Before I get into the steps of what I did to beat cancer, it’s best to start from the beginning. To the part of my life when I was first diagnosed.
As soon as finished my first colonoscopy I more or less knew. It was the concerned look on my doctor’s face after seeing the large mass on my colon. It was how he suddenly called in the “lead” doctor to assess my results. It was how they both looked at me with “pity” in their eyes and how they were suddenly consoling me as if I were a young girl.
Of course, it took a few days to officially get the results back. But I knew.
I received a call late one evening from my doctor. Which, let’s be honest, is never a good sign.
It was then the words “You have cancer” came out of my doctor’s mouth, and my heart stopped and my mind went into a deep frenzy. I was suddenly overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, and sadness. I just assumed that I was going to die.
And full disclosure. This happened to me not once but TWICE in my lifetime. Both had a similar rollercoaster of emotions.
After the initial shock wore off, I knew I had to gather my strength to face this disease head-on.
Cancer may have appeared in my life uninvited, but I refused to let it define my life going forward. I became determined to beat this, no matter how long or hard the battle may be.
The months that followed were filled with insane amounts of tests, consultations, treatments, procedures, and lifestyle changes as I pieced together a plan.
It required perseverance, courage, and the support of loved ones to get through the darkest days. But I learned so much about myself and life in the process.
Now, as a cancer survivor, I want to pay it forward and share what I’ve learned with others facing a similar battle. While every cancer journey is unique, there are strategies that helped me regain my health and life that may help you too.
In this post, I will share the 5 key things I did to help beat cancer, including how I changed my diet and lifestyle, took supplements, shifted my mindset, and more!
My hope is that my story will give you strength during your own fight and remind you to never lose hope.
You truly have more power than you know.
The post is all about the 5 Steps That I took to Help “Beat Cancer”.
The Story of How I Beat Cancer
Photo: A picture of (a scared) me in the hospital waiting to receive my first chemo treatment.
If you are reading this then chances are either you or someone else you know has been diagnosed with cancer. And man oh man, my heart truly does go out to you if so.
Cancer is NOT an easy journey.
It is definitely NOT for the faint of heart.
But it’s also not necessarily a death sentence. And that is something that took a bit for me to understand. To truly believe that I would (and could) survive.
Cancer has hit me not once, but twice. The first time it was a lower, stage 1-2 (colorectal) cancer, and in hindsight, it was a lot easier process than I realized at the time. Since it was a lower stage, I had to have a few surgeries. No chemo. No radiation.
But going through it all felt SO overwhelming and SO hard and I don’t want to discredit that.
However, it was when I was diagnosed the 2nd time that I was truly taken off the rails.
You see, I had JUST had my daughter. She was around 6 months old when I found out that my cancer had returned. What was supposed to be one of the happiest times in my life quickly took a turn to full-on survival mode.
For the next 9+ months, I went through a series of chemo and chemo/radiation treatments that truly had me fighting for my life. To say that it’s one of the hardest things I went through is definitely NOT an understatement.
But through all of the struggle comes the good stuff. At least that was the case for me.
It 100% gave me perspective in life. And, if you’re one of the lucky ones to beat it…it makes you realize how much of a gift your life actually is.
That being said. There are 5 distinct things that I did to help beat cancer and get through my cancer treatment.
5 Things That I Did To Help Beat Cancer
When I was first diagnosed, I felt lost about where to even begin fighting my cancer.
Through extensive research and conversations with medical practitioners, I slowly pieced together a comprehensive healing plan. Not only with standard medical treatments but also with lifestyle changes, mindset shifts, supplements, and more.
My healing journey ultimately came down to 5 key strategies that empowered me to take back control of my health.
These 5 pillars (including meditation for mindset, acupuncture, supplements, rest, and diet) formed the foundation that enabled me to beat cancer.
Though the road was difficult, I could not have come this far without each of these critical components supporting me along the way.
1. Meditation
While doctors and treatment plans were crucial, I realized that mindfulness and meditation were just as important as going through chemotherapy and radiation in the fight against cancer.
I NEEDED to care for my mental health just as much as my physical health in order to have the strength to get through each day.
