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05/18/2006: "A 5-Step Approach Has Emerged"
I woke this morning and realized that I am living a 5-step approach to cancer. Beyond these earthly efforts, whether I win this battle or not will be in God’s hands.
Step 1: Grief, Determination & Attitude
After getting the diagnosis and prognosis, we certainly have gone through the stages of grief. And we still do. But that has lead to a decision. How am I going to deal with this? Do I lie down and die, or fight? My decision to fight and my background in education lead me on a path of heavy research. Google, Amazon, and other sights have been worn out. My bookshelf is full. Coming into play also is the attitude I have carried through my life. I have always been a “half full” type of person.
Step 2: Diet
The more I read, the more I realized that I had to do a radical change of diet. Health books, cancer books and the blood type book all talked about the importance of diet and made me realize that mine had been wrong (for me). I dove into antioxidants, supplements and vitamins, switched to a vegetable heavy diet, cut all forms of sugar, alcohol and caffeine and increased my water intake.
Step 3: Immune System
This one was a given. Something went wrong with my immune system and I had to get it right. More than right, it is has to be supercharged if cancer is going to be killed. More research on this lead me to dedicate 3 weeks to the hospital in Mexico. They worked me over and have sent me home with a collection of supplements that hopefully moves my body in the right direction. It took years (apparently 6-8) to develop my colon tumor and it will take years to turn it around.
Step 4: Stress
Coming back to the house, kids and work after three weeks away, has caused me to realize that I was not handling the stress very well. It was heavier than I thought. I ignored it and buried it somewhere. Maybe in my stomach as they say that Scorpios tend to do. I have started using some relaxation tapes and decided to give yoga another try. The first few sessions felt good. Hopefully I can hang in there. I have always been an over achiever and need to force myself to back off.
Step 5: Exercise
OK, I haven’t gotten to this step yet, but its next. I used to be an athlete through college and I think my body needs a high level of exercise. Like most of us, as age increases, exercise seems to decrease and mine had dropped to low. I have read in several places that walking is the best. Historically man walked for miles each day. Besides the muscular and cardiovascular benefits, it is also great for the immune system and reducing stress. I will begin there and hopefully move to running, throwing in a little swimming and cycling as well.
This is what has evolved. Lets hope it works.