asK tHE ExPErt
carl o. HElviE,
R.N., Dr.P.H.
as lEadErs iN tHE
sPa aNd WEllNEss
coMMuNity, you know the
benefits of a nutritious diet and
active lifestyle has on your health.
Following both will leave you
lighter, brighter and more ready to
take on the day. But, did you
know that following the
holistic lifestyle you
prescribe to your
clients could also
help prevent
cancer?
national cancer
Survivor’s day is
June 3, and carl o.
Helvie, R.n., dr.P.H., will
be celebrating for the 44th
year. In 1974, carl o. Helvie
was told he had lung
cancer and six months to
live. Today, at age 85 and
possibly the world’s longest
lung cancer survivor, he
shares the secrets and
science behind his
survival—a holistic lifestyle.
In this month’s Ask the Expert,
we caught up with Helvie (he may
be 85 but he hasn’t slowed down)
to discuss his new book, Reducing
Your Cancer Risk (A Holistic
Approach), what inspired him to
forgo traditional treatments 44
years ago, and what he is doing to
spread his holistic message to the
masses.
64
PULSE
■
June 2018
Pulse: When you were diagnosed with cancer 44 years
ago, why did you decide to forgo the traditional treat-
ments for a more holistic approach?
helvie: The doctor gave me six months to live with chemo and
surgery, and I decided I did not want to be debilitated by the chemo
for my last six months alive. As a nurse, I had seen many cancer
patients who were treated traditionally and knew of both the short-
term disability and long-term complications. Because I did not have symptoms, I
wanted to remain that way, and I knew from my public health education that there
are multiple factors in disease causation and in reversing the process—thus, the
holistic approach. I also knew natural, holistic treatment might take longer but was
less invasive and usually had fewer or no side effects.
P: What was the easiest transition you made to a holistic lifestyle?
The most difficult?
h: The easiest transition was meditation and prayer that was a daily part of my
routine for a few years before the diagnosis. One of the more difficult transitions
was moving to a vegan diet with no meat, eggs, sugar and cheese. Cheese was
especially difficult to give up.