Living with chronic cancer

Living with chronic cancer
2. Conventional and alternative

Find your way through the information based on your situation

Content:

• In progres – Living with chronic cancer
  1. Conventional treatment alone
  2. Conventional and complementary/ alternative treatment (scroll down)
  3. Alternative treatment alone

Being told that your cancer is ‘incurable’ is a medical assessment – not a final verdict. Many patients have shown that it is possible to live long and well, and in some cases even turn the disease around.

This guide is for you who have maintained hope, and who are seeking all the tools that can strengthen you in the fight for your life and your quality of life.

2. Conventional and complementary/ alternative treatment

On this path, you acknowledge your situation but wish to be active.

The strategy is to use the best conventional treatments to control the disease, while simultaneously implementing a full complementary effort to strengthen your body, weaken the cancer, and improve your quality of life.

It is a proactive approach to living as well as possible, for as long as possible – and perhaps daring to hope for a miracle.

General info

• Raidation therapy: Information about treatment, effects, side effects, and possible long-term effects.
• Port-a-Cath (venous catheter): Information for you receiving long-term systemic treatment and who have, or are to have, a ‘port’ implanted.
• Side effects – Chemo and Radiation – minimize: If you experience side effects in connection with your treatment, you can find guidance to alleviate most of them here. Use the search function if necessary.
• Systemic treatments: An overview of immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy.
• Specific local treatments: Overview of a range of possible treatments that can be significantly life-prolonging and increase quality of life. For example, PIPAC treatment.
• Integrative Oncology: Combines conventional cancer treatment with evidence-based complementary methods. The borderland between conventional and complementary treatment.
• Metastases: Fundamental knowledge about what metastatic disease is, how it behaves, and what overall treatment principles exist.
• Pain management: Good pain control is not giving up – it is a prerequisite for having the energy to fight. Gain knowledge about the effective methods that can give you the best possible daily life.
• Palliative care: See this as a specialized team of experts whose sole purpose is to enhance your quality of life and give you the strength to live as well as possible – every single day. Saying yes to this help is life-affirming and does not define your stage.

Prepare for meeting

• The Decision: Prepare for each meeting with the doctor. Take note if you experience side effects from your treatment (that can wait until the next meeting). Reflect on how the treatment is progressing.
• Responsibility and loss of control: Have we handed over control of our health? Discussion of the paradox of high legal responsibility and a complete lack of health-related responsibility.
• Experimental treatment: When the cancer recurs, participation in clinical trials can provide access to the newest forms of treatment. Understand what it entails and how you can be considered.
• Second opinion/ treatment abroad: If you feel uncertain about whether the correct diagnosis has been made or the optimal treatment has been proposed, a second opinion can be a good solution if it is financially within reach.
• Holistic Clinics, Europe: Overview of clinics and hospitals that have a special focus on treating cancer patients. If you are aware of places not mentioned, I hope to hear from you.
• Clinics such as Arcadia Praxisklinik or Dr. Vogl, Frankfurt: Recognized and well-reputed clinics that, among other things, have experience with integrative oncology.
• Praxisgemeinschaft für Zelltherapie, Duderstadt: (A clinic in Duderstadt, Germany, that offers cell-based immunotherapies, primarily dendritic cell therapy, for the treatment of cancer

