About

WHAT WE BELIEVE

The mission of Foundation for Cancer Research & Wellness is to advance least-toxic, minimally-invasive cancer prevention and survival practices that will eliminate cancer as a life-threatening condition.  We accomplish this through research, advocacy, education, and support.

After years of carefully analyzing why cancer patients get well, this is our conclusion:  Survivors change.  They create a state of body, mind and spirit where they are well and they live from that state.  Survivors heal the whole person.

Six areas of life medical, nutritional, exercise, attitude, support and spiritual are key components to survivorship and wellness.  These areas comprise the Cancer Recovery Wellness Pyramid and the core of what we believe at Foundation for Cancer Research & Wellness.
 

In interviews and surveys with over 16,000 “terminal” survivors, a pattern of strategies and practices has emerged.  Key answers and information have been incorporated into our recovery plan and confirm our beliefs: 

Three important points:
1. The majority of survivors do not believe they recovered their health by chance.  They participated intimately in the management of their treatment.
2. Survivors do not credit their medical team alone, or even primarily, for their good health.  They feel they personally earned health and well being.
3. Survivors stopped simply treating their illness.  They started creating wellness.

At Foundation for Cancer Research & Wellness, we sincerely hope and pray that you will carefully, rationally and thoughtfully consider incorporating this evidence and these practices in your own life.  We are here to support you each step of the way.  You are not alone.
 

MEDICAL
Over 96% of cancer survivors start and complete at least one course of conventional medical treatment.  Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and immuno-therapy are the treatments of choice.  8 out of ten survivors insist on one or more second opinion consultations; 7 in 10 change doctors at least once.  Survivors take charge.  They ask hard questions of their healthcare team.

ATTITUDE
Survivors believe there is a very real mind/body connection.  They refuse to believe that cancer means death; they believe in their treatments; they believe their role in the recovery process is of primary importance.  These beliefs result in a more positive outlook.  Survivors view cancer more as a challenge than a threat.  8 in 10 believe their personal self-help efforts account for a major portion of their successful recovery.  Survivors are able to choose their emotional responses to life and thus positively influence their recovery.  They frame personal responsibility around doing their best to get better.  A reason to live is the most important factor is survivorship.  Survivors gain a new and greater level of emotional awareness.  7 in 10 believe emotional and psychological factors are major contributors to their illness.  8 in 10 believe these same factors play a major role in how their immune system functions.  Survivors focus on healing, not just on fighting the disease.  They see themselves as well.

NUTRITION
8 out of 10 survivors make self-described major shifts in dietary and nutritional practices.  Food is viewed as part of a total treatment plan.  The most common change is a shift to a more plant-based diet, eliminating “whites” (sugar, white flour, white rice, white potatoes and products made with them) and including “colors” (fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains).  Survivors drink 8 or more glasses of pure water every day.  Over 8 in 10 survivors use vitamin and mineral supplements; 4 in 10 describe their regimen as “mega-supplementation” that includes herbs, teas and a variety of nutritionally based practices.

SUPPORT
Survivors invest more time and emotional energy in relationships that nurture them and invest less in relationships that are toxic.  7 in 10 survivors believe support from others as a major contribution in their return to health.  They believe cancer recovery revolves around the key relationships in their lives.

EXERCISE
Survivors move.  They start and maintain a regular ability-appropriate program of exercise even during cancer treatment cycles.  6 in 10 survivors cite regular exercise as a major component of their recovery program.

MEANING & PURPOSE
9 in 10 cancer survivors regard their core beliefs as one of the most important aspects in their effort to get well and stay well.  They embrace a more loving spirit; inner peace is the result.  5 in 10 survivors believe releasing the past is a major factor in survivorship.  This is not “forgive and forget,” but rather “forgive and learn.”  The detachment from hostility frees personal energy for healing.  8 in 10 survivors feel their life has a higher purpose, a mission.  They perceive they have work that remains to be done and that they were given more life, in part, to fulfill this calling.  Gratitude or thankfulness is believed to be a major factor in increasing quality of life.  7 in 10 survivors feel a deeper appreciation for life, no matter what the length.  Survivors tend to practice surrendering their personal will to a divine higher will; no single doctrine or creed leads to this transformation.