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!
Dear Kris Carr,
Hello gorgeous, ( I stole that from you). Lol. I’m a little late to the party, but I am enjoying your Instagram and now your newsletter. My sister and I saw you and Gabby Bernstein in NYC in January 2016. You are even more beautiful in person. You also signed my deck of cards and took pictures with us. It was very kind of both of you to wait until every person on line got an autopgraoh and a picture. !
I was diagnosed with Uterus Cancer in 2009. It was painful, awful and I don’t remember most of it. I was in a fog and just did what the doctors told me too. ? I would do it differently today and I wish I saw your blog then. It’s okay. But my only hope for children with my frozen embryos is a surrogate. Do you know anything about this option? Have you looked into it? Or just have any advice for me? My heart and ears are open. Thank you kindly.
Sincerely,
Donna B.
Really helpful thanks.
Dear Kris, thank you for your beautiful example. I have been living with the same diagnosis as you (aren’t we so lucky to be so rare?) for 3 years (at the age of 29). I’ve had surgery but recently I received the news that I have at least two new uninvited guests in my liver. Knowing that I’m not alone in this fight helps me thrive. Best wishes gor the both of us! Xoxo ***
This is really a positive and self-motivating blog. This is a true example of will or inner power of an individual who is willing to live a life with the sky as a limit. Truly amazing, instead all this mentioned stuff can be done before getting infected.
My cancer journey started in January. Discovering you and your blog has been a true blessing. Thank you!!
Nice post.
Thanks for sharing these tips with us. It would really help cancer patients.
Thank You Kris, I think I found you to help me get through this bump in the road in which I only found out two months ago that I have stage 1 breast cancer. You are a God send to me!
I’m so glad this post resonated with you, Marie. Sending you lots of love and support. xo, kc
I love what you share and the way you write so spontaneously.
Big hug for you
(((((((((( Kris ))))))))))
Big hug right back, Anne! Thanks for being here. xo
Hello Kris! Thank you for sharing your story and all of these wonderful tips! I had skin CA at a very young age, which required removal and plastic surgery on my face, so there is always that little bit of lingering worry about something else popping up down the road. I first “met” you during my Institute of Integrative Nutrition Health Coach training, and even bought the Sunlighten sauna you recommended (by the way – any new tips on best use of the sauna? or the difference between that and “red light therapy”?). You inspire me to stay on the wellness path as best as possible, and your tips are such valuable reminders of how to do that. I am hoping that more people hop on the prevention wagon vs waiting for the cure. Thank you so much for all that you do! 🙂
Hi Annie! I’m so glad you found this post helpful. I can understand that underlying worry. When I get in that space, I try to take some deep breaths and go out for a relaxing walk or do a bit of meditation—it gets me out of my head a bit, even if the thoughts don’t completely go away.
I’m not sure about red light therapy, but I’ll check it out! xo
I love the energy that your blogs have. I do have a tendency to feel like a failure because I do not have a functional medicine doctor near me, and I feel like I don’t have the perfect plan to heal like your blogs say. I appreciate the encouragement. The acceptance is huge, because people will make you feel like you are giving up if you don’t go the traditional route. I pray, read the bible a lot and trust God’s plan for me. As long as I trust Him completely, the battles go away in my head. That is my main source of healing. His son, Jesus, has made me whole. The rest of the care falls into place by doing what gives me peace. So, I work to not kick myself because I don’t have or can’t afford the “perfect” team. But, I know I have the perfect plan because of my faith in Jesus. Thanks for your blog.
Sweet Cheryl, thank you so much for your comment. I know how much pressure there can be to have everything planned out and perfect. But in reality, none of us really have it all figured out—we all have our challenges and limitations. Please remember that you are enough just the way you are. Just keep doing the best you can to take care of yourself, and I’ll be thinking of you. xo
Kris, in my ‘world’, it’s not a cancer ‘shit’, it’s a bipolar ‘card’ that has been dealt to my family. I’m going to share all of these tips because it is the same truth “living with _________________ (whatever) can be healthy” It can be it can even be A, B and C (which is my way of saying fill that in folks…what you love about life is still there). Thank you for your unicorn heart and fierce commitment!
I’m so glad you found this post helpful, Lorran! Your family is so lucky to have you looking out for them. I hope these tips resonate with them , too. Sending you all lots of love!
Thanks, Kris. You’re the best. Love you.
