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As a pediatrician, I¡¯m not sure if my familiarity with disease has made my fight against colorectal cancer easier or harder. What I can tell you is that I¡¯ve learned more about health and well-being from being on the other side of the stethoscope than I ever could¡¯ve by just going to medical school.

Here are the four biggest lessons I¡¯ve learned.

Don¡¯t ignore your body¡¯s warning signs.

Fortunately, I¡¯ve never had to diagnose colorectal cancer in one of my own patients. However, I did learn the warning signs in medical school. Bloody stools, bowel changes and abdominal pains are all symptoms of colon cancer. And I experienced all three for months before I finally sought treatment. But I was only 37 at the time. So I explained away my symptoms or minimized them. I realize now that I was in denial.

Use every tool you have to fight back.

After being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, I studied the connections between diet and disease extensively. I learned that while conventional cancer treatments do save lives, diet, exercise and mindfulness are also powerful medicines. I started preparing and enjoying more whole-food, plant-based dishes. I exercised when I could, and I took up meditation. The benefits were immediate. When I ate properly, my energy returned much more quickly after chemotherapy. I also felt better and my complexion improved.

Find a friend or family member who can advocate for you.

This is someone who can help you remember information at appointments, and make sure your needs are being met when you¡¯re really sick or just not thinking clearly. My strongest advocate is my wife of 17 years, Stephanie. When I experienced unusually severe side effects during treatment, her pushing led to a blood test that revealed a rare enzyme deficiency.

Take advantage of support systems.

When I felt hopeless and ready to give up after suffering a relapse, Stephanie insisted I see a counselor. That turned out to be one of the best things I ever could¡¯ve done. My counselor was also a cancer survivor, so she¡¯d gone through many of the same roller coaster emotions I had. And when I told her how powerless I felt, she shared some resources that had helped her get through similar battles, some of which helped me, too.

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