Blog

Encouragement for Challenging Beliefs

Regardless of how your beliefs are rooted, they will be challenged after you’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Being able to embrace the diagnosis itself, and what it means, might cause a massive upheaval in your life and shake your values to the core.

Change is inevitable, but it’s not a negative factor in terms of your mindset after a cancer diagnosis. Facing your treatment and how you will move forward are some of the biggest decisions you will make in your life.

Look beyond where your belief system lies. Glance at the bigger picture. Here’s why:

When traumatic events happen, like a breast cancer diagnosis, often we become introspective. This is the perfect time to consider your beliefs and ask questions like:

• Why did this happen?
• What do I believe about this and why?
• Where did my beliefs come from?
• How do I get my information?
• Will my beliefs hold true or should they evolve at this time?

Don’t shy away from any curiosity that might arise. Lean in to the questions and explore all possible perspectives about your diagnosis and treatment options.

It can feel like you have to believe one way or the other. For instance, some people feel confident in their doctor’s recommendations. They will follow them throughout treatment. Other people are less trusting of western medicine and look for alternative solutions.

Let go of the notion that you must believe one way or the other – it will save your life.

Give yourself permission and grace to reevaluate all the things you’ve “known” up to this point. Making choices about your diagnosis and treatment is not a polarized process. Your choices are not good and bad or right and wrong. Having choices to lean into at this time, though, is a privilege you can embrace wholeheartedly.

I want to offer these words of encouragement: there’s another way. There is a middle path, a blended approach to your cancer diagnosis and treatment. Integrating your options is the best bet you have at surviving this time in your life.

Belief isn’t just about external influences, it is also the ability to discern and to believe in your inner wisdom and self. Believing what the experience is going to be like, whether or not it’s true, dictates how your recovery is actually going to go.

The real question you could ask is: How do I want to live? Focus on how you are going to live right now and make your decisions wisely. Take in the scientific data and believe it. Gather the alternative options and embrace them. Then go deep and parse what you’ve been given in order to make the best decision for yourself as an individual.

At this time, I encourage you to:

1. Ask yourself about your belief system.
2. Get outside of your comfort zone in terms of what you believe.
3. Let go of limiting beliefs that might prevent your healing.
4. Put all options on the table and digest the information.

As you go forward and move beyond your diagnosis, consider an integrated approach to treatment. All or nothing is not a sustainable belief system. Instead, let me guide you through the process of blending your allopathic care with alternative modalities. It is absolutely necessary for your survival, and it is my passion and joy to provide this kind of care for my patients.

As a naturopathic oncologist I am trained to safely manage complementary and alternative therapies for cancer patients undergoing conventional cancer treatments. I provide complementary medicine consultations regarding whole foods nutrition, botanical medicine, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle modifications to attain optimum health during cancer treatment and after.

Please contact Dr. Laura James ND, FABNO if you have questions about integrative solutions during your breast cancer treatment. If you live in the Bellingham, Washington area and would like to learn more about a naturopathic approach to your wellness, please call 360-738-3230 or CLICK HERE to schedule a consultation.