Beyond Chemotherapy: A Guide to Alternative Cancer Treatments
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
The couple sat in front of me and my Dad as we waited for our names to be called. The woman looked younger than me as her husband had his hand on her left shoulder. Her head slouched down in agony. It was my first time sitting in a waiting room that stretched the entire floor with cancer patients waiting to be seen. A clean and controlled building of the number one cancer facility in the States, MD Anderson, in Houston, TX.
We were also lucky to have gotten an appointment when we did because the nurse literally said and I quote, “We’re usually weeks to months out right now. It seems like God’s winking at you as you called in exactly at the time we had a cancellation,” she said. It was a mere four days prior that Spirit nudged me to make the call, which happened to be at the same time as the cancellation.
As I sat with my Dad, I could only wonder about the stories behind each of these patients and their loved ones with them. The feeling of hopelessness flowed through me as I watched the husband do what he could to console his hurting wife. The partners and the adult children who did not know what to do in cases like this, entrusting all their hope to complete strangers, with degrees.
As I sat in that waiting room, I thought to myself, ‘I wonder if they know there were other ways they could heal themselves as well. In conjunction with the traditional medical side, they could also add in some alternative healing.’
This belief was reinforced by my recent experience of placing my Dad on my healing table before our trip to Houston. Despite initial reluctance, I felt compelled to heed the call of Spirit and not resist any of my higher callings anymore.
That’s what I did by dropping my Dad’s tumor marker from 48,000 to 35,000 in less than a week with my emergency shamanic healings. Because the medical system and its processes were nothing short of pure frustration and waiting. The result of the drop in his tumor marker by the alternative healing is equivalent to a cancer patient receiving multiple cycles of direct-acting antivirals.
I write this article on the cusp of King Charles’s cancer announcement as well as the death of country star, Toby Keith, from stomach cancer. Traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery have long been the primary weapons in the fight against cancer. While these interventions have undoubtedly saved countless lives, they often come with debilitating side effects and limited success rates for certain types of cancer. In recent years, however, a growing body of research has shed light on the efficacy of alternative therapies in promoting cancer remission and improving overall well-being.
A breast cancer survivor friend of mine shared the book, “Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds” by Dr. Kelly A. Turner. This book offers a compelling perspective on alternative healing approaches that have contributed to remarkable outcomes for cancer patients.
Dr. Turner defines “radical remission” as any cancer remission that is statistically unexpected. This can occur when;
a cancer goes away without any conventional treatment;
a patient begins with conventional treatment, then abandons this for alternative;
or a patient uses both conventional and alternative at the same time
Dr. Turner’s research identifies nine key factors shared by individuals who have undergone radical remission, including diet and nutrition, stress reduction, and spirituality. When my friend told me of these nine factors below, I giggled as I replied, “This is exactly the plan I have my Dad on now.”
The Nine Key Factors Include:
Changing Your Diet:
This factor emphasizes the significance of dietary modifications in supporting the body’s healing process. Adopting a nutrient-rich diet, focused on whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, can provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants necessary for immune function and overall well-being. Some individuals may explore specific diets such as plant-based or anti-inflammatory diets to optimize their health and resilience during cancer treatment.
Taking Control of Your Health:
Taking control of one’s health involves actively engaging in decisions regarding treatment options, lifestyle choices, and self-care practices. Empowering patients to become proactive participants in their healing journey, this factor encourages individuals to seek out information, ask questions, and advocate for their needs within the healthcare system. By fostering a sense of agency and self-efficacy, patients can enhance their sense of control and confidence in managing their cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Following Your Intuition:
Intuition, often described as a gut feeling or inner knowing, can serve as a valuable guide in navigating the complexities of cancer treatment and decision-making. This factor encourages individuals to trust their instincts, listen to their inner wisdom, and consider their intuition alongside medical advice and evidence-based information. By honoring their intuition, patients may discover unique insights, opportunities, and paths to healing that align with their deepest values and desires.
Using Herbs and Supplements:
Herbs and supplements are explored as adjunctive therapies to conventional cancer treatments, aiming to support immune function, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall well-being. From herbal remedies with purported anti-cancer properties to vitamins, minerals, and botanical supplements, individuals may incorporate these natural products into their treatment regimen under the guidance of healthcare professionals. It’s important to approach herbal medicine and supplements with caution, ensuring safety, efficacy, and compatibility with conventional treatments.
