Empowering Cancer Patients Through Holistic Health

Discover strategies for coping with a cancer diagnosis, both for individuals and their support networks, while also exploring methods for assembling a tailored support team.

Kelly Lutman, a certified health coach specializing in Applied Functional Medicine, brings a wealth of insight stemming from her personal journey and professional expertise. With a focus on the profound impact of nutrition on health, Kelly approaches each client's needs with sensitivity and understanding, emphasizing the body's innate ability to heal when provided with proper nourishment and support. Her holistic approach encompasses dietary adjustments, stress management techniques, and environmental considerations, all aimed at promoting vitality and well-being.

In this episode, Kelly delves into her book, 'Thriving Through Cancer: A Holistic Approach for Your Journey,' which serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals navigating cancer treatment. Emphasizing the crucial role of a positive mindset, grounding practices, and nutritional optimization, she underscores the significance of addressing both physical and emotional aspects of health. Additionally, Kelly sheds light on the principles of functional medicine in managing conditions such as IBS and type 2 diabetes, highlighting the body's remarkable capacity for resilience and healing.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into establishing a supportive network, cultivating a constructive outlook, and implementing practical wellness strategies. The episode concludes with information on accessing Kelly's resources for further guidance and support.

Welcome to the Holistic Health Show with Kelly Lutman, where empowerment and holistic healing intersect to foster resilience and well-being.
- Explore Kelly's journey from accounting to health coaching, marked by a pivotal moment in addressing ADHD through dietary modifications.
- Gain insights into the principles of functional medicine and its application in empowering cancer patients to optimize their health.
- Discover the importance of cultivating a supportive environment, maintaining a positive mindset, and embracing simple wellness practices.
- Learn about the transformative potential of nutrition and lifestyle adjustments in promoting overall health and vitality.
- Access Kelly's book, 'Thriving Through Cancer,' and additional resources to embark on a holistic journey towards well-being.

The episode concludes with information on how to access Kelly’s resources for further assistance.

00:00 Welcome to the Holistic Health Show with Kelly Lutman

00:43 Kelly's Journey from Accounting to Health Coaching

01:21 The Turning Point: Addressing ADD Through Diet

02:22 From Health Coaching to Functional Medicine

03:14 Empowering Cancer Patients: A Holistic Approach

05:32 The Importance of a Supportive Team and Positive Mindset

11:46 Grounding and Simple Wellness Practices

13:53 Nutrition and the Power of Chewing

15:33 Adapting to a Healthier Diet and Lifestyle

16:57 Thriving Through Cancer: Kelly's Book and Resources

18:25 Building Your Support Network and Making Informed Choices

22:20 Closing Thoughts and How to Connect with Kelly

Author: The Holistic Health Show
Guest Speaker: Kelly Lutman, a health

Transcript

Empowering Cancer Patients with Control Over Their Bodies

[00:00:14] Amy: Welcome back to the Holistic Health Show. I'm very excited to introduce our guest to you today. We have Kelly Lutman on the show. Now, Kelly is in United States. She's in Louisiana. She's a health coach trained in functional medicine. And Kelly, your business is Pursue Wellness For You. I can't wait to hear about this.

[00:00:38] Amy: Kelly, what can you tell us about what you do and just a little bit about yourself?

[00:00:43] Kelly Lutman: Well, it's funny because, you know, we have these seasons in our life that change and originally my training was in accounting. But chose to be home with my kids an homeschool them. In the process of homeschooling, all three of my boys, I found that one of them clearly had ADD. And, you know, what was I going to do about that? I identified that fact. Based on a panel discussion of parents with ADD kids on the radio. And I'm thinking they are describing my son.

[00:01:15] Kelly Lutman: What do I do with that? And I wasn't willing to just get him diagnosed and put on medication. So I started researching. And I found a book by Dr. Benjamin Feingold, why your child is hyperactive. And his theory was that a [00:01:30] lot of hyperactivity was reaction to artificial colors and flavors in foods.