Love YOU, Jack! Hope you find these tips helpful. xo
In your recipes you still use soy products, which are bad for our health- especially for men-
also cashews are not nuts and are difficult to digest.
pl. check the science of these products. thanks
Hi Sieglinde! I’m the nutrition director here, so I’ll chime in for Kris. Although soy foods have gotten some negative press over the years, countless statistically significant research studies point to minimally processed, non-GMO, and organic soy foods (edamame, miso, tempeh, tofu, soymilk) as being helpful in preventing and surviving breast cancer and prostate cancer, improving heart health and lowering bad LDL cholesterol levels, promoting bone health, kidney function, and mental health, and improving overall wellness in several other ways. Not to mention the fact that soy foods often displace meat and dairy products which have been shown to increase the risk for developing various cancers and other chronic diseases. People with soy protein allergies must avoid soy, but researchers feel very confident that soy foods can have countless health benefits. However, it’s also important to mention that a plant-based diet doesn’t have to include soy to be nutritionally complete if you do choose to avoid soy. Here is a recent review and explanation of several of the soy and health research studies which you may be interested in reading. Men’s health is specifically discussed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5188409/
Hope this helps! xo – Jen
Filing for divorce after 37 years of marriage to a narcissist. He made the decision to have a 3 year emotional affair after my cancer diagnosis. Quite frankly, I think he was hoping I would die. 5.5 years post- diagnosis, I’m still here., alive and kicking…proud I did not give him the satisfaction he craved!
You’re inspiring, Patricia! Thank you for sharing your positive attitude with the world. Sending lots of love your way. xo!
In addition to all of your tips which I will work on integrating the ones I don’t practice, I would say socializing. There are days or nights when I meet up with friends or they come visit me. Yet, I am not always up to spending time with others ecspecially on heavy loaded appointment day or at times when iwas going through chemo infusions. Also, many of my friends have children and where there are kids there are germs. Even though I worked in school for two academic years while I was diagnosed wirh cancer I didn’t get any more sick from the kids than I had in the past. Yet, all of my friends and family are hyper sensitive. So if I’m not socializing with anyone in person my daily goal includes 3-6 people i need to reach out to using different forms of communication. Sometimes after morning meditation/prayer i would call, text, email or FB msg even before breakfast or coffee. And i continue to reach out to people throughout the day into night. I find this daily practice to be helpful in not lettinf me drop into isolation as i live alone. Even when I’m sad and don’t want to talk to anyone, thays the time i know is more importsnt to reach out. Another tip is to become involved in the world outside of cancer. This notion may be taken care if one is still able to work or volunteer. Otherwise read,watch or listen to news, favorite or funny , scary or something recommended to you or is on a Top 10, etc Playlist. I try hard some harder on difficult days to have ready conversation pieces other than cancer. If religion and or spirituality were importsnt or not importsnt before becoming sick it’s a community who needs and wants to take care of you. Think about whst you’re comfortable wirh sharing and accepting help wirh. When I didn’t make decisions or set boundaries I was dealing wirh a lot of food I didn’t like and didn’t want to waste as well ad too many walk-Imeaning visitors who I ended up feeling like I had to entertain and would use a lot of my limited energy. Findimg ways to make onself laufh and smile each day. Along wirh conventional and integrative medicines and treatments laughter and entertainment help a person’s psyche, mood, and overall quality of life.
These are such wonderful tips, Leah! Connection, laughter, entertainment, etc. are all so important. Thank you for the reminder :-). xo!
Kris…..you are truly an angel. Your words will help so many people to be accepting and loving within themselves, regardless of any illness or disability they may have. Nothing could be more healing to them. I admire you and pray for your health and happiness. Thank you.
You’re so sweet, Susan! Thanks for making me smile. xo!
My son was diagnosed with ALL this March and when he was diagnosed the first thought my husband and I had was we will help him heal. The one thing I noticed and find a little upsetting through all this is how people, with very kind intentions, tell him to “fight” the cancer. It makes it seem so negative and honestly I believe it scares my 6 year old a bit. Cancer has become a part of his and our life but we always tell him everything is just to heal his body. It is so nice to hear you talk about healing your body not fighting your body. Thank you!
I couldn’t agree more, Jessica. I’ve never thought the “battle” or “fight” perspective was all that helpful. So glad your son has you to lean on. My heart goes out to your family! xo
This is such an important post! I am floored by how similar it is to my paper I wrote and share online in Hawai’i. It’s like once we are diagnosed all of the tools are there for us, we just have to pay attention.
I would love for you to read my Cancer Plan of Attack when you have 10 minutes. I promise it’s very concise and to the point!
Hope to meet you soon, cw
I’m 26 and was diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma (stage 1) 5 months back. I have undergone surgery, done with radiation therapy and presently undergoing chemotherapy(2 more cycles remaining☺). I recently got scanned and it came clear(cancer free), my family is so relieved now so am I. It’s been a really tough journey. My mother makes sure that I eat healthy and get all nutrients. There are days I feel restless and in pain due to medications, this usually lasts for 3-4 days post chemo. I’m so lucky to have such strong willed family who have my back all the time, it would have been impossible for me to go through this without them. To all those people going through this, remember that you are a warrior and you will survive this just have faith and courage, eat well, smile more even if it is hard to, because your smile gives strength to people around you.
@Asha, you are a warrior. I salute you and my prayers are always with you.