There’s a small study that’s been making the rounds lately—and for good reason.
A group of people, all dealing with rectal cancer, went through a new kind of treatment. No chemo. No radiation. No surgery.
And here’s the part that’s hard to believe but is true: all of them went into remission. Not one was left behind. It wasn’t about attacking the cancer with harsh drugs—it was about waking up the immune system and letting the body fight back the way it was meant to. That kind of result gives all of us—especially those of us who’ve walked this path—something we don’t take lightly: hope.
It’s the kind of result that makes you pause. And while this particular group of patients shared a specific genetic trait—something called mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR)—the bigger takeaway is this: when the immune system is supported and no longer blocked, it’s capable of incredible things. For those of us who’ve been in the natural healing space for years, it’s not surprising. But it’s exciting to see science finally catching up.
What I Learned The Hard Way
I thought I was doing everything right. I was running up to 60 miles per week, eating what I believed at the time was a clean, healthy diet, and staying active. On the outside, I looked like the picture of health. But then—out of the blue—I was hit with a stage 4 melanoma diagnosis. It just goes to show, you can feel fine and still have something serious going on beneath the surface.
It made me stop and think. I’d been doing all the “right” things—or so I thought. But something was still missing. That moment made me step back and really ask: What does my body actually need? I searched out the experts. I went back to the basics. I simplified, and I started giving my body real support. And slowly but surely, things began to shift. And here I am some 40 years later, enjoying life and treasuring my family and grandchildren that at one time I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to enjoy.
That’s why I care so much about helping others figure this out, and why I started The Templeton Wellness Foundation—because when you give your body what it’s truly asking for, it can do incredible things. And knowledge is powerful.
So what does this breakthrough mean for you?
It’s a powerful reminder that real healing doesn’t just come from fighting cancer—it comes from supporting the body’s ability to heal itself. And while it may sound simple, these are some of the most surprisingly effective ways to help your body do just that:
- Eat whole, organic foods (see my article: Eating Organic Cuts Cancer Risk by 25%)
- Avoid processed sugar and inflammatory oils (see: Say Goodbye to Sugar If You Want to Beat Cancer and From Kitchen Staple to Health Hazard: The Dark Side of Cooking Oils)
- Detox your environment and reduce toxic load (see: The Vital Role of Detoxification in Cancer Care)
- Support liver and lymphatic function (see: Lymphatic Exercises: The DIY Secret Weapon for Health)
- Move your body daily, and don’t underestimate the healing power of sleep, breath, and a positive mindset (see: How Your Thoughts Influence Your Healing)
Science may be catching up, but natural healing wisdom has always led the way. You don’t have to wait for permission to trust your body. You just need to give it the tools it’s been waiting for.
Explore Your Options
Explore our interviews with integrative practitioners from around the world and be inspired by powerful cancer survivor stories: (see: Inspiring Conversations: Lessons from Cancer Survivors and Experts from All Around the World)
The body knows how to heal. Sometimes, we just need to get out of the way—and give it the chance.
Resources:
Cercek, Andrea, Melissa Lumish, Celine Sinopoli, et al. “PD-1 Blockade in Mismatch Repair–Deficient, Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.” New England Journal of Medicine 386, no. 25 (June 23, 2022): 2363–76. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2201445.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “Rectal Cancer Disappears after Experimental Use of Immunotherapy.” June 5, 2022. https://www.mskcc.org/news/rectal-cancer-disappears-after-experimental-use-immunotherapy
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Press Release, “Immunotherapy Could Replace Surgery, Enabling Patients To Retain Their Organs and Enhance Their Quality of Life”
Alternative cancer treatment could replace chemo and surgery, study suggests
Immunotherapy breakthrough could see ‘all signs of cancer’ disappear
Immunotherapy (Cancer Council)
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