Learning to Pivot: Finding Peace in the Uncertainty of Cancer

One of the questions I'm asked most often is:

"How do you live with the uncertainty after a cancer diagnosis?"

For me, that question is especially personal.

After my brain tumor was discovered unexpectedly on a preventative MRI in 2023, I had to learn how to live with a reality I never anticipated. Even after successful surgery, there are still scans, follow-up appointments, and the knowledge that the future is never guaranteed.

Cancer has a way of making us feel like control has been taken away. It can leave us wondering if we're doing enough, if we're making the right decisions, or what tomorrow might bring.

The truth is, uncertainty isn't unique to cancer.

As I reflected on this question recently, I realized that my family's life over the past several years has been filled with uncertainty in more ways than one.

In just four years, we've made three major interstate moves—from our longtime home in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California to coastal Maine, then to the Arizona desert, and now to the mountains of northern Nevada.

Each move began with hope, careful planning, and the belief that we were moving toward a healthier, happier future.

None of those decisions were impulsive.

Every move made perfect sense at the time.

But life had other plans: my brain tumor, my husband's job challenges.

Unexpected circumstances that forced us to reevaluate everything and choose a different path.

And each time, we did something that has become one of the greatest lessons of my life:

We pivoted.

Instead of staying stuck in situations that no longer served our health or our family, we adjusted. We gathered new information, made thoughtful decisions, and kept moving forward.

I've come to realize that's exactly how I approach my health.

Why Testing Gives Me Peace

One of the foundational principles of the Metabolic Approach to Cancer is that you don't guess—you test. Our biology is constantly changing. Just because something looked one way six months ago doesn't mean it looks the same today. That's why I routinely monitor my health with comprehensive blood testing every six to ten weeks. I evaluate inflammatory markers, metabolic health, nutritional status, immune function, and other biomarkers that help paint a picture of what's happening inside my body.

Over the course of my own healing journey, I've also tested hormones, environmental toxins, gut health, organic acids, spike protein, and more.

These tests give me information.

Information allows me to make informed decisions.

And informed decisions allow me to pivot when necessary.

Rather than waiting months for a scan to tell me whether something has changed, I can often identify subtle shifts in my terrain much earlier and make adjustments to my nutrition, lifestyle, supplements, or other aspects of my protocol.

To me, testing isn't about living in fear. It's about living with awareness. It's one of the greatest gifts I've given myself because it replaces helplessness with action.

Do I Still Get Anxious?

Absolutely. I'm human.

Every MRI still brings a few butterflies. But over time I've developed my own approach to managing scanziety, and I've learned that fear doesn't have to be in the driver's seat.

I can't control every outcome.

I can't guarantee what the future holds.

But I can continue creating the healthiest environment possible inside my body.

I can continue listening to my biology.

And I can continue making thoughtful pivots whenever they're needed.

That gives me tremendous peace.

Because I wholeheartedly believe the body wants to heal.

Another Big Pivot

Speaking of pivots...

My family is about to begin another adventure. We're joining the tiny house movement.

We're currently researching builders and designing a tiny home built with healthy, non-toxic materials. Our hope is that a smaller footprint will create less stress, allow us to live more intentionally, and give us the opportunity to spend more time outdoors, grow some of our own food, and stay connected to nature. Nature has always been one of my greatest healers.

One unexpected bonus?

Our home will be on wheels.

So the next time life calls us to pivot, we'll be bringing our home with us.

There will undoubtedly be challenges ahead. But after everything we've experienced over the past few years, I've learned something important:

Uncertainty doesn't have to stop you from building a beautiful life.

You don't have to know exactly what the future holds to take the next right step.

Sometimes healing looks like changing course when indicated.

Ready to Look Deeper?

If you've been diagnosed with cancer and want a more complete understanding of what's happening inside your body, I'd love to help.

Together, we can look beyond the diagnosis, explore your unique biology, and identify opportunities to create a healthier internal environment that supports healing.

The journey may be uncertain—but you don't have to navigate it alone. And that itself can bring peace.