How I Ignored the Odds to Forge a Path of Healing
As I wrote in my book “Life is a Ride: My Unconventional Journey of Cancer Recovery”—When I was first diagnosed with stage 3 inoperable pancreatic cancer in October 2016, I got the pity look.
That mix of sorrow, fear, and resignation—like someone had just read the final chapter of my story and figured the ending was written in stone.
Some people cried. Others offered weak smiles. A few looked away when they saw me, or avoided me altogether. But those who didn’t turn away looked at me as if they knew I was a goner.
Because let’s be honest: pancreatic cancer doesn’t exactly come with a fan club of survivors. The stats were and remain brutal—about 70 percent of patients are gone within a year of diagnosis. The treatment options were limited, and no one was talking to me about how to actually get healthy.
Fast forward to today. I’m not just alive. I’m thriving. And now I get a different look. For those who haven’t closely followed my story, it’s the “Wait—you’re still here?” look.
The disbelief. The surprise. The head tilt that says, “That’s… not what I expected.”
Some call it a miracle. Many just say I got lucky.
But let me be clear: I didn’t get lucky.
Back in early 2017, I got to work.
I don’t consider what I’ve done as “fighting cancer.” To me, the 2016 diagnosis was my body sending a clear message: something was off and I needed to make serious changes. It was a wake-up call, not a battle cry. So I chose to get healthy, not go to war. I committed to rebuilding my internal terrain using the principles of the Metabolic Approach to Cancer (MATC) and Radical Remission.
I reexamined every aspect of my life—what I ate, how I moved, how I slept, how I thought, how I felt, and even who I allowed into my life. I embraced the Radical Remission principles of releasing suppressed emotions, increasing positive ones, deepening my spiritual connection, and cultivating strong reasons for living.
I also adopted the Metabolic Approach to Cancer’s focus on terrain-centered healing—cleaning up my internal environment, supporting mitochondrial function, and lowering my toxic load. I processed old grief, rebalanced my emotional terrain, and made purpose my compass. I didn’t just hope to heal—I chose to. And then I committed to that choice with consistent, intentional action.
I don’t consider what I did as beating cancer—because cancer wasn’t my enemy. Cancer was a message that my body and life were out of balance.
That message still echoes. Every day, I stay committed to the practices that support healing and resilience. This isn’t something I conquered and left behind. It’s an ongoing journey—a lifestyle rooted in awareness, intention, and self-responsibility.
Yes, it takes effort. Some days, it’s hard. But it’s deeply empowering to know I have a major role to play in my own well-being.
So when people say I got lucky, I smile. Not because I agree, but because I know the full story. Healing isn’t luck. It’s not just waiting for a drug to save you. It’s not passive. It’s not linear. And it’s not about perfection.
It’s about ownership. It’s about taking your health back one day, one meal, one decision at a time.
Now, I’m a certified Terrain Advocate and Radical Remission Coach. I work with people who are ready to take charge of their health—whether they’re newly diagnosed, in remission, seeking to prevent recurrence, or wanting to improve their health to reduce the risk of serious or chronic illness. I can’t walk the path for you, but I can help light the way. If you’re willing to do the work, I’ll be there to guide you, support you, and share what I’ve learned on this road less traveled.