I’ve always wondered if cancer survivors have certain characteristics that help them not just survive, but thrive after a cancer diagnosis. Why is it that some cancer patients seem to recover and move on with their lives while others struggle for years with the physical and emotional aftermath of the disease?
I believe that one of the main reasons why some cancer patients are able to thrive after their diagnosis is because they have a healing mindset. This means that they see their cancer as something that they can heal from, rather than something that is holding them back. They focus on getting better, rather than on the negative aspects of their disease.
You may be asking, what is a cancer healing mindset?
When it comes to treating cancer, it has been shown that mindset matters. A cancer healing mindset is all about remaining hopeful, despite the challenges. It’s about accepting that the journey will be difficult, but believing that you have the strength to get through it.
It’s also about finding ways to cope with the stress and anxiety of cancer treatment and choosing to focus on the things that bring you joy.
And, most importantly, a cancer healing mindset is about giving yourself permission to heal. Whether you’re undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, taking care of yourself is crucial. That means getting plenty of rest, eating nutritious foods, and making time for activities that make you feel good.
It may not be easy, but adopting a cancer healing mindset can make a world of difference.
The first step to developing a cancer healing mindset is to understand that the mind and body are connected. What we think and feel can have a direct impact on our physical health.
For example, studies have shown that chronic stress can weaken the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to fight off infection.
Similarly, negative thoughts and emotions can contribute to feelings of fatigue and despair, making it difficult to muster the energy needed to heal.
On the other hand, positive thinking and a strong sense of hope have been linked with better health outcomes.
Adopting a cancer healing mindset can help you to navigate your journey and improve your chances of recovery.
After working with many breast cancer patients and speaking with many other survivors, I realized that there are five qualities that seem to be common among those who not only beat cancer but go on to lead more fulfilled lives after their breast cancer diagnosis.
Quality #1: Breast cancer thrivers have a deep belief that their body can heal itself
Studies have shown that patients who are able to tap into their inner resilience and persevere in the face of a cancer diagnosis not only have better outcomes than those who give up hope but also exhibit immune responses that are associated with recovery.
They seem to have unwavering faith in themselves and choose to focus on positive thinking and self-care with the idea that focusing on health rather than disease will help them feel better.
Essentially, they maintain a deep belief that their body is capable of healing itself.
It’s important to note that this belief can be developed, even if you don’t have it on the day of diagnosis.
One way to do this is with positive affirmations… these are statements that you repeat to yourself several times a day that over time you start to embody, or believe in.
Here are some examples of positive affirmations for breast cancer patients:
1) I am strong and capable of beating this cancer.
2) Because I’m in charge of my cancer, it doesn’t have control over me.
3) I am positive and hopeful for the future.
4) My immune system is a strong force and capable of helping me heal.
5) I am healthy and whole, despite my cancer diagnosis.
6) I am surrounded by love and support from family, friends, and the community.
7) I have faith in my ability to heal.
8) I am grateful for each day, no matter how challenging it may be.
9) I am alive and using my inner resilience to beat cancer every day!
10) I am feeling better every day.
Repeating these statements helps you to focus on the positive, and allows you to set your intention to heal from breast cancer.
Quality # 2: Breast cancer thrivers take control, and develop a personalized recovery program that is suited to them.
Many breast cancer thrivers have found that taking a more active role in their recovery can be incredibly beneficial. They take control of their own health by creating a recovery program that is tailored to their specific needs.
This may involve making healthier lifestyle choices such as eating well and getting regular exercise, as well as setting goals for themselves and taking steps to achieve those goals.
By taking control of their own health, these thrivers have been able to reclaim their sense of autonomy and discover new sources of strength and resilience.
In the end, this can make them stronger both physically and mentally, leading to a fuller and more satisfying recovery that is truly unique to them.
These breast cancer survivors have basically learned to listen to their own bodies and minds. They work on approaches to diet and exercise and seek out helpful resources and by doing so, they reclaim a sense of ownership over their own health and well-being.
In the end, it is this sense of self-determination that can help cancer survivors truly heal–not only from the disease itself but from its distressing effects on their sense of confidence and control.
Essentially, this is also how I help women in my Breast Cancer Recovery Roadmap coaching program – by helping you design a personalized recovery plan over 12 weeks that will allow you to reclaim a sense of control over your health and well-being in your own way! Ultimately, I feel this is what matters most on your road to recovery.
Quality #3: Breast cancer thrivers rediscover their authentic selves and reconnect with long-hidden desires and aspirations.
When diagnosed with breast cancer, often our world may change in an instant. Suddenly, all of our priorities and long-held plans may seem meaningless.
