Stage III Pancreatic Cancer — and Thriving Almost 10 Years Later

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In 2016, Chris Joseph received one of the most devastating diagnoses imaginable: stage III pancreatic cancer.

For many people, pancreatic cancer immediately brings fear. The statistics are sobering. The prognosis is often grim. And long-term survival stories are rare.

Today, nearly a decade later, Chris is not only alive — he’s thriving.

“I’m doing great,” Chris shared during a conversation with the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health community. “I’m not just surviving.”

His journey has included conventional treatment, integrative therapies, lifestyle changes, emotional healing, and a complete shift in how he viewed health, healing, and his role in the process.

“I Fired the Oncologist”

After his diagnosis in 2016, Chris initially followed the conventional treatment path and began chemotherapy.

But the treatment was not working.

“The treatment plan he put me on ... which was chemotherapy ... was not working,” Chris said. “Tests showed that it was not working ... and also chemo, for most people, is very hard.”

By March 2017, he made a decision that many around him questioned.

“I fired him,” Chris said. “I fired the oncologist. I have not seen him since March of 2017. I quit chemotherapy and I had no Plan B.”

That moment became a turning point.

“I didn’t know it at the time, but it turned out to be the best day,” he continued. “Because it opened up freedom ... and it was like, ‘OK, I’m taking charge of my journey.’”

Building a Different Kind of Team

Chris began exploring a more integrative and personalized approach to healing.

He connected with an integrative physician, traveled to Germany for treatment, explored metabolic therapies, and began addressing not just the cancer itself — but the overall terrain of his health.

Over time, he came to understand that healing was not about one therapy.

It was about supporting the body as a whole.

“The food is a huge thing,” Chris said. “I’ve become much more mindful about what I put into my body.”

Today, his routine includes movement, sauna therapy, stress management, emotional healing work, and paying close attention to how his body responds to food, stress, and environmental factors.

“I work out every day,” he shared. “I do a sauna every day for detoxing. I move my body at least an hour ... hour and a half every day.”

The Emotional Side of Cancer

Chris also spoke candidly about the emotional impact of cancer and the shame many people quietly carry after diagnosis.

“For the first year, I was so mad,” he said. “I separated my mind from my body. I was mad at my body.”

He said therapy became one of the most important tools in his healing journey.

“I’ve been in therapy for a long time,” Chris explained. “I probably wouldn’t still be alive if not for being in therapy.”

He believes emotional healing deserves far more attention in conversations about cancer and chronic illness — especially for men.

“There’s so much shame around cancer,” he said. “I think that’s what keeps men in hiding a lot.”

Today, he approaches emotions very differently than he once did.

“I cry at the drop of a hat now,” he said with a laugh. “And I think it’s helped me get healthier.”

Learning to Listen to His Body

One of the biggest lessons Chris says he learned was how disconnected many people become from their bodies.

“I’m listening to my body,” he explained. “I’m paying much more attention to how I feel when I eat.”

He described learning how stress, environmental exposures, nutrition, and emotional health all influence overall wellness.

“It’s becoming much more mindful,” he said.

That awareness has changed how he approaches not only cancer, but life itself.

From Survival to Purpose

What began as a devastating diagnosis eventually became something Chris never expected: a new mission.

Today, he works as a cancer advocate, supports others navigating cancer journeys, and shares his story publicly to offer hope to people facing difficult diagnoses.

“I want people to know that I’m not just surviving here,” Chris said. “I’m doing great.”

He also authored the memoir Life Is a Ride: My Unconventional Journey of Cancer Recovery, where he shares the lessons, challenges, and insights he gained along the way.

Ultimately, Chris says his story is about hope.

“What I was offering ... and the reason I wrote the book ... is it was about hope,” he explained.

“Take Charge of Your Health”

Throughout the conversation, one message came through again and again: people deserve to feel empowered.

“I think it’s a necessary thing to do,” Chris said about becoming actively involved in your health journey. “Take charge of your health.”

He also emphasized the importance of building a collaborative team and seeking practitioners who are willing to look at the whole person.

“It really takes a village,” he said. “We can’t do this alone.”

At the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health, we believe every person deserves access to education, community, and practitioners who understand a more comprehensive, individualized approach to health and healing.

Chris’s story is a reminder that even in the face of difficult odds, people deserve hope, support, and the opportunity to participate actively in their own healing journey.

About Chris Joseph

Chris Joseph is a pancreatic cancer survivor, certified Terrain Advocate, and Radical Remission Health Coach. Diagnosed in October 2016 with Stage 3, inoperable pancreatic cancer, Chris now dedicates his work to helping others navigate health challenges with clarity, agency, and hope.

Learn more at https://terrainnavigators.com/
Email: Chris@terrainnavigators.com

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