[00:01:34] Kelly Lutman: And so it made sense. It didn't seem unreasonable to try his protocol for two weeks. And we did, we removed them all from our diet as a family for two weeks time. And at the end of that two weeks, he was a different child. It was night and day difference. And it was kind of like that spark of. Wow, all we did was change our food and look at , the result it had.

[00:01:59] Kelly Lutman: And so, of course, we continued that protocol. We continued eating that way as a family, but he wouldn't police himself and I could tell when he walked in the door. If he had had something that was off protocol, because it was that quick reaction, but that started me on the path toward health coaching, because I thought, you know, if food can do that for him, what else can it do?

[00:02:21] Kelly Lutman: What else can we learn? And as soon as I finished homeschooling, my boys through high school, I went back to school for myself and trained as a health coach. And practiced as health coach for several years, but really felt I wanted to go deeper. I wanted to be able to do more for my clients quicker. And I trained through the school in Applied Functional Medicine. And that has made. a major difference in my ability as a health coach to work with clients that have very complex situations. You know, IBS type two diabetes can be reversed.

[00:02:55] Kelly Lutman: The medical professionals generally don't say that, but [00:03:00] when you start looking at what's going on in the body and working on what's working against the body to minimize it and maximize what it needs, things can turn around. The body can be amazingly resilient. 

[00:03:14] Amy: I know that you really wanted to talk about how you can empower cancer patients on improving their journey living with cancer. So can you tell me a little bit more about that?

[00:03:25] Kelly Lutman: Well, as a health coach, as a functional medicine practitioner, I've supported several cancer patients through their journeys in the process of treatment. But what really turned things around for me last spring of last year was a friend of mine who I'd known for several years, reaching out to me by email and saying, saying Kelly, I'm getting ready to start my journey, you know, start my treatment for breast cancer.

[00:03:50] Kelly Lutman: And I've got a binder almost two inches thick with all the details of my protocol, my treatment plan. And all it says for nutrition is drink Ensure and Carnation Instant Breakfast.

[00:04:01] Kelly Lutman: And she said, I've known you long enough to know there's so much more, and I need you on my team.

[00:04:07] Kelly Lutman: And so I did join her team and coach her. She did amazingly. They were still rough days, but overall she came through very well. But I couldn't let go of that. You know, how many patients are being told that Ensure Incarnation Instant Breakfast would give them anything of value.

[00:04:28] Kelly Lutman: And so I [00:04:30] decided to write a book 

[00:04:31] Kelly Lutman: Thriving Through Cancer, a Holistic Approach for Your Journey.

[00:04:35] Kelly Lutman: And the whole idea for the book is providing guidance for the cancer patient to support the rest of their body. While they're going through treatment,

[00:04:45] Kelly Lutman: You know, cancer patients get the diagnosis and their schedule is taken away. They're dictated when you will be where, what, who, you know, and they never ask, does this work for you? 

[00:04:56] Kelly Lutman: You

[00:04:56] Amy: And you're never given information. It's overwhelmed. It is for the whole family. It's just they throw this information at you with with little to no explanation and you're expected just to show up and submit to whatever it is the doctors are saying.

[00:05:11] Amy: And of course, some of this is life saving. I'm not saying that, no, you shouldn't go through with this and you shouldn't be listening to your doctors. Absolutely, you 

[00:05:18] Amy: should. But you should be asking questions, you know, and, and like what your friend did, is reaching out to people you trust to supplement the care that you're getting, and to make sure you're getting exactly what it is you as an individual need.

[00:05:32] Kelly Lutman: To realize you need a team. You need multiple people because sadly, even if there are nutritionists or dieticians in the cancer treatment center, they are more concerned with your maintaining weight in whatever you eat to do it, rather than realizing there are foods that are going to suppress your body, or there are foods that are going to nourish and invigorate [00:06:00] your body.

