Hi Sweet Friends,
Although I may not talk about this topic as much as I did a decade ago, it’s still a subject that’s very important to me—surviving cancer. A few years ago, I learned about Dr. Kelly Turner, Ph.D.’s book, Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds. After reading it cover to cover, I couldn’t wait to do this interview and share Kelly’s research with you all. Today, her words still ring true. Time and time again, I meet and read emails from readers who say this interview has changed their lives.
Kelly has dedicated her career to what she calls “radical remission” (although, I think her work is so universal that it should be called Radical Remission and Prevention!). The research she gathered is not only empowering to those facing a cancer diagnosis, it’s a gift to anyone who wants to lead a healthy, long life.
Watch my interview with Dr. Kelly Turner above or download it here and listen on-the-go. Note: To download the mp3 file, right click (or Ctrl+Click on a Mac) on the link and “Save Link As” to save it to your computer.
After analyzing 1,000 cases and doing over 200 direct, in-depth interviews, Dr. Turner’s biggest takeaway has been that healing is possible at any time. I want to be clear that, like me, Dr. Turner is not against Western medicine. She believes that every situation is different and that everybody needs a different healing plan tailored to their needs.
When I read Kelly’s New York Times best-selling book, Radical Remission, I couldn’t believe how much it aligned with the diet and lifestyle I’ve been writing about and practicing personally for the past decade. It’s so refreshing and encouraging to see these things deeply researched and documented by someone like Kelly. During this interview, we covered three of the nine principles outlined in her book. Keep in mind that this is not a step-by-step plan for healing cancer. Rather, Kelly’s nine principles are the common threads she discovered while researching people who had experienced radical remission.
3 (of 9!) Principles of Radical Remission
1. Radically changing your diet
Find out what to add and what to remove—I couldn’t agree more! Hint: Hello, plants!
2. Taking herbs and supplements
There’s no one-size-fits-all supplement plan but during our interview, Kelly shares the top three kinds of supplements people with radical remission commonly take. Remember, it’s important to find an integrative oncologist, integrative doctor or certified nutritionist (who has an integrative approach and has worked with cancer patients) to determine your supplement plan. Check out these resources: Institute for Functional Medicine and Society of Integrative Oncology.
3. Deepening your spiritual practice
Learn about the phenomenal power a daily spiritual practice, whether it’s a walk in nature, meditation or prayer (whatever floats your boat!), can have on your DNA. You may find that mindfulness and spiritual connection have more influence over your health than you ever could have imagined.
I really hope this interview inspired you, whether you’re a patient or someone who just wants to feel better and prevent chronic disease.
Kelly was also one of my amazing guests for the first-ever Healing Cancer World Summit. Using the results from this event, I compiled a modern-day guide for prevention and recovery to help you in your cancer journey that you can find here.
Your turn: What came up for you after listening to this interview? What were your takeaways?
Peace & radical research,
Very nice interview and inspiring. I am a stage 4 breast cancer thriver since 2005. I have been very integrative on my path and also choose to educate and inspire others to investigate all of your options and live a healthy life with lifestyle changes such as diet and how we think process, pray and meditatedelve into spirituality. I was on hospice back in 2012 and bed ridden and today I have a pretty average life filled with love, light and peace.
Thank you so much for bringing Dr. Turner to your site, Kris. I have multiple myeloma – am approaching four years and have integrated many of these practices into my life but the reminder is so helpful, that I am
not just spinning my wheels and remembering that healing is about having some control and say about my body and cancer, as well as striving to have the best days that I can.
I would love to be a radical remission gal for your study, but alas, I have never been in remission. It is okay
because, as I keep reminding my oncologist, there is a lot that IS working in my body. This is such an important book for all of us – prevention and dealing with cancer. With gratitude, Bethe Levy
Good morning…I have been taking supplement called Protandim and although I do not have cancer, I have lost loved ones to cancer and have friends that are currently fighting the fight. I was wondering if you have heard of it. I want to share it with friends as I have heard nothing bad about it and it stimulates your body to destroy free radicals…I would really like your opinion as I look to your site for answers and solutions as I know you speak from the heart and experience…and you do your research:)
Thank you
Hilary
My wife Marian was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in Jan. of 2013. She had a brain tumor removed on Jan. 11 and has been through radiation treatments and ongoing chemo. She has been interested in your work and has your books. She makes and drinks green smoothies of FRESH veggies and also drinks Ziga(sp) every day twice a day. She also exercises every day. She is doing Very well so far and I am extremely proud of her my 1st wife died of small cell cancer 20 yrs. ago this Aug. and Marian and I will have our 19th anniversary this Aug. she is my hero and I thank you for your work and everything you stand for. Go girl. Thom Webster.
Thank you so much for your interview with Dr. K. Turner. I read the book, but this really reinforced the principles for me (a breast cancer patient). Seeing her beautiful sincere essence was an inspiration and a puff a fluffy wonderful love (like that which you are always serving up sweetly). Thanks again!
