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!
Bravo well done! That is one of my compliments I received today and I am passing it to you. I am an integrave patient navigator and health coach in CT. I recently launched my resource guide website plus many more techniques for stress and emotional healing. Can I add your link to my website? I think we should also get togethe, we are like minded and if you see my website I think you will agree.
I also want to share very exciting info: my mentor’s friend was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He drank noni juice for I believe 6 months cured bladder cancer. His bladder was thun and fragil as mesh and the bladder came back to normal minus the scar tissue from radiation. His Oncologist is doing his own trials. I plan on meeting both if them soon. Healing noni.com. I am assuming and bought for myself the raw unpasteurized organic one.
Rick Simpson recipe for hemp oil is very interesting as well. I have links ti both of these remedies on my website. Please feel free to share my site as well.
Gigi Adduci
You are such an inspiration Kris! Good for you to be so positive and to. Have made such important changes in your life, especially acceptance an to keep on thriving! I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in Dec. 2012 and life is still good, but it will never be the same. I too am trying to enjoy each and every day, juice greens daily (although try ing to eat well all the time is really a challenge), as well as getting the weight down about 20lbs. sometimes when I stop and think about the diagnosis I freak out and then move on to better thoughts, Anyway, life is good and at age 60 I look forward to many more healthy years! Thank you again for your wonderful website, constant information and positive thinking! Stay well and happy. You rock young lady!,
Marlene B.
Hi Kris! Ever since I bought your books several years ago I have referred to you as my sarcoma sister! I have been fighting leiomyosarcoma for 6 years now. Have refused conventional treatments with the exception of surgery.
Am going thru another flare up, and docs wanting me to do radiation. Am so grateful to know that you are walking in my shoes and have done the legwork for myself and others. You have been a blessing and encouragement to me. Would love to meet you some day!
You are an inspiration. My question to you is this- I was diagnosed with CLL 15 years ago. I have had chemo every 18 months since 2007. Do you believe if I start juicing and smoothing at least once a day and continue my vegetarian diet that I can stop the chemo?
I hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you
Hey! I can’t believe this. A great testimony that i must share to all cancer patient in the world i never believed that their could be any complete cure for lung cancer or any cancer,i saw people’s testimony on blog sites of how Rick Simpson cannabis oil brought them back to life again. i had to try it too and you can,t believe that in just few weeks i started using it all my pains stop gradually and i had to leave without the drugs the doctor gave to me. Right now i can tell you that few months now i have not had any pain, and i have just went for text last week and the doctor confirmed that there is no trace of any cancer system. Glory be to God for leading me to this genuine to Risk Simpson. I am so happy as i am sharing this testimony. My advice to you all who thinks that their is no cure for cancer that is Not true ,just contact him and get cannabis oil from Rick Simpson to your cancer and you will be free and free for ever, Try it and you will not regret it because it truly works. One thing i have come to realize is that you never know how true it is until you try. There is no harm in trying. Remember, delay in treatment leads to death. Here is his email([email protected]) Contact him and be free from cancer ?????
Hello Monica , Can you please tell me what the doses you were taking ? How many mg of THC per ml in the oil you were taking? My dad is starting to take it and I am very nervous about it . Thank you so much!!
Kris,
Your tips are great and I think I have gone through everyone of them in the last 4 months
Not sure what to do!
Thank you- I am newly diagnosed/ this is very helpful!
