When Data and Intuition Align: My Decision to Stop Cancer Treatment

Two years to the day after my diagnosis, I made one of the most important decisions of my cancer journey—and it wasn't what most people would expect.

On June 14, 2024, I received what would be my final immunotherapy infusion. Not because my oncologist told me to stop, not because the treatment had failed, but because my body was telling me something important—and I had learned to listen.

The Problem with Flying Blind

 

Here's something most cancer patients don't realize: the data behind many of our treatments is surprisingly thin. When I dug into the research on long-term immunotherapy use, I found one study showing 24 months of treatment data. Nothing on 18 months. Nothing on 5 years. We're essentially asking doctors to make life-altering decisions with incomplete information.

This isn't a criticism of our medical professionals—they're doing their best with what they have. But it's a reality check that highlights why becoming a "Data G" (someone who gathers and analyzes their own health data) is so crucial in cancer care.

When Your Body Sends Signals

After my June 14th infusion, something changed. My iron levels started dropping—the same marker that had initially led to my cancer diagnosis two years earlier. For someone who had achieved complete remission (ctDNA of 0.00 for over 18 months), seeing any concerning lab value shift was alarming.

But here's where the MOJO Health approach made all the difference. Instead of panicking or blindly continuing treatment, I activated what I call one of our eight natural health defense systems: Body Awareness (or intuition). This system helps you notice when something isn't right and guides you toward what your body needs.

Building a Case with Data

My intuition was telling me the immunotherapy might be causing the iron drop, but intuition alone isn't enough for medical decisions. I needed data.

Working with my entire healing team—oncologists, integrative doctors, and other practitioners—we collected every piece of relevant information we could find. We looked for other potential causes of dropping iron levels. We examined my complete blood work, inflammatory markers, and overall health picture.

The conclusion was clear: there was no other identifiable cause for the iron decline except the immunotherapy itself.

The Courage to Stop

Making the decision to discontinue cancer treatment is terrifying, even when the data supports it. Cancer patients are conditioned to believe that stopping treatment equals giving up or taking unnecessary risks. But sometimes, the most courageous choice is to trust your body's wisdom and the data you've gathered.

Here's what gave me confidence in this decision:

• Complete remission maintained: My ctDNA had been 0.00 for over 18 months

• Strong overall health: All other markers were optimal

• Comprehensive data collection: We had ruled out other causes

• Team consensus: Every member of my healing team agreed this was reasonable

• Body awareness: My intuition was consistently signaling this was right

The Results Speak for Themselves

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. After stopping immunotherapy, we continued tracking my biomarkers closely. What we discovered was beautiful confirmation that my body is truly cancer-free. The iron levels stabilized, and all other markers remained optimal.

More importantly, I feel incredible. My energy is high, my quality of life has improved, and I'm living without the ongoing side effects of treatment.

The Perfect Circle: June 14th to June 14th

There's something profoundly meaningful about the timing. I was diagnosed on June 14, 2022. My final treatment was June 14, 2024. In those exact two years, I completely transformed how I live, eat, move, think, and heal.

This isn't just about stopping treatment—it's about the entire journey of becoming an empowered patient who uses data, intuition, and comprehensive healing approaches to achieve the best possible outcomes.

What This Means for You

Every cancer journey is unique, and I'm not suggesting that everyone should stop treatment. What I am advocating for is:

1. Become a Data G: Track your biomarkers, symptoms, and overall health comprehensively

2. Trust your intuition: Your body awareness system is real and valuable

3. Build a team: Work with practitioners who respect both data and patient autonomy

4. Question everything: Even standard protocols should be evaluated against your individual response

5. Remember you have choices: Treatment decisions aren't just up to your oncologist—you're the CEO of your health

The Bigger Picture

My decision to stop immunotherapy represents everything MOJO Health stands for: using data to guide decisions, trusting your body's wisdom, working with a comprehensive healing team, and recognizing that you have more power over your health outcomes than you've been taught to believe.

No drug is without downsides, but most side effects can be outsmarted with careful monitoring and strategic decision-making. The key is having enough data to make informed choices rather than flying blind.

Today, I'm confident I will live a long, healthy life—not because I followed a standard protocol, but because I learned to listen to my body, gather comprehensive data, and make courageous decisions in partnership with a team that respects my autonomy.

That's what it means to make cancer suck less: taking back your power, using all available tools, and never stopping your role as the primary advocate for your own healing.

What signals is your body sending you? And more importantly—are you listening?

May you live long and lucky,