Thank you…
This was ex-cell-ent!! So happy to finally see research like this and so well articulated by Dr. Turner. Thank you, Kris, for bringing her and her work to us.
You are such a inspiration… THANK YOU… all this healthy life style is just now reaching here in the south (louisiana) loving your work..
I honestly believe that killing animals and taking their babies away from them in order to steal their milk can ONLY lead to disease. Dis-ease. If we’re ALL truly connected, then eating an animal is like eating your own foot! How can such a travesty of nature ever lead to health and well-being? How can death lead to life? How can a carcass ever bring health? Of course it can’t. If people just LOVED… Love ALL of life, ALL the sentient beings, their own bodies, our precious and beautiful Earth… If we can all just LOVE, cancer would be a thing of the past. I envision a future where the thought of harming an animal, ANY animal, is so foreign an idea that no one would ever believe it was ever done. That’s MY dream. I hope it doesn’t take cancer to make it your dream too. To LIFE!
If it works for you I am happy. I do however know there is much great nutritional health with eating non steroid induced meat such as when you hunt your own, which I feel is still a part of nature and cycle of life as planned by a higher energy.
I saw her on the Dr. Oz show last month and immediately got her book. It is difficult to put down, it’s wonderful!
WOW! Loved watching this FABULOUS interview…as I sipped on my green juice! Can’t wait to read the book and share this with my family & friends. You ladies are amazing! xo
Awesome information! How exciting that this information is coming to light more and more! Thanks Kris and Dr. Kelly Turner! I am a ‘beating the odds’ cancer thriver and I couldn’t be happier to hear the info and then feel so validated.
What a beautiful message and interview! I am continually impressed with my body’s ability to heal me if I just take care of it in these ways you discussed. For me, the biggest take away was meditation. While I do yoga, walk outside, etc, I think this is the time to start trying a 5 min daily meditation. Thank you SO much for including us in this dialogue!
Great info. I eat very clean, no gluten. Low sugar, lots of fruit n veggies , no meat…want to get off dairy tho am afraid will lose weight. Am underweight and can’t afford to drop. Eat nuts, avocado. Coconut oil etc. how does one keep their calories up eating this way? thank you
Hello Jill,
The best way to maintain or add some weight is simply to eat more. It is not all about eating more fattening foods, but eating more calories. It works the same way as for people who want to lose weight, they count and limit calories. So if you can work at adding in more calories at each of your meals, and add in an extra healthy snacks throughout the day, you should be able to maintain and or gain some weight. Examples, add in coconut yogurt into a smoothie, enjoy a banana, peanut butter or almond butter, vegan mayo on toast, make your own energy bars as they are so quick and easy and add in almond butter, coconut, nuts, oats, maple syrup, the list is endlist. Try new recipes.
You will not miss the dairy as it is easy to replace with alternative nut and grain products.
I’ve found hemp milk to be my favourite milk substitute if that helps & it’s full of protein! x
Thank you for this interview, Kris! My husband and I have made lots of changes to our diets over the years (including drinking homemade organic green juice every day), and are in great health. What came up for me is the thought of his mother, in her late 70’s, who has just received a Stage 3 lung cancer diagnosis. She lives in a retirement home, and I can’t believe how they feed these people! So much processed junk. I’ll be sharing this interview with her, in hopes that we can at least get her thinking turned around, if not her behavior. She’s pretty much accepted her ‘fate’, and stopped doing things like walking because of it. She’s got kids and grandkids who would like to see her live to a much older age, and I believe we can extend her life if she makes some changes. Of course, these will have to be her choice, but maybe this interview will help her think differently.
Kris, I am so happy you are helping to get the word out. Yes cancer is curable without damaging the body in the process. I know first hand because I just helped my husband get cured, yes cured, no cancer anywhere in the body. He did have stage 3 prostate cancer that had spread outside of the prostate.
There are so many things that can help boost your immune system. I have had so many people ask me what we did that I put together an extensive list so that anyone who is interested in what we did can read about it. And yes the cure is the best way to prevent. Wishing everyone Ageless Health and Beauty.
Hi Cathey, I would love to hear what worked for you and and your husband if you don’t mind sharing. Thank you ?
Awesome
I SO agree – I combined western and alternative medicine measures and – despite a few stacked odds – I am still here and feeling GREAT. Stick to your ideals but make sure you are getting the best advice and information. It IS a lot of work and a lot of research but it sure beats the ‘other’ outcome! And IT DOES WORK. Be well.
You are such an inspiration! Thank you for being an advocate for natural ways to support healing though this terrible disease.
I also healed Cancer naturally without surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. I only used proper nutrition and proper detoxification to heal naturally. It isn’t easy to heal cancer naturally, especially when it is advanced, but it CAN be done.
Tamara St. John,
Can you give specific details of what you did that worked for you? I have metastatic cancer of the breast, skin, lymph nodes and lungs. I appreciate any advice you can give me.
Emberlea