Living With Stage 4 Cancer for 20 Years: Integrative Oncology, Curing vs. Healing, and the Mind-Body Connection with Kris Carr

Living With Stage 4 Cancer for 20 Years: Integrative Oncology, Curing vs. Healing, and the Mind-Body Connection with Kris Carr

Author: Dr. Taz MD August 11, 2026 Duration: 52:39

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Kris Carr was 31 when she was diagnosed with a rare, incurable stage four sarcoma. More than 20 years later, her tumors remain stable and her work has helped people around the world take a more active, compassionate role in their health.

In this episode of hol+ with Dr. Taz MD, Kris shares how she moved from fear and uncertainty toward self-trust, acceptance, and a whole-person definition of healing. She explains what it meant to become the CEO of her health, find doctors she trusted, explore integrative care, and change her relationship with food and her body.

But Kris’s biggest turning point came about 10 years into her journey. Despite good scans and a thriving career, she realized she still felt like a failure because she had not made cancer disappear. That moment led her to distinguish between curing and healing, and to begin caring for her mind and emotional life as intentionally as she cared for her physical body.

Kris and Dr. Taz discuss grief, fear, anger, trauma, perimenopause, gut health, stress, supplement overwhelm, and the five foundational wellness pillars that can make healthy living feel more practical and accessible.

In this episode:

  • Receiving a rare stage four cancer diagnosis at 31
  • Becoming the CEO of your health without rejecting medical care
  • Finding supportive food and lifestyle practices through trial and error
  • Making peace with food after years of deprivation and body pressure
  • Moving from what you are eating to what is eating you
  • Understanding the difference between curing and healing
  • Building emotional literacy around grief, anger, fear, and shame
  • Simplifying wellness through five foundational pillars
  • Starting with stress support and gut health when everything feels overwhelming

About Kris Carr:

Kris Carr is a New York Times bestselling author, wellness leader, and cancer thriver. Her wellness journey began in 2003, when she was diagnosed with a rare stage four cancer. Since then, she has dedicated her work to helping people take an active, compassionate role in their health and care for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.

Kris is the author of seven books covering cancer support, plant-forward nutrition, wellness, and emotional health. Her latest book, I’m Not a Mourning Person, explores grief, loss, and the difficult emotions that emerge when life changes unexpectedly. She is also the host of the Made to Thrive podcast and the founder of a wellness community offering education, coaching, and practical resources.


Connect with Kris Carr:

https://kriscarr.com/

https://www.instagram.com/crazysexykris/


About Dr. Taz:
Dr. Tasneem Bhatia (Dr. Taz) is a triple board-certified integrative medicine physician, bestselling author, and founder of hol+, a multi-location integrative medicine practice.
Learn more: https://doctortaz.com/about

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Produced by https://ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)


Tune into hol+ with Dr. Taz MD | The Future of Medicine is Holistic for a conversation that moves beyond conventional wellness talk. Hosted by Dr. Taz MD, this podcast operates from a simple yet profound premise: true health isn't found in a single pill or diagnosis, but in the intricate connection between our biology, our lifestyle, and our emotional world. Each episode builds on the idea that modern science and functional medicine don't have to exist in opposition to ancient healing wisdom or the importance of spiritual well-being. Instead, they can be woven together into a practical, personalized approach to caring for the whole person. You'll hear discussions that tackle how these interconnected systems directly influence not just physical symptoms, but also our mental clarity, capacity for joy, the quality of our relationships, and the health of our entire family unit. As a 2025 Webby honoree, this series has established itself as a pioneering voice, daring to explore where evidence-based research and a more expansive view of human potential meet. Recent episodes have featured leading voices in mental health, among other fields, providing actionable insights. If you're looking for a healthcare dialogue that respects the data while honoring the complexity of the human experience, this is the podcast for you.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

hol+ with Dr. Taz MD | The Future of Medicine is Holistic
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