Releasing Suppressed Emotions:
Emotional well-being is recognized as a critical aspect of cancer care, with this factor highlighting the importance of addressing and releasing suppressed emotions. Unresolved emotional stress, trauma, and negative emotions can impact the body’s immune system and overall health, potentially contributing to disease progression. Through therapeutic approaches such as counseling, expressive arts, and mind-body techniques, individuals can explore and process their emotions, promoting healing and resilience on emotional and physical levels.
Increasing Positive Emotions:
Cultivating positive emotions such as gratitude, joy, love, and hope is associated with improved psychological well-being and resilience in the face of cancer. This factor encourages individuals to engage in activities and practices that evoke positive emotions, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in acts of kindness. By nurturing a positive mindset and emotional outlook, patients can enhance their coping strategies and quality of life during cancer treatment and recovery.
Embracing Social Support:
Social support, encompassing relationships with family, friends, caregivers, and support groups, plays a vital role in the cancer journey. This factor underscores the importance of fostering meaningful connections, seeking support, and receiving assistance from others during times of need. By cultivating a supportive network, patients can find comfort, encouragement, and practical assistance, reducing feelings of isolation and enhancing their ability to cope with the challenges of cancer.
Deepening Your Spiritual Connection:
Spirituality offers a source of comfort, meaning, and strength for many individuals facing cancer, regardless of religious affiliation. This factor encourages patients to explore and deepen their spiritual connection, whether through prayer, meditation, nature, or reflection. Spiritual practices provide solace, perspective, and a sense of purpose amidst the uncertainty and existential questions that cancer often brings. By nurturing their spiritual well-being, patients can find inner peace, resilience, and hope in the face of adversity.
These factors serve as a foundation for exploring alternative healing approaches in the context of cancer care.
As my father’s journey took an unexpected turn towards empowerment and active participation in his healing process, I found myself drawn to explore alternative healing modalities further. Rather than passively submitting to conventional treatments, my Dad has been making informed decisions that align with his values, beliefs, and goals for health and well-being. Alongside journaling exercises that I have given him, this sense of autonomy can be profoundly empowering, instilling hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
By bringing awareness to the potential of alternative therapies in cancer remission, I hope to empower patients to explore new avenues of healing, expand their treatment options, and cultivate a sense of hope and possibility in the midst of uncertainty. There is hope and light in the darkness of cancer. Let Spirit guide you.
Bison called to me that morning, to align with an elder from the Santa Ana Pueblo. A man born from the eagle clan, as my spirit, comes from the raven clan. A balance of life.
I knelt down to speak with him, to listen to his stories early that morning. At that moment, it was me and him and no one else in our conversation bubble. Even though there was the hustle and bustle of everyone around us in the Plaza.
He spoke with dignity, I listened with respect. We spoke of the Tlingit and Navajo, of the Zuni, of the people. He shared his stories and paintings with me as my hand reached for the painting on top of one of his piles.
Bison.
“Do you instill medicine in your paintings?” I asked him, studying the bison drawing.
“I used to when I was younger,” he replied, “But not that much anymore because I’m much older.” Within a blink of an eye, our conversation was over as real life inserted itself into our conversation, the sounds of potential customers walked by, breaking the spell of our connection.
This encounter came just a day after being Spirit-led to the Keshi (kay-SHE), The Zuni Connection store, a place with close ties to the people of the Zuni Pueblo. A store filled with authentic Zuni fetishes, which are animal carvings that have been used by the A: Shiwi (The People) for over a thousand years.
The Zunis feel that it is the spirit within the fetish that is of value, not the object itself. My heart felt at home as Spirit guided me to certain pockets within the store, allowing my inner GPS to align me with the perfect fetish animal for my Dad. When it was time to pay, the lovely cashier gave me a tiny plastic zip lock filled with blue corn meal, to feed and honor my new fetish animal. By honoring the animals and acknowledging their special “medicine” (their natural traits), we may summon our own similar attributes.
That is exactly what I did as I carried the Pueblo’s energy into our healing session, calling upon the ancestors to channel all of their healing medicine through me. So that I could curb my Dad’s cancer cells until it was time for the traditional people’s medicine.