The physician should not treat the disease,
but the patient who is suffering from it.
                                                     - Maimonides

I have often been asked what was my secret to survival. There isn't any one thing that stands out; no specific diets, medication or supplements. There are things I did to be healthy, something important for every one but I think more so with those with cancer. This is a list of things that I made part of my life at some point or another in my healing journey and these are some initial thoughts; I will be constantly updating this list.

I need to make it clear that different things work for different people; we are not all built the same, all the way down to our genetic makeup.  This is why two people with the exact same cancer diagnosis even with the tumour in the same location, may respond differently to the same medication. What works for one person, may not work for someone else. Most of what I list help with health in general though, and highly recommend anyone to make these part of their lives.
I believe, I KNOW, that I will get better, that I will heal in all dimensions
My secret: tell yourself deep down, over and over, so it becomes part of your subconscious, that you will overcome this cancer. 
And not just that...visualize and see yourself healthy and strong and cancer is gone. Know, deep down that is the case. 
Try new things. Leverage the brain's innate neuroplasticity to grow new and healthy brain cells and know they are taking over the cancer cells. 
It's more than just hoping and praying. KNOW deep down that you have beat this thing. Create a powerful reason you need to be here.​"
Please Note:  I am constantly revising this list and happy to add ideas from others.

Choose what resonates with you!
​
  • Prayer
    • Whether you believe in a higher power or not, I do believe that prayer for others speaks to the cosmos and because we are all connected, that prayer can actually have a positive effect.
    • If a person is aware of others praying for them, this can add to subconscious thoughts that the tumour is shrinking (this again relates to neuroplasticity).
    • One can pray for your own healing with the strong belief that 1) there is a force out there and 2) that listens .
    • I personally believe in a higher power; which can have many name: Buddah, Allah, Jesus, Hashem, the multitude of powers from other faiths such as Indian and North American First Nations. For me they are different titles for the same thing: an energy force that exists through the universe outside our 5 senses but can be tapped into.

  •  Purpose
    • Create a reason you need to be here. You are on this planet for a purpose and it’s not time to go.
    • If it’s not clear at first, come up with something you believe in and start to take action.
    • Find meaning in why you got cancer, meaning for you and your loved one.
 
  • Meditation​ / Mindfulness
    • Puts you in the present, completely relaxes the body and mind, and takes away stress.
    • This calms the mind and soul. It doesn't have to be anything complicated--sit on a chair, bed or floor, close your eyes and try to clear your mind of everything (including the tumour!). If thoughts creep in, which usually do, accept them and move on aiming to clear your mind again.
    • Doing this in the forest of a park is very nice too.

  • Yoga
    • Like meditation, this also calms the soul...and your body. In this lifetime, the two are connected.
    • Stretches the body and mind, a calmer way to move.

  • Diet
    • Eat healthy! “Let nothing which can be treated by diet, be treated by other means" - Maimonides
    • You do not need to follow a specific diet unless you have a specific plan set out by you physician, perhaps due to something else. This is my perspective, if you are keen to try a new diet, especially if during treatment, run it by your oncologist to make sure there is no conflict with treatment.
      ​Again, if works for you, pursue it!
    • That said, there has been some recent evidence of the benefit of the ketogenic diet during cancer treatment
    • Eat more vegetables than anything else. Greens and other colours. Fruit and nuts. Fish
      - GOMBS: Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Beans/berries, Seeds
    • Smoothies--using a high speed blender, I like to include various combinations of:
      - fruits such as: banana, apple, blueberry, strawberry, dates...
      - vegetables: kale, spinach (my favorites), sometimes avocado, carrots...
      - protein powder, chia seeds, maca powder, flax seeds... 
      - other: almond butter, almonds, seeds...
      - adding above into a container of almond milk/water, adding ice on top after all other ingredients.

  • Exercise
    • Gets the blood flowing, throughout the body and to your brain. I believe this can aid in neuroplasticity.
    • Changes your mood also, clears the mind, allows for more creativity.
    • What I do/did: Taekwondo, Ice hockey, Running, Biking, Hiking, Gym, long walks.

  • Sleep
    • Do not stay up late-- I aim for two hours before midnight (usually ends up being more like 10:30-11:30pm!)
    • Go to sleep with the intention to Dream
    • Have happy thoughts as you close your eyes
    • Take naps when needed and if you are able to 20-40 minutes, no longer

  • Nature
    • Being out in nature is healing; I sometimes tell people that if they could combine all the experiences of being in nature into a pill, that that would have healed me more than the chemo/radiation (and no side effects!)
    • Nature cures
    • Stop and take in what is around you

  • Giving
    • I found when you give--money to the person on the street, buying a sandwich and/or coffee for the person sitting outside the deli with no money, your time to help a cause or person, etc--the truth is, we often gain more by our act than the person we are helping.
    • Donate
    • Lend a helping hand
    • Volunteer in the community
    • Fundraise for a good cause

  • Try Something New
    • Try something new. Write with you left hand. Take a dance class (i.e. I have two left feet)
    • I taught myself the Rubik's Cube and now trying to learn how to juggle and play the harmonica (perhaps eventually at the same time!)
    • This can trigger the growth of new brain cells (neuroplasticity)

  • Games
    • Board games, video games (limit time)

  • Trust Yourself
    • We have more inside us that we realize. While being easy on ourselves, we must know that there is much more we can do than we think we can, push yourself.

  • Mental visualization
    • I visualized that I am Luke Skywalker and flew into my brain and fired directly into the cancer Death Star blowing it up to smithereens
    • See yourself in the future--healthy and strong, doing what you like to do in life, enjoying every minute, every ounce of what exists in this world and believe that it already happening.

  • Writing
    • Take a paper and just get out what comes to mind. You can throw it away after, fold into a paper airplane and throw it at someone, use the other side for your grocery…
    • Keeping a daily journal allows you get get thoughts out that you don't have to share with anyone--this is healing.

  • Reading
    • All kinds of books, including books you might think you are not interested
      ​
  • Art
    • Express what you cannot in words
    • Discover what’s inside you
    • Art therapy
    • If you have never done art before or think you can't, just try it--doing something new is beneficial to you.

  • Movies
    • I have a select group of movies that inspires me, gives me energy
    • Movies where I imagine I can do the same thing as the characters
    • Comedies!

  • Love
    • Not just your family. But all that surrounds you
    • Appreciate what exits in this world 

  • Music
    • Listen to something calm, inspirational
    • Yoga, meditative or zen music
    • Not just the common North American music, but music from around the world--introduce new sounds and instruments to you brain.

  • Engage with Others
    • Friends, family
    • The guy beside you on the bus
    • Connect to this world and what's around you.

  • Attitude
    • ​Be positive and see the good in people. For example, a person cuts you off in the middle of the road for no reason. You can honk, drive to catch him and give him your finger (not literally!), swear out loud in the care...all of these will come back to you in a negative way.
    • Announce to the cosmos that you are not ready to go.

  • Schedule
    • Before diagnosis, I had neither cell phone nor a day timer.  After diagnosis, I have had both ever since. A schedule allows you to document appointments, various events of interest, thoughts, well anything that can be connected to a day/week.

  • Supplements (on and off--not necessarily daily and not too concerned with brand)
    • PS (phosphatidyl serine) - for memory issues
    • Magnesium
    • Curcumin / Turmeric
    • Cod Liver Oil
    • Acetyl-L-Carnitine
    • R-Lipoic Acid
    • B6 - supposed to help with dreams
    • Salmon & Fish Oil
    • Omega-3
    • Vitamin D