However, many breast cancer thrivers end up using this experience as a catalyst to reconnect with their spirit in a new and profound way. They tap deeply into their long-hidden desires and aspirations, often leading them down a path of self-discovery.
This process often begins with a reexamination of their values and feelings.
Breast cancer thrivers look at and answer questions such as:
1) What is important to me?
2) What do I believe in?
3) What makes me happy?
Many times, once we’ve answered these questions we can begin to make changes in our lives that align with our values and feelings. This may involve making major changes such as quitting a job or ending a relationship, or it may involve smaller changes such as spending more time doing things that bring us joy.
This may also involve facing our fears head-on and rekindling hidden passions and desires that allow us to unlock meaning in our lives.
Whatever the changes may be, they help to create a life that is more authentic and fulfilling. In turn, many survivors find that they are more fully able to embrace their values and live more authentically than ever before.
Quality # 4: Breast cancer thrivers reassess their lives and make changes willingly. This often includes diet, lifestyle, career, goals, and relationships.
When faced with a cancer diagnosis, many cancer survivors undertake a complete re-assessment of their lives. While this can be an incredibly difficult process, for most people it is also a necessary one if they want to cope effectively with their diagnosis and move forward in a positive way.
In particular, cancer survivors often make significant changes to their diets and lifestyles. They seek out ways to eat more healthfully and exercise regularly in order to deal with the physical side effects of treatment and improve their overall wellbeing.
Additionally, some survivors choose new career paths or alter existing ones in order to enhance their mental health and find more meaning in their work.
They may also reassess their personal relationships or set new goals for themselves, driven by the belief that life is too short to waste on things that no longer bring them happiness or fulfillment.
In the end, dealing with cancer ends up being a transformative experience for many survivors… one that permanently alters their outlook on life.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what changes you make or how drastic they may seem – what matters is that you stick with them and keep moving forward on the path to recovery that works for you, and allows you to be a better version of yourself.
Quality # 5: Breast cancer survivors develop and bring honesty to their relationships with others. They often end toxic relationships.
Cancer survivors often find that their relationships with others are deepened and strengthened by their experience. Having faced the possibility of their own mortality, they are more likely to appreciate the value of their relationships and to be honest about their feelings. As a result, cancer survivors often find that their relationships become more fulfilling than ever before.
It’s also not uncommon for cancer patients to reassess all of their relationships after diagnosis. After re-examining toxic relationships in their lives, many cancer thrivers choose to end these relationships… whether it’s a friend who is always putting you down or a family member who is constantly demanding your time and energy, toxic relationships can take a toll on your physical and emotional health.
Getting rid of these negative influences can be liberating and for many cancer thrivers, the decision to end these relationships is an important step in their journal to recovery.
So, there you have it… these are 5 qualities of a cancer thriver… these are not the only qualities of a cancer thriver… there are others. But these are the ones I wanted to talk to you about today.
As you can see, a number of these qualities are related to mindset, which is why I believe in cultivating a cancer healing mindset, and this is also the first step of my Breast Cancer Recovery Roadmap coaching program to help you design your own cancer recovery roadmap.
I also wanted to provide you with a few action steps that you can take to move forward based on this info… one thing I would suggest if you have breast cancer, or are trying to prevent breast cancer or a recurrence, is to start a cancer healing journal.
The idea behind this is that writing in a journal gives you a way to sit with yourself and go deep into your WHY… You can start the first entry of this journal by answering the question: Why do I want to recover from cancer? Or another way of putting it might be, what are the things in life that I have to look forward to?
Or in my case, I would write about why I want to prevent breast cancer?
Having this information written down in front of us and being able to refer to it whenever we need to gives us a deeper sense of purpose and allows us to connect with ourselves, understand our values, and allows us to feel aligned with our reasons for recovery or prevention.
Another thing to include in your cancer healing journal is positive affirmations such as the ones I mentioned above.
CLICK THIS LINK to join my free Facebook group called Breast Cancer Nutrition and Lifestyle Strategies for Prevention and Recovery to help support you in your breast cancer journey with integrative tools, including nutrition, mindset, and lifestyle strategies. I do weekly live trainings on the latest topics related to breast cancer recovery and prevention.
If you would to book a free consultation to learn how a cancer coach can help you recover from cancer and avoid a recurrence, CLICK THIS LINK to set up a call to speak with me! Anyone who books a free call will get a $50 off coupon for my online program, Cancer Recovery Roadmap.
I’ve taken all my research on diet, environment, lifestyle, and mind-body and put it into a very comprehensive program that will help you create your own cancer recovery plan. If you want to take your recovery from cancer to the next level, click on the image below.