Fantastic blog. When I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer ‘adenoid cystic carcinoma’ my food world as I knew it took an incredibly sharp turn – it turned out to be an amazing journey rich in raw food, juices and the road to recovery continues. I’ve never looked back and I’ve made sure I keep the majority of my diet plant based. Have a read of my story on http://www.hotdaycoldday.com X
Thanks kris , love reading your posts .this one is spot on. My partner was diagnosed with leukaemia 20years ago and given 6 years to live….I wouldn’t let him give up and followed a very similar diet to this and exercise.he is doing really well we live one day at a time. Even though it’s scary sometimes xx
Hi,
First of all, I love your article! I am a massage therapist and work with hospice as well as cancer patients and the only thing I would maybe add to your article is to tell people to please check in case they are allergic to green tea and have horrible side effects such as nausea and vomiting. I am one of the unlucky ones allergic, and have had patients, as well as several of my close friends tell me that they are allergic to green tea as well. I realize if you are not, it can be a wonderful healthy product, but just wanted to make sure to advise that not all people can use a green tea product. Thank you for the article though, as it has wonderful information:)
Thanks Chris,I need that .♡♡♡
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago; my current PSA reading is
at: 5.24, as 7/10/15…
I have been researching alt cancer treatments during that entire time and
discovered news about how diets can effect cancer cell reduction, killing of
new cells, and even curing cancers, so that is the route I have chosen to
take. My diet is now basically a whole foods/plant based diet, 100%
CERTIFIED organic and gluten free. I am also supplementing with herbals such
as organic Chaga, E-Tea, Pau D’Arco, Ginger Root, all in capsule for for
convenience for me, as well as looking at a baking soda/lemon juice/Himalayan
sea salt protocol, which may or may not include black strap molasses/pure
maple syrup.
Unfortunately, I cannot afford CBD Cannibis Oils, and my current state health
plan will not cover things like, nor can I afford independent insurance for
such coverages.
I currently reside in Boston and will be here for the next few months, until
I am ready to move to Duncan Oklahoma, where there is a doctor in general
medicine who is plant located there: Dr James McGouran…
I don’t know what else to do att his point, and I still want to have a child
to carry my bloodline, since I am the last male in my family…I was a
caregiver for multiple family members and never had the opportunity to settle
down and raise my own family back then.
So finding and working with a doctor who is able to understand my fight is
crucial to me at this time.
I apollogize for the long email but needed to be sure tyou have as much info
in order to help me out…
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Tim Pollard
[email protected]
857-233-8469
71 Westland Ave., Apt. 201
Boston MA 02115
I am a 25 year bone cancer survivor who BELIEVES in the POWER of whole food nutrition.
Kris
Thank you for sharing.I just finished Ty Bollinger’s 9 episodes of The Truth About Cancer.Great info from both of you.
Marsha
So glad to know tumors have shrunk. I have often wondered.
You are doing everything right. Your new book will be here next week! My new protocol requires many ‘juice only’ days.
Okay, Kris…I’m gonna try. I’ve been curled up in bed since March with an auto-immune disorder that has completely devastated my life as I knew it. 24/7 pain and unbelievable fatigue. So many people say, well, at least it’s not cancer…and they are right! Thank god it’s not cancer! But…I’m still really sick! I’ve been wallowing … I admit it. Started reading your posts again and felt an inkling of…hope, inspiration…motivation? Ordered the juice book….can’t wait!
Thank you.
Lisa
Thanks for all you do Kris! I learned about you si. Years ago when my 26 yr old daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and she went out and bought your book and we both read it! Three years ago I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma- like your cancer it is slow growing and not considered curable. I myself have had no conventional treatment either but made major life changes, including plant based diet, daily swimming. Juicing etc and I am healthier than I have been in years. Just purchased your juicing book and looking forward to expanding my juicing world! Cancer is just a chronic illness like any other and doesn’t have to be a death sentence
Hello my dear friends, I want you to help me thank mrs susana bonita the cannabis oil. My mother was diagnosed of chronic disease 3 years
ago and we have tried many other medication to cure
this disease but it was not working at all and it was
getting worse. I was scared of losing my mother, I
went online to search for alternative treatment to
save her and i came across cannabis oil as an
effective medication for curing chronic disease. I was
able to source the cannabis oil from Phoenix Tears
Plus( [email protected]) and i was
instructed on how to use the cannabis oil. After using
the oil medication for the stipulated period, it was a
surprise to us and our doctor that my mother
chronic disease was cured effectively. The people of
United States should be aware of this cannabis oil
and it’s effectiveness for curing many other diseases.
You can email her on [email protected]
My friend was recently diagnosed with cancer and has been having a hard time. This list is great especially the first suggestion about just taking a breath. I’ll have to talk to her and help her find an appropriate oncologist for her cancer. Thanks for the advice!
I saw you on Oprah and really enjoyed you. My mother died with sarcoma cancer. So, I am glad you have really taking the cancer serious. Keep on educating us about the preventive tips and information for all cancers. You are great!