Every Life is Worth Saving

Every Life Is Worth Saving

Today marks the last day of Cancer Survivor Awareness Month. But for millions of us—those living with cancer, survivors, caregivers, friends, and loved ones—the awareness never ends. We live it every day. I know this personally.

Just over a year ago, I stared into the face of death. I was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer: metaplastic, triple-negative. There was no easing into it. No gentle way to process. It hits like a freight train. And once you’ve heard the words, “you have cancer,” something inside you changes forever. Mortality is no longer an abstract idea. It’s real. It’s personal. And it’s here.

But that’s precisely why this message is so important:

Every life is worth saving. Every life is worth living. Including yours.

We Will All Be Touched by Cancer

Here’s the truth most people don’t know—or try not to think about: more than 40% of us will face a cancer diagnosis at some point in our lives. Almost every single one of us will be touched by cancer ... if not personally, it will be someone we love. This isn't a distant possibility. It’s a near certainty.

So, what does that mean for how we live? What should we do before the diagnosis? And if we’ve already received it, how do we live now—with hope, not fear?

You Are Not a Statistic

When we’re diagnosed, one of the first things we’re given is a number.

“This cancer has a two-year survival rate...”

“Five-year average survivability is...”

What they don’t often explain is that these numbers are based on a distribution curve. At the top of the curve, half of the patients live fewer years. But here’s the fascinating part: the other half live longer. Some much longer—20 years or more, even a full natural lifespan.

That “long tail” of the curve? That’s where the magic happens. That’s where the miracles live. That’s where I’ve chosen to place myself.

But here’s the most hopeful, radical idea of all: we can move the curve. Not just where we fall on it as individuals—but the whole thing. For all of us. Together.

The “Mix of Six” That Can Change Everything

One of the most hopeful, science-backed resources I’ve encountered in my journey is the book Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six by Lorenzo Cohen, PhD, and Alison Jefferies, MEd.

It outlines six lifestyle changes—simple, powerful, proven—that reduce cancer risk, support treatment, and enhance quality of life:

1. Love & Social Support: Strong emotional connections help our immune systems and even influence how our genes express themselves.

2. Stress Management: Mindfulness, meditation, prayer, breathing—calming the nervous system directly impacts healing.

3. Sleep: Rest is not optional. It’s medicine. Seven to eight hours of quality sleep supports immunity and reduces inflammation.

4. Diet: A whole-foods, plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and healthy fats can help starve cancer and fuel vitality.

5. Physical Activity: Movement is a powerful therapy. Daily, consistent exercise improves outcomes and lifts mood.

6. Avoiding Environmental Toxins: From what we breathe to what we put on our skin and in our homes—reducing exposure matters.

These six principles don’t just work in isolation—they work together, synergistically. The science is clear: they support traditional treatments, reduce recurrence risk, and boost both quality and quantity of life.

This Is About More Than Cancer

What amazes me is how universal this truth is. Whether you’re facing cancer, burnout, grief, chronic stress, or a toxic relationship—the same principles still apply. Love. Rest. Nourishment. Movement. Peace. Protection.

The very things that help us survive also help us thrive.

This is why I share my story. Not because it’s easy. But because hope is worth spreading. Because I believe that our choices matter—that we are not powerless. And because every single life is worth fighting for.

You Can Choose the Long Tail

If you’ve just been diagnosed—this is not the end of your story.

If you’re living with cancer—your life still holds tremendous meaning and beauty.

If you’re a survivor—there is still purpose in your path, even amid uncertainty.

And if you’re lucky enough not to have faced this yet—now is the time to start living like your life is worth saving.

Because it is.

And so are you.