Hello! Thank you for looking at my previous blog wherein I discussed what is cancer, its risk factors and root causes. In case you haven’t seen the blog, click this link: https://www.drajoy.com/post/cancer-made-ridiculously-simple

In my previous blog, I discussed that cancer are cells that appear normal at first but due to repeated oxidative stress or chronic inflammation, some cells are damaged and eventually killed through either apoptosis or autophagy. Eventually, the damaged cells become resistant to cell death. They become bigger, irregular and have a different composition that they invade adjacent tissues. Some of them detach to become metastasis. No one knows the exact cause of cancer but there are factors that increase your risk of developing cancer like age, lifestyle, your genes and even the environment. However, the two root causes of cancer are toxicity and deficiency. In this blog, I will teach you how to diagnose and manage cancer as well as how to have the right mindset to start your healing.

I’m Doc Joy. I'm a wholistic physician at the 3H Cancer Recovery Center where we help cancer patients with mental health problems to have peace of mind without using medications in the comfort of their homes. We believe that cancer is not just a physical illness. Cancer encompasses the spiritual, mental, emotional and social states of an individual. How do I know this? I have been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. I've gone through the usual medical interventions like surgery, chemotherapy and oral hormonal therapy. During my treatment, I asked myself: "Is that it? What's next?" Because the greatest fear of every cancer patient is the fear of recurrence and I am no different so I explored other options for my healing. As a cancer patient myself, I've learned that I needed to heal my whole being so that now, I am a pink warrior.

How did I know that I had cancer? I felt a pea-sized mass that was fixed, painful and deep under my left breast after my usual breast self-examination. There are non-specific signs and symptoms to diagnose cancer like on and off fever of unknown origin, chronic fatigue and pain. Sometimes, they can be found on specific organs like a mass felt on the breast, changes on the skin like an orange peel and bloody nipple discharge for a possible breast tumor. While changes in the bowel movement and presence of blood in the stool can signify colon cancer. Thus, it is very important to seek consultation with a physician who will do a complete history and physical examination as well as request for laboratory work ups like a complete blood count and peripheral blood smear to diagnose leukemia or specific tumor markers like PSA for prostate cancer. There also imaging studies like ultrasound, mammogram, CT scan, x-rays and MRI. A biopsy through excision of the tumor itself or fine needle aspiration to get a tissue sample followed by examination under the microscope by a pathologist is the gold standard to give a definite diagnosis for cancer.

Once your physician knows the type and extent pf your cancer, staging is done which will be the basis for the kind of medical intervention. It can be surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormonal therapy, immunotherapy alone or a combination of two, three or all of the above. The medical management is tailor-made or customized for you as the patient and involves a multi-disciplinary approach for your complete recovery. Normally, you have been gifted by the capacity to heal your damaged cells before they become cancer. But once you have lost this ability, you need some form of intervention which is usually a medical treatment. It is like pruning a tree, wherein the undesirable parts like the outgrowth of stems and leaves are removed for a better outcome. The non-medical interventions that you can apply to increase your survival rate and avoid cancer recurrence are faith in God, food as medicine, regular exercise, enough sleep, love of nature, positive attitude, stress management, social connectivity, forgiveness and love of God, neighbor and oneself. However, should your medical interventions be delayed especially during the COVID 19 pandemic, you can start your personal healing journey by mentally preparing yourself.

Here are 5 simple steps to have the right mindset. You have to set aside around 20-30 minutes to do these steps in a place where you will not be disturbed or interrupted. You can do this when you wake up in the morning or before you sleep at night or anytime of the day when you feel anxious or afraid. First, sit comfortably or lie down without falling asleep and close your eyes. Relax your muscles from your toes up to your face. Concentrate on your breathing by taking deep slow abdominal breaths as you inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 8 seconds then exhale slowly until your breathing becomes natural. Imagine that you are in a peaceful place like the beach or on top of the mountain to calm you down. Continue doing this for 15-20 minutes. Sit with your eyes closed then slowly open your eyes. These are the steps to practice relaxation response when you are agitated.

In my next blog, I will teach you how to avoid cancer recurrence without use of medicines.

But for now, I want you to write your questions or comments below so that I can address them in my next blog. Be blessed! Be loved! Be Healed!