Strengthen body and immune system

• Sleep: Good advice for ensuring vital rest during a pressured time.
• Wim Hof breathing: Specific exercises to calm the nervous system and strengthen the immune system.
• Repurposed Drugs: An introduction to medications that can supplement your treatment. (Remember to check with your healthcare provider)
  • No medicine – Plan B: Which dietary supplements could you potentially use to replace some of these drugs to achieve a similar effect?
  • Repurposed drugs and chemotherapy / and radiation therapy: Important knowledge about synergy and interactions.
  • The COC-Protocol: A specific protocol that combines a range of repurposed drugs. Investigate whether this more aggressive strategy is relevant for you now.
• Dietary supplements: An overview of which supplements have effects that may be relevant for cancer patients. (Remember to check with your healthcare provider)
  • My Best Advice: If the list of dietary supplements becomes overwhelming, the most important ones are mentioned here.
  • Dietary supplements for relief: Explore, for example, Ginger (for nausea), L-Glutamine (for mucosal problems), or CBD oil (for pain and nausea).
    • Meta-analysis: Cannabis in cancer: Meta-analysis reveals a clear consensus on the beneficial use of medical cannabis within cancer treatments and cancer development.
  • Focus on specific supplements such as curcumin, green tea (EGCG), melatonin, artemisinin, and medicinal mushrooms such as Turkey tail.
  • Supplements and chemotherapy: Overview of 150+ dietary supplements that can support cancer patients during chemotherapy, focusing on their potential benefits and safety considerations. Plus 24 selected supplements with rationales.
  • Supplements and radiation therapy: Overview of 150 dietary supplements that can support cancer patients during radiation therapy, with an emphasis on their potential benefits and safety considerations. Plus 24 selected supplements with rationales.
• Nutrition and diet: Introduction to the importance of diet. Read specifically Anti-inflammatory diet and Sugar and cancer as well as Ketogenic diet/ LCHF.
  • Overweight: Overweight has an inflammatory effect in the body. This creates a favorable environment for cancer.
  • Underweight: You quickly lose strength if you become underweight, as this leads to a loss of muscle mass.
  • Weight control: For cancer patients, weight control is an important aspect, as both underweight and overweight can have significant consequences for the course of treatment, side effects, and quality of life.
  • Fasting: A strategy to stress cancer cells and promote the body’s self-healing processes (autophagy). Investigate how fasting can be integrated into your protocol.
  • Diet vs. specific side effects: Find advice for e.g. Diet vs. nausea and vomiting or Diet vs. gastrointestinal cancer.
  • Targeted strategies: Diet as a tool. Here you will find strategies for maintaining muscle mass, strengthening the immune system, reducing inflammation, etc.
• Metabolic strategy: Now as a more central part of your overall effort.
  • Blocking signaling pathways for your cancer type: Find your cancer type under the topics, and then your specific cancer form in the chart. Discuss with your doctor whether this is a viable path for you.
• Blood tests: A guide to understanding your blood test results, so you can continuously monitor your body’s condition and the effect of your treatment.
• Alternative treatments: Consider, for example, hyperthermia therapy or hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a supplement.
• Exercise: One of the most important tools against cancer is movement. Exercise has a reducing effect on stress and inflammation.
  • Movement with limitations: Even when energy is low, movement is a powerful way to strengthen body and mind. Find inspiration for gentle yet effective ways to keep yourself going.
  • Cancer-specific exercise: An exercise program tailored to people with cancer to improve their physical and mental well-being.
• Research: Here you can dive into interesting articles about new research results in the treatment of cancer.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): As a complementary treatment for cancer, TCM may be worth knowing about.
• Sexuality and Intimacy: An important topic expecially for young patients.
• Toxin-free everyday life: Consider whether you should implement measures to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals, additives, etc.
• Protocols: Many cancer patients find strength and increased quality of life in following a established protocol, which for many has documented effects.
• Bombs, fire extinguishers, and timing (including an application schedule): Ensure that you take your medication and dietary supplements so they work together optimally and you achieve the best possible effect.

