"I have been on a long journey to a strange land and I have seen the dark man very close" - Thomas Wolfe

Research

I knew nearly nothing about medicine or the human body, certainly nothing about cancer specifically, but I had a firm belief that the doctors I'd been seeing were inappropriate and incompatible with my wellbeing. So the first thing I did was some urgent research.

I read materials from the American Cancer Society pages and the Swiss Cancer League. I found Siddhartha Mukherjee's book Emperor of all Maladies fascinating, accessible and very helpful. I read a few medical studies that I thought were appropriate.

Throughout my research I kept in mind where I was living, what the external and personal factors were that were relevant and coinciding with each study that I read. I wasn't looking for an alternative therapy, rather an understanding of the disease and the treatment offered by the medical industry. I was interested in finding additional helpful nutrients and avoiding harmful ones.

Stress Reduction

The first steps that I took were to reduce the stress level. I spent a few weeks working very long hours to round off the various initiatives that I had running at work, handing over aspects to others. Then I withdrew to a 100% sick leave, duration indefinite. I reduced other people's expectations pretty much to zero and I rid myself of all irritations.

I had previously taken up paragliding as a hobby, now I went flying whenever the weather and my physical fatigue allowed, sometimes three times per week.

Paragliding specifically is very relevant here, as are other flying or piloting activities in general. The thing about flying is that it absorbs the whole mind. If you're not completely concentrated while flying, you will make a mistake and it can result in death. Unlike, for example, golf or tennis, flying requires concentration at all times and does not offer any real irritations. I highly recommend paragliding as an effective tool for fighting cancer.

So, to be concise, I found and regularly practiced a physical activity in clean open air that took my mind completely off my malady for large chunks of time. I completely withdrew from work and did everything in my power to reduce mental stress to zero.

The Support Structure

It is very important to get everyone around you on board. If your family, friends and associates don't understand your very challenging situation, they can neither assist nor allow you to heal.

I did not hide my condition, rather I informed everyone as soon as I could, my family first. Aligning expectations is very important. If you are not given space and support, you cannot heal. If there is any stigma attached, my logic was that I would handle that later. After all, first I needed to ensure that there was a later.

I would advise cutting any unhelpful or irritating person off completely and immediately. I mean this seriously, no matter how "close" they are supposed to be. Once you are healed then you have enough time to rebuild any relationship that you would like.