I want to share some resources that I have found helpful during these sheltered-in days. You will find them in the “News and Resources” section of our April 2020 Newsletter, here.
Even though I am getting weary of reading and hearing about the novel coronavirus, I feel compelled to share my reactions to what I perceive as some underlying assumptions in the mainstream messages permeating the airwaves. I can’t help but notice the similarities between these assumptions and those related to cancer.
One assumption is that we are helpless bystanders in relationship to the virus (and cancer), totally dependent on outside sources to treat it. When I was diagnosed with cancer, the only treatments offered were chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery – all treatments of the body focused on attacking the cancer. This is what motivated me to create the “Cancer as a Turning Point” conference that exposed people to the many strategies they could use to alter the terrain of the body. There are two distinct ways of dealing with cancer – attacking the tumor, or creating a terrain that isn’t conducive to the growth of cancer.
I think the same thing is true for the coronavirus, but the mainstream focus is on finding a drug to treat it, or finding a vaccine to immunize us against it. It is general knowledge that those with other health conditions or weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable to this virus. Why isn’t anyone talking about how we can make ourselves less susceptible? How can we create a terrain that fends off the coronavirus? If our population was healthier in general, would so many people be dying of the coronavirus?
My friend, Loolwa Khazoom, recently posted a blog entitled “What Cancer Taught Me about How We Should be Responding to Coronavirus.” The indented quotes in the following paragraphs come from that blog.
The premise behind the “Cancer as a Turning Point” conference was that cancer (or any illness) can be a wake-up call that can lead us to actually increase our wellness.
“When approached with the right mindset, illness paradoxically can open the door to enhanced wellness. Seizing the opportunity for such transformation, however, requires a radical shift – not only in mindset, but also in allocation of financial resources. Sadly, neither shift seems forthcoming in the current medical or governmental model, so what has been going on with cancer is now going on with Coronavirus as well – leading to unnecessary suffering and death.”
“Despite the 1,000-plus scientific studies in peer-reviewed medical journals, proving the efficacy of lifestyle medicine in healing from cancer, as documented in the NY Times bestselling book, Radical Remission, by Kelly Turner PhD; and despite the fact that the “war on cancer” – waged through chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery – has been an utter failure, with the incidence and mortality rates for cancer higher now than when this war was declared half a century ago, lifestyle medicine is not recognized as “real medicine,” whereas pharmaceuticals and surgery are. As an upshot, those facing a cancer diagnosis are bullied into choosing conventional medical treatment, either from fear-mongering or economic pressure.”
“We desperately need a medical paradigm shift and reworking of our cultural values – not only for Coronavirus, but for all chronic health issues and medical crises. Health care needs to be just that: health care, not sick care. We need to be proactive instead of reactive, looking at what people can do and amplifying that ability, instead of focusing on what is outside people’s control and quivering in our collective boots about it. We need to empower individuals with knowledge, tools, and resources, instead of dismissing the innate healing intelligence of the human body and bullying people into outsourcing care to “the experts.” We need to Make America Healthy Again, by ensuring that mind-body-spirit practices and fresh, organic, and whole foods are at least as widespread and subsidized as pharmaceuticals and surgery, to prevent the need for the latter in the first place.”
I hope we don’t miss the opportunity the current health crisis is creating to educate ourselves about the foundation of health and move towards healthcare instead of sick care. It could empower us to deal with the current pandemic with less fear, more hope, and better results. It would leave us more prepared to deal with the next health crisis. And it would give us more effective tools to deal with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and all the chronic conditions that are creating so much suffering and leaving us vulnerable to any new virus.
As always, I welcome your comments; to reply please click here.
Damn right! We are being railroaded again… I suspect vaccinations will be pushed hard, not for those most vulnerable, but for everyone. Something feels very wrong about this epidemic.
