Just hearing those three words — “you have cancer” — is enough to knock the wind right out of you. I can tell you that from experience.

I’ll always remember the day over 40 years ago when I was told I had Stage 4 melanoma. It was as if time stood still, while at the same time the doctor’s words were flying past me so fast I could hardly catch them. It was a strange out-of-body feeling, like the words were echoing around me but not sinking in.

“According to the Clark Scale, it’s Stage 4 cancer,” the doctor said. “That means it’s more likely to spread into other parts of the body. You should come in every three months and we’ll check everything out. There’s nothing else you can do. Chances are, we’ll never see it again. Bottom line—just go live your life and don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry?” Was he kidding? I had just been told I had Stage 4 melanoma — and from the little I knew, that meant there was a real chance it could spread. I was beyond upset. The more I thought about it, the worse I felt. Surely this had to be a bad dream, I thought, and any second I’d wake up.

But it wasn’t a dream. It was my new reality. (Chapter 2 “The Words No One Wants to Hear”, I Used to Have Cancer)

The Importance of A Second Opinion

The fear, the confusion — it all hits at once. And before you have a chance to catch your breath or wrap your head around the diagnosis, you’re being asked to make choices that could determine the rest of your life.

It happened to me. Looking back now, I always advise others not to stop at one medical opinion. Get a second opinion and a third one if necessary. Another doctor might back up what you’ve been told, or might lay out options you haven’t even heard of yet. It’s not about doubting your first doctor — it’s about making sure you’ve got the whole picture before you choose a path. Be open to other alternatives. Because when the stakes are this high, you have to watch out for yourself.

Let’s break it down.

Conventional vs. Integrative Medicine

Conventional oncology focuses on killing cancer — through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or newer targeted drugs. These therapies can be powerful and, at times, lifesaving. But they often come with significant side effects, kill healthy as well as cancerous cells, and don’t always address why cancer developed in the first place.

Integrative medicine takes a much broader view. Instead of zeroing in only on the cancer or tumor, it looks at the whole person. It addresses the strength of your immune system and how to build it up. It targets the toxins your body may be carrying and how to detox safely. It even addresses how you respond to stress – and what could be more stressful than a cancer diagnosis?

An integrative practitioner becomes a partner in your care, helping you:

• Build resilience during treatment so your body can handle it better.
• Support detox and repair.
• Explore natural therapies — nutrients, botanicals, mind-body practices that can play an important role in cancer care.

Bringing an integrative practitioner onto your team gives you a partner who’s focused on long-term healing, not just short-term treatment.

Listen to Some of the Highly Regarded Practitioners Around the World

My own journey with cancer is what led me to start the Templeton Wellness Foundation. When I was first diagnosed, there just wasn’t much information out there. This was before the Internet, and I had to dig, travel, and lean on the wisdom of others to find answers. Surviving Stage 4 melanoma wasn’t something I did alone — it took the guidance and expertise of many along the way, and I’m grateful for them. (See Chapter 3: “Three Knocks At My Door”, I Used to Have Cancer)

That’s why the Foundation exists today. It’s my way of giving back. One of the things I’ve made a priority is sitting down with some of the most highly regarded cancer experts from all around the world and asking them the questions I think patients and families would want to ask if they were in the room, too. These conversations often run close to an hour. That’s a far cry from the rushed minutes most patients get in a typical appointment.

These interviews are real conversations with cancer experts — filled with hard-won wisdom, practical strategies, and hope. I ask the questions I wish I had known to ask back when I was first diagnosed. I ask the questions patients want answered but often never get the chance to ask.

Free Interviews with Cancer Experts

Our growing library of interviews includes:

• Dr. Tony Jimenez, Hope4Cancer — talks about gentle, non-toxic therapies and why real healing has to focus on the whole person.
• Dr. Linda Isaacs — explains how detox and pancreatic enzymes can give the body a better shot at recovery.
• Dr. William Makis — shares why parasites are often overlooked in cancer care and how treating hidden infections can help.
• Dr. Thomas Levy — makes the case for vitamin C and antioxidants as powerful tools to strengthen the body.
• Dr. Russell Blaylock — shines a light on excitotoxins and hidden chemicals, and how to shield your brain and immune system from them.
  …and many more.

These are the kinds of insights I wish I’d had when I was first diagnosed. They might have saved me months of fear and confusion — and that’s why I’m making them available to you completely free of charge.

So sit back, take a deep breath, and explore your options in the quiet peace of your home. Take your time. Replay. Don’t be in a rush. Take some time to explore all your options. You’ll be glad you did.

See also: A Checklist to Take With You to Your First Doctor’s Visit

 

Eat Healthy, Wherever You Are!

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