There’s no shortcut to wellness.
Healing Practices
I have leaned heavily on holistic healing practices to treat the root cause but have also brought in some traditional methods here and there to help take fuel off the fire when needed. Supporting your body through as many holistic therapies as possible seems like a no-brainer. Especially if you're going through conventional treatment. In some cases, specific holistic therapies can even make some conventional treatments more effective. This is why I love the integrative approach. For the most part, everything complements everything else. The list below is based on my personal experience and is not all-inclusive. I encourage everyone to do their homework to find what resonates with them.
Conventional Treatment
Endocrine therapy and cryoablation are the things I've leaned on the most from conventional medicine. I've used these things as the heavy hitters to make a substantial impact while I support my body with holistic therapies.
Nutrition + Supplementation
Everything processed is out, and whole foods in their natural state from the earth are in. No gluten, no dairy, no sugar. If possible, work with a nutritionist, ideally someone whose focus is working with cancer patients. I did, and I received a plan specific to my personal needs. I also worked with my Naturopathic Doctor on a custom cancer-fighting supplement regimen, covering everything from cancer-killing antioxidants, herbs to reduce inflammation, and nutraceuticals for healthy estrogen metabolism.
Microbiome + Digestion
A healthy gut equals a healthy immune system. Work to uncover and heal gut dysbiosis, a hidden source of inflammation for many of us. Conditions like SIBO, H. Pylori, and candida overgrowth are common. I highly recommend the GI Map test by Diagnostic Solutions Lab to get real answers on what's going on in your gut so you can create a plan to treat it accordingly. This is typically a process of eliminating any bacterial overgrowth and pathogens, then repopulating with healthy bacteria. When your gut isn't functioning well, you may be inflamed, your immune system will not function to its full potential, and you may not absorb all the nutrients you consume. All of these create a terrain for cancer to thrive.
Inflammation Reduction
Cancer loves inflammation. Most of us are chronically inflamed and don't realize it. Some ways to combat inflammation include: Cutting out all inflammatory foods, reducing exposure to heavy metals and bacteria/molds, infrared light therapy, infrared sauna, molecular hydrogen water, anti-inflammatory supplements, regular movement, and quality sleep. A big part of this is removing the things causing inflammation. More on that in the Detox section.
Off-Label Drugs
An off-label drug is a drug used in a way that differs from its original purpose. For example, there is a drug meant for Type II diabetes that happens to have anti-cancer properties. So, if you were to take it as part of a cancer-fighting protocol, you would be using it off-label. I learned everything I know about this from Jane McLelland and her book How to Starve Cancer, as well as her online course.
Non-Toxic Cancer Therapies
Sono-photo therapy has been a big part of my ongoing, day-to-day treatment. This is a process of taking a sensitizer that works in conjunction with various light and sound frequencies to destabilize cancer cells, causing apoptosis.
IV therapy, specifically high dose Vitamin C and artesunate are my go-to's for their synergistic ability to eliminate cancer cells. It should be noted that in addition to being a great cancer therapy, IVs can be used to help oxygenate the body (cancer hates oxygen) and eliminate viruses and bacteria that may be suppressing the immune system.
Mistletoe has a history as an effective cancer treatment around the world. It is used often in Europe and can be found in integrative cancer clinics in the U.S. The plant extracts of mistletoe work in multiple ways to eliminate cancer cells and stimulate the immune system. I worked with my doctors to develop a dosage schedule and gave myself injections at home. This can also be done through an IV.
Oxygenation
Cancer hates oxygen. Focus on making your body an oxygen-rich environment so that cancer will not be able to survive. Exercise and therapeutic breathwork are two simple, at-home methods to increase oxygen uptake.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is another option. With hyperbarics, you enter a chamber where the pressure and oxygen levels are gradually increased. The pressure pushes oxygen deep into your cells and tissues, reaching areas that may not have good circulation. It is one of the best ways to flood your cells and organs with oxygen.
An oxygen concentrator is a great option for at-home, daily therapy. This pulls oxygen out of the air, concentrates it, and delivers it to you via a mask or nasal cannula.
Ozone is an excellent healing tool to increase oxygenation throughout the body. Ozone is oxygen with an extra oxygen atom. (O3 vs O2) It can be administered at home via an insufflation with a medical-grade ozone machine. Along with oxygenating, it also kills pathogens like bacteria and viruses, making it an excellent healing tool with benefits in multiple areas.
Strengthen the Immune Systems
Cancer often occurs when the immune systems are compromised. This can happen for several reasons including but not limited to vitamin or nutrient deficiencies, stealth viruses, exposure to biotoxins like mold, parasitic infections, or a generally high toxic load. Items from almost every other category I mention within this protocols section have the ability directly or indirectly boost the immune system. Also, the more toxins we purge the better our immune systems will function.
Two areas often overlooked here are viruses and parasites. Once I addressed these, I started to make huge strides in healing. Many of us have stealth viruses without any symptoms. But they are still present and drag down our immune function. Work with an Integrative Practitioner or Doctor of Naturopathy to test and treat accordingly. Parasites rarely show up on tests. That does not mean they're not present. They can hide in soft tissues of the body and hold onto viruses and heavy metals all by themselves. Because of this, sometimes you will find undergoing a parasite cleanse will clear out those stealth viruses and reduce your heavy metal load. I didn't believe this until I experienced it and had the test results to prove it.
Mental + Emotional Health
This is the foundation for healing successfully. You have to want to heal. You have to believe you can heal. Nobody else can do that for you.
Work on healing personal and generational trauma. Start a meditation practice. Lean on your faith. Consider who you let into your healing bubble. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made when you're embarking on a healing journey. You may need to pause or even cut ties with relationships that are no longer supportive or positive. Pessimism, stress, and negative energy have got to go if you want to have healing success. Focus on surrounding yourself with others that will encourage and support you in your decisions. Your thoughts have a direct impact on your physical body. This is something that has to be top of mind every day.