I am excited to have you back here today to talk about how shifting our language around cancer can positively impact the cancer healing journey.

In 2014, I had an experience that completely shifted the language I use around cancer when one of my patients said she ‘hated the word survivor.’ This started a chain reaction from other cancer patients who said they also ‘hated that term.’

I started to get curious about the language we use around cancer and how others who are actively healing from cancer perceive this word. Along with several colleagues, I surveyed 1,400 people with a history of breast cancer to share their feelings about the term “cancer survivor.” We were shocked to learn that 60% of the responses to the term “survivor” were negative and that many of them did not feel cancer language reflected their experience of cancer. (you can check out that research study by clicking here).

What I learned is that using battle language such as ‘fighting’ and ‘survivor’ do not work in a healing setting. This type of language doesn’t increase motivation, it actually increases anxiety and hyper vigilance. Studies show that increased anxiety and hyper vigilance lowers immune function, which is the exact opposite of what we want in a healing setting.

This experience caused me to reconsider the language I use and acknowledge that battle language may not be the best language to use with people healing from cancer.

You can check out my full TedX Talk below where I share more about why shifting our language is so important in the healing process and provide practical ways to shift your language around healing chronic illness:

I’ll be back here on Tuesday morning to share about the importance of intentionally curating your ‘inner circle’ to support your healing journey.

Much Love,

Dr. Katie

Announcements

The doors to my virtual practice are OPEN

Are you or a loved one currently going through treatment for cancer or other chronic disease? The doors to my virtual practice are officially open and I would love to support you in healing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual root causes of disease. You can learn more on my website katiedeming.com and click the ‘BOOK ME’ tab to schedule your 1:1 consultation.

The new season of the Born to Heal Podcast debuts in February

I am excited to announce that my Born to Heal Podcast is relaunching on Tuesday, February 13th! In this new season, I’ll be interviewing different experts in the field of healing to empower your conscious healing journey. Stay tuned for updates and sneak peeks as we inch closer to the first episode’s debut!

You can catch up on past episodes on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or all other major podcast platforms.

Let’s Stay Connected

Each week, I post content to Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn where I offer practical tips to become your own conscious healer. I hope to see you there!

DISCLAIMER:

This Blog in its entirety is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any medical questions or conditions.