I was disappointed in the recent Ken Burns movie, Cancer: The Emperor of all Maladies. There was some interesting information, but the emphasis on finding drugs to treat cancer was the disappointing aspect. There was only a small mention of prevention, focusing on smoking and obesity. There was no mention of how the stressful lives we lead could be contributing to the increased rate of cancer.
There was also no mention of the many people who have recovered from cancer without using drugs. The industry calls them spontaneous remissions. Kelly Turner, PhD, has researched and analyzed the cases of over 1,500 people who have had a verifiable cancer diagnosis and have recovered, not because of Western medical treatment. Dr. Turner no longer uses the term “spontaneous” remission because she says there was nothing spontaneous about it. These people did a lot that led to their recovery. She is calling these Radical Remissions and has written a book about it, Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds.
She identified nine strategies that almost every person mentioned doing in order to help heal their cancer. These people became cancer-free against all odds. The nine factors are: Radically changing your diet; Taking control of your health; Following your intuition; Using herbs and supplements; Releasing suppressed emotions; Increasing positive emotions; Embracing social support; Deepening your spiritual connection; and Having strong reasons for living.
It’s fascinating to me that only two of these are physical, yet the only treatments the Medical world acknowledges are physical treatments of the body. It seems like they don’t yet realize that we are body-mind-spirit all rolled into one. Using drugs may temporarily stop the cancer, but it doesn’t address the cause, so the remission is often short-lived. Effective treatment has to include the whole person.
Implementing the nine factors into my own life implies that I believe I can have an influence on the growth of my cancer. For me to believe that, I have to believe that I also influenced its beginning. If I had nothing to do with its beginning, I feel powerless to affect it now. It is empowering to me to know that I can do something that affects the growth of my cancer. These people who have experienced radical remissions have demonstrated that possibility to me.
Knowing that my actions and beliefs may have influenced the growth of cancer doesn’t mean I am guilty of “causing” it. For the many people who smoked before we knew it caused cancer, are they guilty of causing their cancer? They were ignorant of the consequences of their behavior. When I was eating sugar and margarine as a kid, I was ignorant of the consequences of my behavior. I don’t think it’s useful for us to feel guilty about behaviors and/or beliefs when we were ignorant of their consequences.
On the other hand, it does feel useful to acknowledge responsibility when I learn the consequences of past behavior. It means I can change it. I am empowered to make a difference in my future.
Dr. Kelly Turner is offering a two-day workshop for Healing Journeys — Radical Remission: Implementing the 9 Healing Factors into Your Own Life, July 24 — 25, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her goal is that we leave the workshop empowered with tools we can start using right away to promote our own healing. I’m excited about this opportunity to accomplish the Healing Journeys mission: to support healing, activate hope, and promote thriving.
As always, I welcome your comments; to reply please click here.
In the Spirit of Healing,
Jan Adrian, MSW
Founder and Executive Director
Four and a half years ago my ovarian cancer, first diagnosed in ’99, returned with a vengence. I had been healthy for 8 years, then went off my diet and started eating like normal people. Two years later, it was back, and I was in denial. By the time it was diagnosed, I was full of cancer. This time, I was stage IV and incredibly sick. I did do the chemo, lest I die, but immediately also went back on my good diet, when I could stand to eat again. Six months ago, my oncologist said, “The fact that you are here is a phenomenon. That you are doing so well is unheard of.” My blood markers are rock bottom, my general health continues to improve with help from a naturopathic oncologist. I’ve worked hard at it, as you say. I’m sure he thinks I’m well because I believe in my diet, not because it actually works. I will say that I’ve done 8 or your 9 things…not sure I deepened my spiritual connection. Perhaps. I am a Christian, but I’m a firm believer that God helps those who help themselves. But I was determined to live, and I’m determined never to recur. Thanks for the work that you are doing! People need to know that there is a way to truly get well.
Thanks, Jan, for an excellent article. Patients have to find information and support from organizations like Healing Journeys because so little of it is in mainstream medicine. At best, doctors say of non-drug treatments, “it can’t hurt.” Oh, and “beware of supplements” and “non-proven” techniques. How much evidence does it take! I am in my 14th year of remission and always grateful to Healing Journeys (attended in Seattle in 2001). Blessings.
Is there an organization like Healing Journeys that presents seminars on the East Coast. I live in Northern Virginia and attended the retreat in South Carolina several years ago but cannot readily travel to San Francisco. My cancer journey is beginning to take me to see what I can do to get rid of the breast cancer that has metastasized to the bones in the past year. I want and need reinforcement on my journey.
The Cancer Emperor of Maladies series spoke to me in that doctors had NO idea what they were doing treating children and adults with strong chemo agents, radiation and surgery. Treatments based on tearing down rather than building up. People were coerced into these treatments by fear and suffered greatly for it. My heart goes out to the children and families who were subjected to these horrific treatments.
Yes focusing on health and wellness (physical and spiritual) is the key in this new paradigm of treatment. I’m so grateful for this shift! Good work Jan for bringing hope back into Cancer.
I have read Dr.Turner’s book twice and find this to be one of the most valuable books I have ever read. The research and analysis that went into this is amazing. The case studies are remarkable. The book gives hope to cancer patients, choices to make, and various paths to wellness. There is nothing passive about the radical remissions. We can all learn from this valuable book.
Thank you, Jan, for another inspiring newsletter, and for pointing out that certain things that we did or were exposed to may have influenced the growth of cancer, AND that doesn’t mean we’re at fault in any way. My husband, would have fit perfectly into Kelly Turner’s Radical Remission categories. He experienced all 9 without even knowing it! But he used to say that knowing what influenced the growth of his cancer empowered him to change his life so that he could heal it. And heal it he did! Thank you again for sharing your wisdom, and also for sharing the link to my blog post on all the vitally important things that Ken Burns’ documentary left out.