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11 Life-Changing Tips for Cancer Patients

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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.

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.

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!

 

6. Choose safe personal care and cleaning products.

The average person uses 9 personal care products per day containing about 126 chemical ingredients. But, the FDA doesn’t review or approve the majority of these products before they go to market. In addition, companies aren’t required to test their products and are allowed to leave hazardous chemicals off their labels. So, it’s no surprise that many of the chemicals found in personal care products have been linked to increased risks of cancer, infertility, birth defects, hormone disruption, etc. Babies, children, teens, adults—we’re all exposed to these chemicals on a daily basis and there’s still much we do not know about their long-term health effects. The same holds true for household cleaning products. Is your laundry detergent safe? Find out. Use the EWG’s Skin Deep Database and learn about toxic chemicals and body burden here.

7. Sedentary lifestyles are actually dangerous.

While it’s important to rest, lack of exercise actually speeds up muscle wasting, weakens your endurance and immunity, and creates more fatigue. Your body needs to move and stay strong. You’ll handle cancer treatments and other medical procedures better and recover faster when you have more muscle tone and flexibility. Did I mention proper bowel movements? Yeah… movement helps with that, too (pun intended!). Exercise also reduces inflammation and growth stimulators like estrogen, insulin and IGF-1. Studies have shown that even short bursts of exercise can have impressive results for your health. You don’t need a lot of time or fancy equipment to make a difference. But, you gotta get out of your chair and commit to some form of moderate exercise on a regular (almost daily) basis. Light weights, yoga, dance, martial arts—whatever rings your bell! Start with 10 minutes a day and see if you can work up to 30-60 minutes (do your best and always listen to your body).

8. Sleep like a champ.

A proper night’s sleep, especially between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., will help you heal—for real. Not only will you be able to respond to treatments better, but restful sleep activates your body’s own regenerative abilities. You don’t have to enter monastic life and stick to perfect sleep hygiene, ya just need to create the conditions for more sleep on a consistent basis. Keep your room cool, block out all light, dump the coffee by noon—or switch to green tea (coffee = 140 milligrams of caffeine per serving, green tea = 25 milligrams)—peel back on the alcohol and drink it earlier with food (alcohol disrupts melatonin and blood sugar), give yourself time to wind down and set a loving intention: May I be peaceful, calm and sleepy!

9. Wrangle your stress.

Stress releases a cascade of hormones in your body. This is all well and good when you need to run or move out of the way quickly. But when the source of your stress is prolonged, like a cancer diagnosis that takes years or even a lifetime to manage, stress can become your number one enemy. Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the most traumatic events that can happen in anyone’s life. But, there are ways to manage the panic so it doesn’t weaken your immune system, disrupt your sleep and create more illness in your body. Meditation, hiking in the woods, pottery, yoga—anything that gets you out of your head and into your heart/body. In addition, you may need some good ole professional support. Yup, a shrink. Figure out what works for sweet you, and don’t forget a good ole massage from time to time. We hold so many issues in our precious tissues.

10. Accept where you are right now.

Unconditional acceptance is the path of the spiritual warrior. It takes courage to embrace your current situation—to be present and loving toward yourself exactly as you are. You are your reality. You are your truth. Can you change? Absolutely! But, even talking about change puts us in the future. And while there’s definitely a time for that, building a strong foundation in the now will allow you to consistently love and care for yourself. Stop for a minute. Give yourself props. Take in your good. If you’re hell bent on strategizing about all that could be better, then you must promise to give equal time to what’s amazing right now.

When I was first diagnosed, my burning goal was remission. Anything else seemed like colossal failure. And, even worse—my fault. Over a decade later, I’m a master at my own advice. I accept wonderful me, cancer and all. Does that mean that I’ve given up on my health? Of course not! It means I love and respect myself no matter what.

Acceptance is different from quitting. It means that no matter what happens, you won’t abandon yourself in your time of need. And, here’s the part that contributes to your overall well-being: Acceptance allows you to rest, renew and replenish.

11. Educate yourself.

Here are three powerful books that have been cancer lifelines for me:

1. Life Over Cancer by Keith Block M.D. (This is a must-read by my integrative oncologist.)
2. Anticancer Living by Lorenzo Cohen, PhD and Alison Jefferies (This book is outstanding!)
3. Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips by Kris Carr (Yours truly—writing that book rescued my life.)

I hope you’ll give these tips a try. Remember, you don’t have to transform your life overnight. Small, manageable changes go a long way when it comes to feeling better.

You are a treasured member of my virtual family, and I love you. Keep taking care of yourself.

Your turn: What tips and tricks have helped you along your health journey? Share in the comments below!

Peace & thriving,

Add a comment
  1. Susan says:

    Thank you for this insight. You are a living testimony and an inspiration!

  2. Julie Pankey says:

    Very inspiring! I’m going to share this with my followers in hopes that it will help others.

  3. Just want to say thank you. I am reaching my 8th cancerversary. I am a breast cancer survivor, an artist and a lover of life. Thank you for teaching me how to treat my body. I love you too sister!!!!

