Ailments and Situations - Cancer - Essential Steps To Healing

Essential Steps To Healing

1. Get Informed

When it comes to cancer, second, and even third opinions are vital. There are few illnesses where health care practitioners' opinions vary more -- and few illnesses that offer such a variety and diversity of options for treatment. And like any other disease, the onus is not on your health practitioner(s) to cure your illness; rather, it is your duty to seek the best help, to become informed, and to take an active role in your own healing. Talk to specialists, get up to date on the latest information, and become confident in your knowledge of your illness and how you want to approach the healing process. One of the most complete works on cancer is Choices in Healing (MIT Press, 1996), by Michael Lerner, Ph.D. The book is the culmination of ten years of research on integrating conventional and alternative therapies. The text of the book is also available online at www.commonweal.org.

2. Come To Terms With Your Illness

Regardless of its severity, cancer is a life altering disease. It will make you change how you think, and will alter how your body works and looks. You will most likely not be at ease with all of these changes, yet many people who develop cancer learn to acquire a deeper appreciation for life and a stronger sense of spirituality.

Learning to accept your situation and dealing with your emotions will help your recovery process. Your family and friends are there to help; support groups can help you connect to other people with whom you can share similar concerns and emotions. And this will do far more than help ease your mind: a 10 year study on breast cancer patients showed that women who attended weekly group therapy sessions had twice the survival time of women who did not. This fact may seem all too astounding -- it is, of course, not the whole truth; therapy alone will not make you live longer. However, those who take part in weekly group therapy sessions are often the same people who play a greater role in their own healing, those who are more informed about their disease, and those who are making other necessary lifestyle choices to facilitate their recovery.

3. Diet

Diet is the single greatest risk factor in the development of cancer. It is no surprise then, that diet also plays a vital role in facilitating your recovery. Your diet will most likely change over the course of your healing. As your body changes or as you receive certain forms of cancer treatment, your dietary needs and cravings will change. Consult with your nutritionist, naturopath or other health practitioner to help you establish the dietary regime that best fits your situation.

It is always best to avoid known carcinogenic agents and to consume a well balanced diet that is rich in fibre and in antioxidants. This will help cleanse your digestive system and strengthen your immune response, which are essential components of cancer prevention. Some alternative forms of cancer treatment are entirely based on such dietary changes, with the goal of strengthening your body's own natural cancer fighting capabilities.

Some forms of cancer treatment, notably chemotherapy, can provoke feelings of nausea. In such cases, it may become difficult to eat and it is often suggested to consume smaller meals more often to help cope with nausea. In some cases, cancer patients are fed intravenously. Cancer can also suppress your digestive system, which can result in malabsorption. If malabsorption occurs as a result of your condition or treatment, supplementation should be discussed with your naturopath or health practitioner.

For more information, see the dedicated section on Healthy Diet.

4. Exercise

The value of exercise cannot be overemphasized in treating any illness. Studies have shown that people who exercise after chemotherapy treatment recover more quickly than those who rest. Exercise can also help relieve stress and prevent muscular atrophy due to prolonged bed rest or hospitalization. Exercise also controls obesity, which is an important risk factor of many cancers.

For more information, see the dedicated section on Exercise.

5. Reduce Stress

Stress has been linked to many illnesses, including cancer. Remaining calm can help you control your emotions and help you better concentrate on treatment and healing. Meditation, exercise, visualization, art, journal writing, and gardening are amongst hundreds of ways to help you relax. Individualized or group therapy are also worth exploring.

For more information, see the dedicated section on Stress.