[00:06:00] Kelly Lutman: . So, I embarked on this just to write , what did I recommend for the clients I did support, what worked for them, but explaining , why eating sugar is not wise when you're a cancer patient, but on the other side, then I also included a chapter on how do you maintain weight without eating sugar.

[00:06:23] Kelly Lutman: Because the quick way is, you know, fill up on the milkshakes and the candy and the cakes and things like that. But that's feeding the cancer more than it's feeding the beneficial cells. And so I added in a chapter on, okay, how do you maintain your weight healthfully? And then 

[00:06:41] Kelly Lutman: there's a chemo toolbox chapter. How do you tolerate the chemo a little better? How do you help your body go through that process? Because when you look at it, cancer may be a very small part, a percentage of your body. But your whole body is going through the treatment, and that treatment is designed to kill cancer.

[00:07:01] Kelly Lutman: But if your body is not supported along the way, it can be collateral damage too.

[00:07:07] , 

[00:07:07] Kelly Lutman: In the holistic health environment, it's not just about what you're eating. It's how you're living, how you're moving, how you're thinking,

[00:07:17] Kelly Lutman: And fear is a huge issue for cancer patients. I mean, understandably, if the doctor tells you you have cancer, you're immediately going to all the thoughts of who do I [00:07:30] know that's already died from cancer, or has suffered in the treatment, or all the what ifs that just, Kind of explode in your brain and can shut down your physiology, can shut down your immune system So that it's not there to help you, but also just keeps you spinning and spiraling in your head And that doesn't work in support of the cancer patient.

[00:07:55] Kelly Lutman: . And who will explain? Who will educate? . Sometimes people really need, more than anything, they need someone to listen to what they're dealing with. And, acknowledge that it's hard, acknowledge that it's a difficult place, but also help them realize that they've got the power to come through it.

[00:08:16] 

[00:08:16] Kelly Lutman: That believes in their ability, in their body's resilience, that believes in their body's ability to heal, and they don't always hear that from the medical personnel.

[00:08:27] Amy: No, and I mean, it's already a very difficult journey, from, from the illness itself to the, , the impacts it has on family, on the individual, you know, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. To have someone that you can talk to who's going to validate how you're feeling and not just give you another, well, we'll see how this, this run goes.

[00:08:50] Amy: You know, we'll get through this and then we'll, we'll talk, when this treatment session is over. And just an ear, that has a huge impact as well. , and I know you mentioned this, but it comes full circle.

[00:08:59] Amy: It's [00:09:00] what you eat. It's how you approach it. It's your attitude, you know, , positive thinking. , there's really a lot to be said about that.

[00:09:07] Kelly Lutman: Definitely. And some people say, well, I don't feel like being positive right now. That's okay. That's okay. But, but to entertain the possibility,

[00:09:19] Kelly Lutman: to entertain the options, to say, instead of looking at those, you know, who may have passed, how many do you know who have survived? Mm hmm. Mm hmm. How many do you know who can come through this better?

[00:09:32] Kelly Lutman: And sometimes, my work is to counter almost the, the bedside manner of the oncologist.

[00:09:40] Kelly Lutman: Some of them are just, and, and I realize if I worked in that environment all the time, there would have to be a little bit of stealing. To protect the emotions of the practitioner as well, but that doesn't help the individual patient necessarily.

[00:09:58] Amy: , I think that in order for them to do that, , to put up that wall, because having any sick patient is a challenge, you know, you do feel for them. But I think part of putting up that wall is, is some practitioners will take the approach that they see the cancer and not the person. And I think that's where the fault comes in. I think that's where it's important to make sure you have that team where the majority of the team sees the person. You've got somebody over here working on the person. What needs to be done for the cancer, but then what needs to be done for the body and what needs to be done for the, the mind and [00:10:30] bringing that together.

[00:10:30] Amy: And wouldn't it be amazing if the medical system made that their approach, if that was easier to do? I mean, wouldn't that be, you know, that's, that's my dream. It just doesn't really exist at the moment. Not yet. Not everywhere anyway.

