Healing

I wrote an article entitled 'Why chemotherapy and radiation are not enough to heal from cancer'(you can read it on my web site- cancershift.com. The premise I put forth is that eliminating the cancer cells is not enough. We need to change the body's terrain and stimulate the immune system so that cancer cells are not longer able to continue to flourish. So everyday that you are exercising you are helping your immune system, moving more lymphatic fluid through your body, eliminating toxins and getting stronger. As you change your diet and adopt an anti-cancer diet (less sugar and refined grains, more fruits and vegetables, less red meat, less processed foods, more omega 3 - less omega 6, more alkaline producing foods, etc) you are daily giving your body what it needs to change its internal terrain so that you are no longer unconsciously fueling cancer cell growth.
If you are meditating or deeply relaxing each day you are giving your body a chance to heal at a deep level, without the constant interference of thoughts and other preoccupations. The body heals most during deep sleep, meditation and deep relaxation because it is able to focus on what it has to do, the innate intelligence is there we just need to give the body a chance to tap into it. Lastly, bringing pleasure, laughter, doing loving things, feeling loved and supported are all great ways of enhancing the healing of the body.
I could go on... but I hope this gives you an idea of what you can do to feel like an active participant and feel more empowered on your healing journey!

by loving their life and body
by having a pet and relationships because loneliness affects the genes which control immune function
laugh several times a day for no reason and act like the person you want to be
actors who perform a tragedy have their immune function suppressed and those in a comedy have it enhanced
so meditate and find peace and joy and grow as a human being
when your body knows you love your life it does all it can to keep you alive
look at Monday morning when the opposite happens

I underwent a LAT Flap reconstruction two months ago. My plastic surgeon told me that I needed to lose weight before he could do the surgery--that was last year. I went on a diet, lost over 100 lbs and started eating right and exercising. I have never felt better in my life. I have a tissue expander in place as well, but I healed very quickly from this surgery, as opposed to my other surgeries when I was heavier and not active. I think it makes a very big difference in how you heal. You also need a positive attitude. I learned a huge lesson going through cancer treatment; your situation could always be worse, and how you feel is greatly affected by your emotional state. Good luck!