I appreciate beyond measure the guidance that you, Jan, have given from your experiences in your life…… that have benefited myself, my family and my friends. and i jump for joy to read Micheal dean Rogers comments ……something feels very wrong about this endemic and the push for vaccinations
Creating a terrain of wellness as a response to cancer or Covid-19 or any illness is such an important message. Thank you Jan for reminding us – and for continuing to point us to strategies for wellness. And now I’m going for my morning walk.
While I am not on Facebook, I was able to pull up a couple of the offerings from Jonathan Ellerby and I enjoyed what he had to offer. Thanks much for making me aware! Terri
Thanks, Jan, for the comments about promoting health during this time. Loolwa has great wisdom through experience. I’m doing my best to keep breathing, listening to healing meditations, (I’m currently enjoying Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield). Have also enjoyed the Radical Remission series of Kelly Turner – very powerful. And thanks for the list of resources…please stay safe and healthy!
Hi Jan!
This article says it really well. We need this shift to wellness instead of sickness as the body standard. I am sure you have heard of Chris Wark who is also actively connecting with people to demonstrate how effective is eating right, and focusing on natural ingredients to fuel the body rather than pharmaceuticals. I have been with you on your journey since your third conference at Stanford . Go Jan!
Well-care has certainly been my first defense against Covid-19! That doesn’t mean that I’m not wearing a mask or social distancing, but I am also not cowering in fear of the virus. This newsletter is always a good read!
Hi Jan, The last time we spoke, I was in the throes of a reoccurrence of the Stage 4 lung cancer in my brain with 13 tumors of all sizes showing up. I called you one afternoon and you calmly and gently talked me in off the ledge of despair. you’re simply the very best mentor there is! Now it has been a year and I am doing splendidly well, thank you very much. I insisted on having my late March scans ( just as things were shutting down for the CV) and my scans came back very clear! I continue to do wellness care, and I am still facilitating the support group at Mile HI Church on Wednesdays. So often the comment is made that those of us who are on a cancer journey have a competent skill set for walking a viral journey also. Your current newsletter is a gift to my spirit, as are you. Please stay safe.
Sheltering in place is a lot like staying in during cancer and treatment. In the 4 times I’ve had lymphoma, I self-quarantined to avoid getting other people’s germs – which could have devastated me when in such an immune-compromised condition.
Now is not so very different. I remain immune-compromised, probably for the rest of my life. My “normal” in the winter is to have the flu 3-4 times. I usually get sore throats and coughs 12 – 20 times a year.
Two days ago, outside for a walk in the hills of S.F. East Bay; a runner comes huffing and puffing with effort, sweat and a cloud of germs too close – 18 inches away – cutting right on the trail to get between me and my friend walking 6′ apart from each other. It feels like the Grim Reaper just passed by. I can feel his breath on my face. I can smell his sweat and deodorant. I curse the thoughtless, selfish jogger, blowing out, out, out, until I think it is safe to breathe in again.
I eat my dark leafy greens religiously each day; my brown rice, my clean, lean protein. I have managed to live for 33 years after the first diagnosis – partly due to my adherence to a healthy diet, strengthening both body & soul, and, according to my son, out of sheer stubbornness. I do not intend to succumb to COVID-19.
I am grateful for each sunrise and sunset. I have made a few masks with interesting fabrics, so they are fun to wear. I have kept my job because I am able to teach online from home. It is not easy. I get outside daily. I have distance picnics with my 86 year old Mom weekly, out in the dappled shade of a picnic table near her condo. When I drop off a bag of crystallized ginger for my neighbor, she knows it is because it will help her immune system. When she dropped groceries for me last month, I knew it was because my local store was not requiring masks on their employees, and because they were not wiping down the checkout area between customers. This village that it takes looks a little different from in the beginning of 2020.
And, it reminds me of 1987, 1994, 1994 and 2006 – those years when blood cancer returned. I am calm, most days. I have nightmares occasionally at night. It has become what many in the cancer world call The New Normal, for now. I know that in a few months, it will be different. I look forward to that time, while I take care of things in this special way For The Duration.