Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Dr Katrina Cox Is Helping To Change Our World

Work at leaving comparisons behind. Focusing on being more of me and less of what others expect is important as I work through my growth and change.

As part of my series about “authors who are making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Katrina Cox.

Dr Katrina Cox is a naturopathic doctor who has been working as a clinician for more than a decade helping create sustainable and long-term results for her clients. Her journey with cancer began alongside her parents who were diagnosed and treated in the early 2000s. Observing and supporting her parents through their journeys with cancer she saw the need to create structure around cancer recovery. From these basic beginnings she founded the Cancer Remission MissionTM which she hopes will help those affected by cancer find their way to move beyond survival and transform to thriving.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?

I grew up on a hobby farm outside of a small rural town close to the American border in Ontario. I was the eldest of four children and started my first job in farming at ten years old. My interest in the human body and medicine came from an accident on a field trip when I was 13. I damaged my knee so badly the paramedics weren’t sure how to splint it and the local surgeon felt he was not able to fix it and referred me on. This challenge to my health and it’s ensuing recovery planted a seed for me in wanting to know more about the human body and working in healthcare.

When you were younger, was there a book that you read that inspired you to take action or changed your life? Can you share a story about that?

Rising Strong by Brene Brown has really inspired and impacted my life. Her take on resilience, her ability to bring about understanding of psychological fundamentals really shifted my personal and professional growth. I remember picking up the book and randomly reading a passage and immediately crying. My husband was concerned because I’m not a big crier, especially about literature. I had to explain that these three sentences by this woman I had not yet come to know captured and expressed a fundamental peace that I had been searching for. Her words and the essence they expressed provided a confirmation of who I was and what I had to offer the world. It was a revolutionary moment for me.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I don’t know if funny is the way I would describe mistakes, however I do believe that one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about working in healthcare came from a patient’s experience with cancer. The world of cancer is a big undertaking; it can be an emotionally challenging and difficult place to work in healthcare. Originally, in private practice, I avoided working with cancer care because I felt ill-equipped, and overwhelmed by the emotions that were associated with working with those in the cancer realm. When my very first patient in private practice was diagnosed with cancer, I told him I could refer him to another practitioner to help with his care. He wouldn’t hear of it; he pushed me to work with him, as he had all the confidence that I was the person he wanted to work with. When he didn’t make it off the table from his surgery I was crippled with grief. After reflecting on my relationship and my professional boundaries, I realized that what he and his family were seeking for from me was partnership. This interaction really helped me understand my fear, and the opportunity and power I can bring to my practice and to stop running from what I was really meant to be doing. Ultimately, it reflected to me that not only is partnership the very foundation of integrative healthcare, but it was also the tenet by which I wanted to be of service to my community.

Can you describe how you aim to make a significant social impact with your book?

Cancer affects almost one in two people today. Understanding the overwhelming process for recovery is vital to impacting all our communities. Cancer survivors suffer four times as many mental health concerns as the general population. They can struggle with energy and have lingering symptoms that can affect their life. Despite these numbers and statistics, less than one percent of those suffering survivors can receive, find, or access help. With my book, The Opportunity in Cancer, I hope to help cancer survivors and their support networks transform their cancer recovery journey in the comfort of their own home to thriving so they can learn to love living life again. I also hope to transform our view of care for survivors at an institutional and societal level. It’s a lofty goal, but one that is critically in need.

Can you share with us the most interesting story that you shared in your book?

There is a short story about another patient interaction that really impacted me that I share in the book. It’s the story of a young gentlemen who by the age of 45 had encountered two bouts of cancer in his life. He was a father of three, a valuable community leader through his engineering job, and his music. After his second bout of cancer, he came to me struggling with neuropathy (a condition affecting the nerves in his hands and feet) that was impacting his daily life. During one of our sessions, he was very upset about his progress and eventually he shared with me his fears, anger, and despair about where his recovery was. He realized during his recovery that the thing that made him feel most like himself was playing the guitar. Although he could still play, the lingering neuropathy really affected his ability to play with his cover band. In a moment of clarity, we discussed Beethoven’s life and how impactful it must have been to be deaf and try to compose all that wonderful music. Towards the end of his treatment not only did this conversation provide breakthrough around his symptoms, but he also realized a new direction; he began composing his own music with his guitar so that he was able to play the music and cords much more easily. His self-produced album is still one of my favorites, especially in times of distress. To me it represents resilience, and the reminder that only with awareness can we make actions for change and growth.

What was the “aha moment” or series of events that made you decide to bring your message to the greater world? Can you share a story about that?

