreciate any info on Boston doctors.
Thank you,
Colleen
Good info…,I will be visit again.
I think you are truly awesome Kris. Sending you so much love and also thanks for exuding exuberance for life – and reminding us that despite what life-challenges we might be meeting at any given time, we have the choice about how we deal with them. Your posts make me smile, your exuberance is contagious. Long live that sort of contagion. Thanks Kris. Love and warmth, M
I like the article very much, it’s encouraging & informative. These are some natural cancer fighting foods, http://www.slideshare.net/Tryfoodlovers/9-cancer-fighting-foods