How a Body Mind Spirit Approach Supports Life with Cancer

by Kathryn White

In 2018 I knew that something had to change. For three years I had been living with stage 4 colon cancer and I had been No Evidence of Disease for a year and half when a new cancer lump popped up. With this came more tests and another surgery. Fortunately, it did not mean more chemotherapy.

I was devastated by this news and felt defeated as I thought I had been doing well and that the cancer was gone. I had made changes to how I ate and to my lifestyle. In my mind, that was what needed to be done because if I changed my body then the cancer would stay away. One phone call changed all of that.

In a visit with my niece I shared that I felt empty and that my soul was not healing. What was I to do? She suggested yoga teacher training. Initially I said no, but then after we talked about it, I considered it and decided why not? In September of 2018 I began my yoga teacher training.

It was the best decision I ever made. In this training I learned how to not just support my body, but also how to become more mindful and to love myself and my body. This is where my interest with the body, mind and spirit as related to living with cancer began.

Having a body, mind and spirit approach to cancer can make a difference.

The Body

The body is the first thing most people consider when they have cancer. It makes sense because the disease is happening in the body. Supporting your body can help you to manage your symptoms. You may find ease and relief from surgeries and treatments through complimentary therapies like acupuncture, massage, exercise and nutrition. This is also a way to support your immune system and to improve your overall health and wellness.

The Mind

A cancer diagnosis is full of emotion. It is also very stressful. Your mind is a powerful part of you and it reminds you all of the time of your fears and emotional pain. The good news is that you can learn how to manage your mind through practices like meditation, breath work, prayer and reaching out for support. Learning how to reduce your stress and manage it when it comes up will make a difference in how you see and experience your life with cancer.

The Spirit

There is a lot of external and internal noise when you have cancer. Mindfulness can help to reduce that noise, but connecting with your spirit will help you to find calm inside of yourself. Self-love, self-care and self-belief are key to nurturing your spirit and finding inner peace. When you find inner peace, the cancer process can feel a little easier and you may feel less alone.

Other Benefits

Addressing the body, mind, and spirit helps create a more comprehensive sense of well-being, which can improve the overall quality of life for cancer patients. It can enhance resiliency, making it easier for patients to handle the challenges of treatment and the emotional challenges of a cancer diagnosis.

What You Can Do

Create Your Personalized Care Plan. Holistic care involves creating personalized care plans that address your unique needs. Be sure to include things like healthy eating, gentle exercise, mindfulness practices and self-care.

Build Your Team. Effective holistic care often requires an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, nutritionists, spiritual care providers and a cancer coach. Get support so you can feel supported.

Get Empowered: By taking an active role in your care through a body, mind and spirit approach you can begin to feel confident in decision making and incorporating practices that you find meaningful and beneficial. This can help to increase your belief in yourself and create a life with cancer that feels manageable.

Overall, a body, mind, and spirit approach aims to treat the whole person rather than just the disease which in turn fosters a more balanced and comprehensive healing process.

There is a lot to manage when you are living with cancer. Learning tools and strategies to support yourself is a key part of the healing process. When you support yourself and believe in yourself you are empowering yourself and taking back some of the control you may feel you have lost in your life. And, you can always seek out support from friends, family, therapists or a certified cancer coach to help you along the way.

Kathryn White is a Certified Holistic Cancer Coach who supports women to turn their cancer diagnosis into a thriving story one woman at a time.