Harmony and mental strength

• General breathing: A simple method for managing pain, anxiety, and discomfort during treatment.
• Tapping: A tool to reduce anxiety and emotional discomfort.
• Emotions: Support for managing the shock, anger, and powerlessness that often accompany the news that the cancer has returned.
  • Sadness and depression: Tools for managing the mental pressure.
• Logbook: Consider tracking your symptoms, treatment, and progress. Also, a powerful tool for medical consultations and in everyday life.
• Post-traumatic growth (PTG): A recurrence is a new crisis. Read about how this difficult experience can also be used to find new strengths and a deeper perspective on life.
• Acupuncture or Reflexology: Select at least one of the therapies that corresponds to the sense that is most important to you.
• Physical Stimulation and Energy Therapy: It is likely to be beneficial for inner peace and balance to supplement your treatment with one of the sensory approaches that is most in accordance with your sensitivity:
  • Nature and Forest Bathing: Nature has healing powers that can provide peace and recharging when spending time in nature. This is an essential part of holistic well-being.
  • Sound healing: Finding calm by appealing to the senses can be quite effective.
  • Music therapy: A path to inner peace and strength through sound. Music has therapeutic potential to support cancer patients and provide symptom relief.
  • Aromatherapy: Depending on which sense is dominant for you, you can choose a corresponding path to strengthen inner peace and harmony.
• Forgiveness: If you have strong feelings of bitterness or anger, work through them. Anger takes a toll on your health – not on the person it is directed toward.
• Near-death experiences: Readings on spiritual aspects. What awaits us after life. Some have experienced the beyond and return to life strengthened. Without the slightest fear of death. Reading about these has been of decisive importance to me personally.
• Cancer stories from survivers: It can be a great comfort and help to read stories of cancer survivors who have the same type of cancer as yourself. Find your cancer type in the overview on the page.
• Inspiration and strength: Here is a collection of quotes, stories, and thoughts that can offer a moment of peace and perhaps a new perspective.
• Book reviews: Literature suitable for cancer patients to provide hope, good advice, and guidance.
• Literature: Find books that can provide support and comfort.
• Quality of life and co-responsibility: The experience of having influence over the outcome of one’s cancer treatment can be extremely beneficial.

Practical help and community

• Insurance payout – critical illness: Check your insurance for coverage of critical illness, which usually entitles you to a lump sum payment.
• Sick leave: What are your normal rights – and how do you move forward. The first steps in the process.
• Grants for cancer patients: Here are places where, provided certain criteria are met, you can apply for a grant.
• Support groups / patient associations: Knowledge about where you can find community and support from others who understand exactly what you are going through.

Parents with cancer

Living with an incurable cancer as a parent is an ongoing and emotionally demanding task. The focus is on creating as many good moments as possible, preparing the children for an uncertain future, and finding the strength to be present, even when it is hardest. These articles are written to support you in that process:

• Young children: Good advice on how and when to talk to your children about the illness.
• Relatives: Although you are the patient, you can find perspectives here on how your family and your children experience the situation.
• Emotions: Tools for managing your own emotions so you can be a more present parent.
• Worst case: Suggestions on how to ensure—under all circumstances—that you remain in your children’s lives in the future.
• Social relations: Inspiration for managing family dynamics and asking for help from your network.
• Stories about cancer for children: Get help explaining the situation to your children or grandchildren here. There are stories for most types of family relationships.

Child/ Young person with cancer

When a child or young person lives with an incurable cancer, the whole family’s world is changed.

In this truly difficult time, all focus is on the child’s quality of life, on providing relief and creating meaningful, loving moments together. Here is a collection of articles that offer support to the family in an unbearable situation.

• Children and young people with cancer: The central article on the subject.
• Relatives: This article is essential reading for parents, siblings, and the close network.
• Patient associations: Find the associations that specifically support families with children affected by cancer (e.g., The Danish Children’s Cancer Foundation).
• Sexuality and Intimacy: An important topic for young patients.
• Social relations: About maintaining contact with friends and classmates during a long course of illness.

Conclusion

Living with a chronic diagnosis and choosing the combined path is about taking control and fighting with all available means. You use the system’s strongest tools to keep the disease at bay, while simultaneously building a resilient body and a strong mind.

You are not defined by your prognosis, but by your will to create the best possible life. Every day is an opportunity to make a difference for your health.

I wish you all the best. ❤

See also Alternative Treatments – Overview

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Created on. 20.07.25

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What you read on “Jeg har Kræfter” is not a recommendation. Seek professional guidance.