Cancer To-Do List
FLOURISH
LEARN TO FLOURISH in your health
After my diagnosis, I began mastering the BASICS outlined on this page. I believe taking care of my body through these daily habits helped create an unfriendly environment for cancer growth in my body. As I became more consistent, I began to flourish in many areas of my health —both physically and mentally. I was amazed by how much what I ate could affect the way I felt, including my mood!
Today, I am flourishing in ways that go far beyond my cancer journey. I have learned how powerful daily choices can be in supporting my health and well-being—and you can too!
Basics
A cancer diagnosis is an opportunity to do self-reflection and commit to establishing a consistent, self-care routine.
Take the time to form a strong, daily routine of basic health habits, and watch your heath improve. According to the University College of London in 2009, “habits take 66 days to form. Once a habit is solidly established, you can either build on that habit or build another one.” A randomized, controlled trial published in Urology showed that patients with early-stage prostate cancer choosing active surveillance might be able to avoid or delay conventional treatment for at least two years by making changes in their diet and lifestyle. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18602144/
DAILY ROUTINE OF Basic Health Habits
THE BASICS
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DIET
A diet rich in whole foods protects against cancer. Even though every part of your health routine is important, diet can make the most profound difference in a short period of time!
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Hydration
Our bodies are made up of mostly water. It makes sense that we must replenish that water each day to keep our system functioning properly. Drink at least 64 ounces of filtered water each day.
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EXERCISE
Research shows that exercise reduces the risk of both recurrence and death from cancer. Exercise also reduces cancer-related fatigue for patients undergoing treatment. Add regular exercise each day.
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De-stress
There is a large body of evidence showing that stressful life events and major negative life changes can increase the risk of cancer. I believe stress was a contributor to my cancer because I allowed it to drown out self-care.
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SLEEP
Sleep disorders are more common in people with cancer. According to University of Chicago sleep researcher, Eve Van Cauder, all systems of the body are affected by even minimal sleep deprivation.
Benefits
A commitment to the basic health routine, as discussed above, will produce the benefits of daily detox and improved gut health. Creating consistent, daily habits may take some time, but it will be worth every second! Both the internal and external, tangible and intangible effects that I am experiencing on a daily basis in my health keep me committed to my daily health routine.
benefits FROM YOUR HEALTH ROUTINE
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DETOXIFICATION
We are bombarded by environmental toxins in our world today. Some are natural and some are man-made, but the good news is that our healthy bodies are equipped to address these effectively!
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GUT HEALTH
As you detox and formulate a good routine of the basic health habits (diet, hydration, exercise, de-stress, and sleep) many markers of optimal health will improve — one of which is your gut health.
Up Next...
ASSEMBLE
This step will guide you through organizing teams of individuals, both professional and personal, that you can rely on throughout your cancer journey. I’ve defined three specific teams: medical, support, and prayer.