My aha moment was one that occurred over a very long time. A friend from university was originally diagnosed with cancer at the age of 18. She was triumphant and courageous in her cancer care treatment and returned to life in university amazingly well. Approximately fifteen years later, her cancer returned. I was in my infancy of my work in adjunctive cancer care, but throughout her second journey with cancer I got to spend time with her in a different capacity. We spoke about all topics surrounding cancer, including her difficulty with having to hide her fears and acclimatize back into the “normal world” after her first diagnosis. Unfortunately, she did not survive her second diagnosis, but her friendship, the academic discussions, and her vulnerability made a huge impression on me. She helped me realize that I had things to say and the most important way to make change in this world is to start conversations. My book is meant to do that — shine a light on a space where little is known, and much is forgotten.

Without sharing specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?

Throughout this process of working with cancer survivors I met a lovely sixty-year-old healthy, active, non-smoking, retired teacher. She didn’t drink much alcohol, worked her hardest to stay fit, and kept her stress under control. She described her life before cancer as loving and balanced. She was the last person you’d expect to be diagnosed with cancer. Eighteen months prior to us meeting, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She didn’t have a family history of breast cancer, nor did she have any risk factors associated with developing breast cancer. She was shocked by the diagnosis. She went through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. She lost her hair and what she describes as her “mojo” while going through chemotherapy and radiation. She came to see me because she was ready to leave cancer behind. She wanted to create a thorough recovery plan to overcome possible recurrence, restore her “mojo”, and rebuild her body after cancer treatment. She confided in me that she felt like she was holding her breath as she moved through each stage of recovery. She’d get frustrated because she’d think this would be the stage where she’d feel like her breath was coming back. Yet, each time she reached a milestone, it didn’t happen.

Throughout our many sessions, we discussed finding her purpose in life now that cancer treatment was complete. One day, she entered my office in tears from frustration. She felt like she couldn’t move past her cancer diagnosis, and treatment. To shift this feeling, we worked through each phase of the REclaim Model from my book. We ignited (or in her case reignited) both a passion and determination to make an impact on the youth of today. We identified that she finds peace in nature, and this struck an insight that showed her true bravery. Ultimately, she realized the need to find an opportunity where she could connect with her purpose to work with youth, while in nature. She now volunteers as an Outward-Bound coach for a local outreach Centre for troubled youth. She describes this new opportunity as sparking her purpose and determination to transition from survivor to thrive. Today, she describes life as better than it was before cancer; she describes her cancer journey as the opportunity of a lifetime and she’s feeling like she’s able to breathe deep, whole breaths every day.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Knowing that the cancer recovery journey is even a concern, not just the treatment process, is a great place to start. All too often, people are told to “just go back to what you were doing before cancer”, which really negates the emotions, challenges and fears survivors can face. Honest and open dialogue is needed from everyone involved in establishing the structure of cancer recovery care — patients, practitioners, government, and policy makers.

We can also bring this closer to home with our own individual awareness around cancer recovery and learn how to support those we love who are on the other side of treatment and looking to re-establish their new life. My book is meant to help those in cancer recovery, but it is also a great resource for those supporting someone going through cancer recovery. Understanding, compassion, and support to those in cancer recovery is critical to helping shift the narrative from surviving to thriving.

How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?

My definition of leadership is about focusing on seeing the potential in another human and helping to cultivate their growth through partnership, passion, and presence.

As shared before, I strongly believe in the notion of partnership, and I don’t believe you can have strong leadership without that ethos. For example, while I may be the face of the Cancer Remission Mission, I know that my work and passion are only amplified by the team of people supporting the cause, who are just as passionate as me, show up to be part of the work and share the same goal of partnership.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. Working with a global audience is a marathon not a sprint. Having patience to see the growth and changes happening slowly is important.
2. Understanding that much of the work that I do is about being vulnerable and makes me uncomfortable and that’s a good sign. I can sit in that discomfort now and realize that I’m growing.
3. Embracing abundance and celebrating every little thing is important.
4. Work at leaving comparisons behind. Focusing on being more of me and less of what others expect is important as I work through my growth and change.
5. We all need rest and down time. Prioritize this so that you can always show up with your tribe.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favourite life lesson quote is from Brene Brown “You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort. You cannot choose both.” This quote really helped me realize that the work I’m doing is important and it’s bigger than me. Even when fearful of the skeptics and critics, and the discomfort that can bring, I realized I needed to find and trust my voice to share this work so others could benefit.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Brene Brown — I’d love to have a private breakfast with her. I would likely be very nervous, but I love her work and find her inspiring. Her work has not only helped me to teach others to find their purpose and transform to thriving, but it has really pushed me to find my courage to step into this space and transform right along with my patients.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

www.theopportunityincancer.com

www.cancerremissionmission.com

or on social

Insta — @cancerremissionmission

FB /Cancerremissionmisison

This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!