[00:10:47] Kelly Lutman: Not built into the system, but for people to hear something like this, you know, this program to say, oh, you mean, I've got the choice. I, I can add people to my team. I can recruit the ones I need to recruit to be a part of it. And to be honest, I even talk in the book a little bit about, you may need to decide who you spend time with and who you don't.

[00:11:13] Kelly Lutman: Because the person that tends to have a negative perspective, or is is always talking about the things they googled and all the negative stuff that came up You know if if that person is bringing you down and challenging your perspective Then it may be better to separate and spend less time with them in order to protect your own mindset But then there are things, things that you can do that we don't always give the value to for us as human beings.

[00:11:46] Kelly Lutman: Spending time in nature is so important. You know, you may not be physically in a place where you can walk. In, in a forest, or you're not in a place where there are many [00:12:00] trees and forests, but, but if you can get by a tree, if you can sit under a tree if you can sit barefoot with your feet on grass or dirt or sand.

[00:12:12] Kelly Lutman: And ground, you are going to find, the positive mindset aspect of being out in nature

[00:12:21] Amy: I actually have a, full episode on that, on grounding. , anyone who is listening, definitely take that advice. Just go back and, you know, scroll through the the episodes I have and find the one on grounding. It's very informative and it gives you some really easy ideas.

[00:12:38] Amy: Like you mentioned, if you're not mobile and , if you live in the middle of a city, you know, it's not always easy to get out, but there's some tips and tricks in there on how you can start the grounding process and adapt that into your life really

[00:12:50] Amy: easily. The

[00:12:51] Amy: benefits are remarkable.

[00:12:53] Kelly Lutman: is it is and I've had clients that weren't sure how they were going to incorporate it. There's ways to work it out. You know, if, if you're walking your dog, kick your shoes off and walk in the grass alongside the dog for a little bit and then put them back on and go on your way. So many different ways, but something as simple as that. can work not only for your body but for your mind 

[00:13:17] Amy: , and I think that's what's important is keeping it really simple it's, it's really easy to look at it and go, well, I don't have enough time.

[00:13:25] Amy: I already have so many things to do. How am I now going to add this [00:13:30] in? You know, I can barely make it to my doctor's appointments. But it's by taking these little things. And like you said, when you're walking the dog, and I mean, obviously you have to make sure you're safe, but it's just, you need to find things that just are in your daily life, five minutes, ten minutes that you're already doing and you can modify the way you're doing it to accommodate something that's really going to benefit yourself.

[00:13:51] Kelly Lutman: Exactly,

[00:13:52] Kelly Lutman: exactly.

[00:13:53] Kelly Lutman: And a big one is the food we eat. You know, letting go of the processed packaged foods and discovering the produce section and the

[00:14:03] Kelly Lutman: colors.

[00:14:04] Kelly Lutman: in that produce. You know, the colors are nutrients. Eat the rainbow. . And I talk about the benefits of , the different colors in the rainbow the ways to maximize.

[00:14:15] Kelly Lutman: I explain the digestive system, and how important just chewing is.

[00:14:20] Kelly Lutman: We overlook that, you know, so many of us are so occupied with all the stuff around us. We're not appreciating the food on our plate

[00:14:29] Kelly Lutman: and we're not taking the time to chew and process it to help us start the digestive process.

[00:14:37] Kelly Lutman: A lot of my clients, I've worked with clients that had acid reflux and one of the first things we start with is chewing. That'll be their first homework assignment is really stop and chew your food. And they'll come back saying, wow, I can't believe how much difference that made.

[00:14:55] Amy: It's interesting you say that because I don't think people realize, you know, we have teeth [00:15:00] obviously to make it easier to get food in our body, but it's not just to get the food in our body. It's not just, we don't just, you can't just insert food into the stomach and it all works from there. , you need to really use those teeth and, , start processing the food right from there.

