🌿 Let’s Talk About the Dreaded “C” Word
Cancer touches nearly every family at some point. Whether you’ve received a diagnosis yourself or supported someone through it, you know it’s not just a physical disease, it’s a full-body, full-soul experience.
In this post, I want to share some of what science and spirit are teaching us about preventing, coping with, and healing from cancer and to invite you into a deeper conversation about how we can meet this journey with both knowledge and grace.
🧬 The Biology of Prevention
While cancer can sometimes feel random and can develop even in the healthiest of people, there is a large body of research that shows our daily choices can lower our risk.
Limit Carcinogens: This is the most obvious method of cancer prevention. The research is clear that avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol consumption (even 1 glass a day can increase your risk), and reducing exposure to environmental toxins such as asbestos, PFAS, and smog can make you less prone to cancer. If you are at risk for skin cancer, make sure to protect yourself from the sun.
Inflammation: Chronic inflammation lays fertile ground for abnormal cell growth. An anti-inflammatory, plant-forward diet rich in whole foods, antioxidants, and omega-3s helps calm this internal fire.
Blood Sugar Balance: High insulin levels and unregulated blood sugar feed cellular proliferation. Reducing processed foods, sugar, and alcohol while emphasizing fiber, healthy fats, and protein supports metabolic balance.
Physical Activity: Staying active regulates hormones such as insulin which can encourage cancer cell growth. It also strengthens the immune system to better fight off cancer cells, speeds up the movement of food and waste through the intestines to limit exposure to carcinogens, and reduces inflammation.
Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess body fat contributes to inflammation, which can damage DNA while also producing hormones that can accelerate the growth of certain cancer cells. It can also impair metabolism and increase insulin resistance, which are closely tied to a higher risk of cancer.
Hydration: Stay hydrated to help your colon move carcinogens out of your body, your lymphatic system to flush out toxins, and to dilute carcinogens in the bladder.
Circadian Rhythm: There is some evidence that poor sleep and disrupted light exposure can suppress immune surveillance. It can also contribute to weight gain. Prioritize consistent sleep and morning sunlight.
These aren’t just “lifestyle tips,” they are biochemical levers that either turn cancer-promoting pathways on or off.
đź’— The Psychospiritual Side of Healing
Cancer doesn’t just occur in the body; it reverberates through identity, relationships, and spirit. The diagnosis often stirs deep questions: Why me? What really matters now?
Emotional distress, anxiety, and existential fear can disrupt healing. Studies show that chronic stress and emotional repression weaken immune function and cellular repair mechanisms. Conversely, practices that restore connection such as mindfulness, nature immersion, breathwork, therapy, and supportive community enhance quality of life and even improve outcomes.
This is one well-researched area where psilocybin therapy is showing great promise. Studies from institutions like Johns Hopkins and NYU demonstrate that a single guided psilocybin session can help people with cancer experience:
Deep emotional release and peace
A sense of connection to something larger than themselves
A significant reduction in anxiety and depression
Renewed purpose and meaning
In essence, psilocybin helps many people shift from fear of dying to a deeper celebration of living.
🌸 February 12-13, 2026: Women’s Cancer Support + Psilocybin Retreat
This February, I’ll be co-facilitating a Women’s Cancer Support + Psilocybin Retreat in a beautiful mountain town in Colorado, a legal, medically supervised space for women navigating cancer or survivorship to reconnect with their bodies, process grief, and rediscover inner vitality.
You’ll be guided by a team of licensed facilitators and integrative health professionals, blending evidence-based science with ancient healing wisdom.
* We are donating our services pro bono to make this retreat financially accessible.
If you or someone you love is navigating this path and feels called to explore the next layer of healing, I invite you to reach out for details.
đź“© Reply to this email to learn more about the retreat.
🍄 1:1 Guided Psilocybin Facilitation
If you would prefer a private session with a licensed facilitator and medical professional under the legal model in Colorado, I offer free consultations to explore if this type of healing is right for you.
👉 Schedule your free 30-minute consultation here:
https://annadesmarais.cohere.live/guidedpsychedelicfacilitation/sessions