Meditation became an invaluable practice to shift my mindset and support my overall health.
Clearing my mind of worry, even if just for a few minutes a day, enabled me to gain perspective. It allowed me to get out of constant “fight or flight” mode and relax my nervous system.
Through meditation, I found moments of peace despite the chaos.
Establishing a regular meditation routine wasn’t easy. During treatment, it was especially hard. Mostly because all of the drugs and medication that I was on during treatment made it hard to focus my mind.
But I did what I could.
Forcing myself to do a little meditation whenever I was able to do so quickly became an essential part of my healing journey.
Dr. Joe Dispenza
One meditation program that I found hugely helpful is Dr. Joe Dispenza’s. His profound meditations were integral in shifting my mindset to truly believe I could beat cancer.
He teaches a specific style of meditation focused on rewiring the brain to change limiting beliefs and ingrained patterns.
Dr. Dispenza’s work has touched millions as he lectures worldwide on the science behind manifestation and healing potential. His meditations leverage cutting-edge neuroscience to help people overcome trauma, disease, and addiction.
I followed his guided meditations daily (and still do!) to recondition my thinking from a place of fear and despair into one of hope and possibility.
During my treatment, I consistently visualized having a healthy body (in the present state) AND forced myself to FEEL what it is like to live in a healthy body.
I believe the combination of thinking and feeling my truth is what saved me, as it amplified any physical treatment that I underwent.
The more that I read up on the Law of Attraction, the more that this point of both “thinking and feeling” your desires is the key to attracting them.
2. Acupuncture
As I explored complementary treatments to pair with traditional cancer care, acupuncture emerged as a surprising yet effective therapy.
Prior to starting my cancer treatment, I went deep into online research in order to discover any possible practices that could boost the overall effectiveness of my treatment.
I wasn’t about to entirely forgo the Western medicine and treatment plan, but I did want to see if combining Eastern and Western medicine practices might help.
That is when I decided to add weekly acupuncture sessions to my healing mix.
These treatments helped ease some of the chemo side effects like nausea, pain, and fatigue. Acupuncture also provided me with extra energy on days when I felt drained and (I believe) helped my body better metabolize the medicines.
The combination of Eastern and Western practices enabled me to continue rigorous mainstream treatments while also supporting my quality of life.
This comprehensive approach was definitely one of the keys to my healing journey.
3. Supplements
In addition to acupuncture and meditation, I also incorporated natural supplements into my cancer care regimen.
I worked with my acupuncturist to identify supplements that would specifically support my treatment and recovery.
Two that became staples in my regime were turkey tail mushrooms and Chinese herbs.
While not substitutes for standard cancer protocols, these supplements provided nutritional support and helped my body better tolerate and respond to the intense treatments. They enabled me to continue chemo and radiation with fewer complications plus gave an extra boost to my immune system.
I believe that adding these natural agents along with conventional methods helped me maximize my chances of success.
Turkey Tail Mushrooms
One of the most intriguing supplements I incorporated was turkey tail mushroom. This medicinal mushroom has been used for centuries in traditional healing systems but is now also being researched by modern science.
I forgot how I learned about turkey tail mushrooms, but am SO glad that I discovered it prior to my cancer treatments.
In Japan, turkey tail is among the most commonly recommended therapies used by oncologists to pair with conventional cancer treatments. Turkey tail mushrooms are supposed to be especially effective for fighting the type of cancer that I had, colorectal cancer.
Studies show turkey tail contains unique polysaccharides that can also help boost immune function in cancer patients. The research indicates it can work synergistically with chemotherapy and radiation, helping enhance the effectiveness of these conventional protocols.
I worked closely with my medical team to safely add turkey tail into my integrative care plan.
And truth be told, even though I am no longer undergoing cancer treatment, I am still VERY adamant about incorporating turkey tail mushrooms into my diet.
Whether it be through adaptogen drinks or even mushroom coffee, I whole heartedly believe in the healing power of mushrooms, especially turkey tail!
Chinese Herbs
Another integral supplement for me was Chinese herbal medicine.
I worked with an herbalist to create customized formulations to support my body during chemo and radiation. The herbs helped boost my energy when I felt depleted from the toxic therapies.