[00:15:14] Kelly Lutman: exactly. It's mechanical and chemical because in the process of chewing, you're mixing the saliva, which has the enzymes that begin the digestion. 

[00:15:24] Kelly Lutman: That's actually the only part of digestion we can control. So take advantage of something you can control and spend more time chewing.

[00:15:33] Amy: I appreciate that it can be very difficult to change your diet, especially if it's a drastic change. You know, if you're eating, and dare I say, the typical American diet where, you know, you hear about it's just oversized and it's kind of fast food or deep fried, and lots of sugary nights, you know, you have, you have junk food night, but if you're having it.

[00:15:54] Amy: Junk food night every day,

[00:15:56] Amy: You know, you go for that 3 p. m. snack and it's a few lollies that you have on your desk, instead of a handful of nuts. 

[00:16:02] Amy: , it is going to be a challenge to adopt. And I I wonder what you would say about this, but I think I would say, again, make the small changes.

[00:16:11] Amy: Start small and just build that habit 

[00:16:14] Kelly Lutman: exactly. And Insert a little something different whether it's go and pick something out of the produce section. Maybe it's an apple. I don't know. Maybe it's an orange. Whatever it is. But just begin to add that in and [00:16:30] then if you find that you want more, you can add some more.

[00:16:34] Kelly Lutman: But it's little by little, you can begin to crowd out

[00:16:39] Kelly Lutman: the food that's working against you, rather than having to do a drastic. Now some will be, Okay, this is my life. I am willing to make the big changes, but most people are like, This is too much to think about and it's hard. So yes, there are some adjustments.

[00:16:57] Kelly Lutman: , as part of the book, I created a book portal, a website, because I recognize that many cancer patients aren't in a place where they can read and comprehend very easily. They're not up for reading books. And so what I did was I did the main 10 chapters. in video.

[00:17:16] Kelly Lutman: So through a QR code on the resource page of the book, they can go to my book portal and see the chapters in video and then have access to recipes to introduce some of this good food to other resources that I mentioned, you know, therapies.

[00:17:34] Kelly Lutman: That can help them just to look at maybe these are other team members that you want to consider or explore to expand what was harder to put in print with the book, 

[00:17:46] Kelly Lutman: and each of the chapters has a short put it into action guidance so that it's very simple 

[00:17:54] Kelly Lutman: little steps. 

[00:17:55] Kelly Lutman: So of course it's available on Amazon, which is worldwide.

[00:17:59] Kelly Lutman: And, and they can [00:18:00] get an ebook or a print book either way. But, but you know, that's a start. And then all they need is the book to get into the book portal and get more information that way.

[00:18:11] Amy: , so now we know that this book is available So that's a great first start and then how does somebody in that situation, reach out? 

[00:18:19] Amy: , where does somebody who's overwhelmed with all this information, this new diagnosis anyway, begin to think about? Doing these things, you know, hopefully listening to this podcast is going to help them 

[00:18:28] Amy: . Do you have any, , resources or ideas about how people can share with their friends?

[00:18:35] Kelly Lutman: Well, I think one of the things is just first find out what it is they feel the weakest in. You know, do they need help with their food? What kind of help do they need and, and start with friends that, you 

[00:18:50] Kelly Lutman: know, maybe they would research or, or, you know, go online and explore oncology health coaches.

[00:18:59] Kelly Lutman: Because there are, I know several who are trained in functional medicine, but focus on oncology. They could certainly reach out to me and I can guide them and direct them in some other ways. But there are so many other modalities to help with relaxing and unwinding. On the book portal, I have some sound therapy.

[00:19:21] Kelly Lutman: For relaxation. You know, it could be that you need to tap through a tapping technique or emotional freedom [00:19:30] technique can help to work through the, all the fears and the questions and the debates that you're thinking.

[00:19:37] Kelly Lutman: So I have reference on the Facebook portal for a tapping technique. Coach. 

