3 Free Tools For The Hidden Costs of Cancer

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As many of you know, I believe that our bodies have an internal healing system that is just waiting to be unlocked. But I’ve also learned, through my own two-time journey with cancer and through talking to so many of you, that this hybrid healing we talk about is only possible when our foundation is secure.

We often talk about removing the crap from our diets or switching out our beauty products, but there is another layer to this. It’s what the medical world calls Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). 

These are the conditions in which we live, work, and grow that influence up to 80% of our health outcomes. For our community, being a hybrid healer means we use the best of modern medicine alongside the best of nature. 

But let’s be real, it is hard to focus on organic juices or high-dose vitamin C when you are worried about your rent or how you’re going to get to your next infusion.

I want to share some data points that are a little heavy, but they show why we have to be each other’s system navigators. 

Research shows that patients in the lowest-income bracket have a 13% higher risk of death. 

If you live in a rural area, you are 15% to 30% more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis simply because of the distance to a specialist. 

Even educational background plays a role, with cancer mortality rates being 2.6 times higher for those with a high school degree or less compared to college graduates.

This isn't about bad luck. It’s about access. It’s about financial toxicity, a term for the economic burden that affects up to 48% of survivors. 

We know that filing for bankruptcy is actually a standalone risk factor for increased mortality, with a hazard ratio of 1.79. 

When we are in survival mode, our bodies are flooded with cortisol, which keeps us in a state of chronic inflammation. To truly heal, we have to move out of that fight-or-flight state and into a state where our bodies can rest and repair.

At Cancer Crew, we are committed to the entire community, not just those who can afford out-of-pocket integrative services. We want to be your system navigator. 

Here are the actionable tools you can use right now to bridge the gap.

Your desire to help your body heal is a spiritual journey, but God also put people on this earth to build these systems of support. 

When we use a tool like Findhelp to cover our rent, or 211 to get a ride to the clinic, we are clearing the static so we can hear that still, small voice of healing.

Integrative oncology, things like oncology massage, yoga, and plant-based nutrition, has incredible evidence for reducing pain and anxiety. But those modalities can only do their best work when your basic needs are met. 

Addressing your social needs is not charity, it is a clinical intervention that improves your survival.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, take it one little step at a time. Maybe today you just look up your ZIP code on Findhelp. Maybe tomorrow you call 211. You don't have to do it all at once. 

We are here to navigate this together because every single one of you deserves a second chance at life.

But navigating these systems is a lot to ask of one person—especially when you’re already fighting for your health. That’s why we created CancerCrew+ where the 'navigating' happens together. If you’re looking for a place where you can put down the map, ask the hard questions, and find the resources we talked about today in real-time, come join us.

I am so grateful to be connected with you all. Keep going, keep nourishing your soul, and remember that we are a crew for a reason, we don't let anyone do this alone.

With heart,
Carli
Founder of The Cancer Crew