  4. Robin Chapchuk says:

    I love you Kris!! You are one rockin’, exceptional & talented woman whose advice & humor have helped me through this past year of living with pancreatic cancer. My cancerversary is tomorrow & I am embracing every moment of the journey by integrating all of these tips.

  5. Ginny Abate says:

    Kris, as usual, you make me feel safe. When I was diagnosed just over five years ago, with breast cancer, on my birthday, I thought my life was over. I found your books and found my safe place with you and on your web sites. Every day in the shower I check my chest, and there isn’t one day that I don’t worry about the cancer coming back, but with you right by my side, every step of the way, I still feel safe, and I will fight the fight! I had a bilateral mastectomy done, and no reconstruction, as I was 58 when diagnosed. My husband of over 30 years walked out on my special needs son and I, so I have also been a single mom. We have just lost our home to foreclosure and we lost our car two years ago. Michael is home bound and I am his only care giver. He is such a gift and such a joy. He is also quite a handful! One day at a time, one step at a time. Meditation and exersize are my go to’s every day! I couldn’t get through this journey without you Kris. You are an amazing source of support and comfort! Love you girl!

  6. MAE says:

    Very uplifting article as I approch my 3 yr anniversary

  7. janice oehl says:

    so so true adding flush your body out with fluids seltzer/water /sparkling water whatever you can get down.drink drink drink! breast colon uterine Chronic lympsotic leukemia. 1997 to present .

    • Diana says:

      Janice, thanks for the reminder that those of us living with cancer that we must drink lots of water/healthy fluids. I am going on my 5th year of living with incurable, Stage 4 uterine cancer, done all the treatments available- including a couple of clinical trials- and have to keep reminding myself how important the daily H2O intake is. I am sure there are a few out there that are unaware of this.

  8. Suchismita Bose says:

    Your articles are so great and motivating.. I used it as my daily dose and read once everyday to boost me in the morning. Thanks.. you are a great help.. God Bless you..

  9. Nancy says:

    Kris – I am a 2 year breast cancer survivor and while I was going through surgery and treatment I was numb. I am so grateful that I have found your blog as you have validated everything I have started to do. I will pass along this email to everyone I know who is fighting the fight and to those who can make these simple changes to live a better life.
    I send you healing thoughts and prayers. May you continue down this healing path you have created. You truly are inspirational! Thanks so much for sharing.

  10. nanci says:

    Thank you, I love you too.Happy.

  11. Angie says:

    Great great article. As an integrative oncology advocate I intend to share your insights, experiences and information. Keep up the good work!!!

  12. Joanne says:

    I was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years ago and you gave me hope, inspiration and the courage to trust my instincts about treatment. You’re an angel on the cancer frontlines. Like Clara Barton! 🙂 Thank you forever.

  13. Adriana Mormocea says:

    Hello, Kris!

    I am writing to you from Romania.

    I have been following your site and posts and started juicing 1 year ago. I find your story inspiring and truly helpful.

    Now, my mother has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and I m doing my best on helping her. We are in between surgical intervention and starting chemo and radio therapy. Where can I find guidance regarding when to start the juicing for her? I am afraid the juicing will harm her, before chemo, or even determine tumor growth.

    All the best to you and your family.

    Looking forward to hearing from you,

    Adriana

    • Lori Bauman says:

      Hi Adriana would you mind sharing what you did? I’m in a similar situation with my dad. its paralyzing the doctors say don’t do it but I just dont know

  14. Mary Beth Norton says:

    Hey Kris, I read your book and love your energy!
    Wondered how I could start a blog or something like it. I have so much to tell and no one to listen I guess….lol ! I have stage 3 Ovarian Cancer…coming up on 2 years now

  15. Diane says:

    Dear Kris,
    You an amazing woman and I am so glad that I found you, your books, and now your website. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2011. I have doing well however I still struggle anxiety and worry. I am looking forward to trying your recipes and have found your wellness blog a comfort and an inspiration.

    Thank you so much!

    Diane

  16. Regiane says:

    I am so excited, ….today I discovered you and Dr. Lissa Rankin. I recently finished my breast cancer treatment (Chemo 🙁 & radiation) and have started my long journey taking tamoxifin. Now it’s time to heal my mind, body and soul and am so grateful I have found two beautiful, wonderful sources for inspiration and guidance. I love your videos they make me smile and I love your attitude. You ROCK!!!

  17. caroline says:

    you’re an insliration, Thank you Kris….much love!

  18. RoseAnn GILMER says:

    Kris Carr you are an incredibly, remarkable woman. God bless you and your fabulous work!!!!!,xoxoxoxoxoxoxox…

  19. dr somanth says:

    hi this is
    doctor somanth from india i want to suggest u take one drop of homeopathic medicine
    coffea 200 it will balens u r hormony with nature good bless u bye.

  20. chidi bedford says:

    Thanks alot…..i really learnt many thing from this

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