[00:19:42] Kelly Lutman: I want to be able to focus on the whole person. That's why , the title even uses wholistic, but spelled W-H-O-L-E dash isic. Because there's so much involved and each person's need for their team members may be different. You know, someone may be pretty secure in their head space, but they need guidance for what to do.

[00:20:06] Kelly Lutman: With food or with movement, things like that. I, I didn't make it prominent in the book, but there are numerous scientific studies that are end noted in the book. So that if there was someone who really wanted to know, what's this all about, they could go back to those studies. A lot of it was from the training and my experience and what I knew and who I've encountered in my own journey for health.

[00:20:31] Kelly Lutman: And finding that there's so many different modalities in the sound, in the EFT and Reiki acupuncture. 

[00:20:38] Amy: That's why I I'm so intrigued by your book is because it's just a great starting place for anyone who, again, it's the overwhelm. And that's what I was trying to get at earlier. How the hell do you know where to start? Okay. Yes, I might immediately know to change my diet, but what else?

[00:20:55] If you do know somebody who's going through cancer or any health problems [00:21:00] and they, you know, you want to help them and they don't know where to start or what to do, maybe just have a look at the book and, and gift it to them.

[00:21:06] Amy: Sometimes all people need is to just be in that quiet space and not have people pushing on them what they should do. But if, if you have this book in front of you and you can read it in the, in the quiet of your own home where.

[00:21:18] Amy: You know, you don't have all the voices kind of in your ear that people might make better decisions that way.

[00:21:23] Kelly Lutman: I agree. I really appreciate that perspective because so often when, you know, when you say I've got a diagnosis or whatever, people start jumping in with their stories and they heard this person and this and that, and that doesn't necessarily help us. We do need to kind of pull back in that quiet place and evaluate, okay, where am I?

[00:21:42] Kelly Lutman: What do I need? And what's going to help me take those first steps toward that? , what's my choice? You know, setting an intention about the whole experience of the, the treatment journey. If your intention is that it's going to be positive, the outcome is going to be positive and you are not going to suffer, but neither are the people that are treating you.

[00:22:05] Kelly Lutman: You're not going to make it miserable for them either. So you can, you can almost comment with a choose laughter. Choose, choose a new perspective because it will also influence the people around you.

[00:22:18] Amy: Absolutely. Kelly, this has been an absolute pleasure to have you on the show today. 

[00:22:24] Kelly Lutman: Am always happy to speak to someone about stuff that's I'm passionate about 

[00:22:29] Amy: hopefully [00:22:30] we've informed a whole lot more people 

[00:22:32] Kelly Lutman: I appreciate what you do to spread the message of hope and possibility and future for people. In whatever

[00:22:41] Kelly Lutman: their situation. 

[00:22:42] Kelly Lutman: If you're interested in the book specifically, you can go to Kelly Lutman dot com. K. E. L. L. Y. . L. U. T. M. A. N. That's where you will find specifically the ways to find the book, but my website is pursue wellness for you And if they had an inquiry specifically for me kelly at pursue wellness for you.

[00:23:03] Kelly Lutman: com is the way to get me by email.

[00:23:06] Amy: I'll link all the resources that we spoke about today in the description, the website. So if you're listening and you want to reach out to Kelly, absolutely scroll down, hit those links and get in touch with her. As she said, she'd be more than happy to reply to any questions.

[00:23:20] Amy: Any of your questions. And if you liked the episode today, I encourage you to hit subscribe, hit the bell so you're notified when there are new episodes coming out. I always appreciate all of your honest feedback. And so if you could please do that with a rating and a review, it helps me reach more people and it keeps me motivated to, when I read those.

[00:23:42] Amy: So I appreciate everyone, the audience. Thank you, Kelly. It's been an absolute pleasure to have you on the show today.

[00:23:48] Kelly Lutman: I appreciate your offering the opportunity. 

[00:23:51] [00:24:00]