They also minimized side effects like poor appetite and nausea that were making life very difficult. The blends changed over time to match my needs at each phase of treatment.
Research on Chinese herbs demonstrates they can help cancer patients manage side effects, improve quality of life, and even enhance treatment outcomes when used alongside conventional care.
While challenging to navigate on my own, having guidance from a trained herbalist helped me safely integrate this ancient practice. The herbal formulations acted as vital reinforcements to help me get through harsh treatments with strength and they provided natural compounds my body needed to be able to beat cancer.
4. Rest
As simple as it sounds, making rest a priority was one of the most important things I did to fight cancer.
Treatment takes a HUGE toll on your body, so honoring its need for sleep and giving myself ample recovery time became essential.
I had to let go of my tendency to push through fatigue and just “power through” life. This required a shift in mindset to tune into my body more deeply. I learned to listen to signals telling me it was time to rest and not feel guilty about it.
Whether it was taking a nap midday, going to bed early, or just sitting in stillness, this awareness of what my body needed in each moment was key. Giving in to rest allowed my system to repair and gather strength for the long battle ahead.
Though resting felt passive, it actually enabled me to engage in the active fight against cancer in a sustainable way. With this foundation of health, I was better equipped to handle all that cancer and treatment demanded of me.
5. Diet and Lifestyle
Nutrition became one of the cornerstones of my integrative healing plan.
But I will admit that this did not happen until AFTER I finished both of my cancer treatments. I was rather nauseous throughout the majority of my therapy, and honestly ate whatever I could to get through it.
And I knew that this was TOTALLY okay to do. I knew that I’d focus on regaining a healthy lifestyle and diet AFTER my cancer care ended.
When my treatment plan ended, I overhauled my diet and lifestyle to create conditions inside the body that would support cancer recovery.
- I started each day right with a gut-friendly morning routine that would set me up for success later in the day. This would include anything from staying hydrated to eating high fiber, probiotic-rich food that would boost my microbiome.
- This included removing inflammatory foods, focusing on organic plant-based meals, juicing raw fruits and vegetables, and cutting out junk food.
- I found inspiration in cooking new anti-cancer recipes packed with fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and more.
- I worked also with a nutritionist to identify the best diet strategy for my particular cancer case.
Tailoring my nutrition plan to my specific needs helped me get what my body required to thrive.
Even small improvements to cut out toxins and boost key vitamins and minerals made a difference.
I believe that nourishing my body with pure, healing foods gave it strength at the cellular level, and created an internal environment that inhibited cancer’s growth.
Results of My Efforts to Beat Cancer
After months of rigorous treatment and diligent implementation of my integrative healing plan, I received miraculous news.
The scans (halfway through my treatment) showed no evidence of cancer! None. Both of my tumors had literally disappeared.
I had beat cancer!
And I was SO incredibly thankful.
Becoming cancer-free seemed almost too good to be true after so many months filled with fear and uncertainty. I had worked so hard and come so far; now I could finally take a breath and celebrate this hard-won victory.
My heart overflowed with gratitude for the many doctors, nurses, friends, and family who helped me cope each step of the way.
Of course, the shadow of cancer never fully leaves you even when in remission, but being able to hear the word “cancer-free” gave me hope again.
And I continue to be thankful for my cancer-free diagnosis every single day.
Conclusion
Facing cancer is an immense challenge, but one we have the power to overcome.
Though each journey is unique, there are strategies that can empower us during even the darkest days.
I believe that integrating mindset practices like meditation with lifestyle changes, complementary therapies, supplements, and standard medical care gives us our best chance for recovery.
Staying diligent with treatment while also nourishing our emotional and physical health enables our bodies to heal on a deeper level.
My journey taught me how resilient we can be when we tap into our inner wisdom and strength. Our stories matter, and collectively they have the power to shift how the world understands and treats this disease.
To anyone in cancer’s grasp, know there is always hope, and there are so many allies ready to stand beside you.
You can gather the courage and tools needed to beat this.
May our shared knowledge, compassion, and perseverance carry all of us to healthier and more fulfilling lives.
