Have you ever felt powerless in a situation where all you wanted was to do something—anything—that might help? If you're someone watching a loved one suffer, facing a health crisis, or feeling like circumstances have taken all your control, this story will show you how small actions become acts of hope.
When my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, we discovered that sometimes the most powerful weapon isn't what the doctors prescribe—it's what you choose to put on your plate.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." - Hippocrates
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
The words "You have cancer" change everything in an instant. Suddenly, you're thrust into a world of oncologists, treatment plans, and medical decisions you never wanted to make.
My wife started treatments immediately—surgery, radiation, the whole protocol. The doctors were excellent, the care was thorough, and we trusted the medical team completely.
But there were moments, late at night after another exhausting treatment day, when I felt completely helpless. I couldn't take the cancer away. I couldn't endure the treatments for her. I couldn't control whether the treatments would work.
I needed something I could control. Something I could do that might make a difference, however small.
The Book That Sparked Everything
That's when we read "Chris Beat Cancer" by Chris Wark. Chris talked about how a plant-based diet was really the only way to heal from cancer—not as a replacement for medical treatment, but as a powerful complement to it.
The research was compelling: what we eat affects inflammation, immune function, and how our bodies respond to treatment. But more than the science, it was the idea that we could actively participate in healing, not just passively receive treatment.
We made a decision: we would switch to a completely plant-based diet.
Not because we were against medical treatment—we followed every protocol the doctors prescribed. But because we refused to sit on the sidelines of my wife's fight. If there was even a chance that nutrition could support her healing, we were taking it.
The Transformation
Shifting to a plant-based diet had a huge impact on both of us during that difficult season. When everything in life felt heavy, food became one of the few things we could control—and instead of turning to comfort food, we committed to eating in a way that fueled our bodies and minds.
Physically, I noticed the difference in energy and recovery. Plant-based meals gave me steady energy without the crashes, which mattered because I was running on emotional and mental reserves while caring for my wife. I also healed faster from workouts and stress, which kept my body strong when I needed it most.
Mentally, eating clean reinforced my discipline and identity. Every time I chose nourishing foods, it was a reminder that I wasn't just surviving—I was investing in myself so I could show up stronger for her. That alignment between what I ate and how I wanted to live gave me confidence and consistency.
Spiritually, it became a form of stewardship. I saw my body as a temple, and caring for it through plant-based nutrition felt like a way to honor God in the middle of chaos. It turned eating into more than just survival—it became an act of faith and resilience.
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." - 1 Corinthians 6:19
The Power of What You Can Control
Here's what I learned through that season: when you can't control the outcome, you take control of the inputs.
I couldn't control whether my wife's cancer would respond to treatment. But I could control what we ate, how we moved, what we thought about, and how we showed up each day.
That shift from "I'm powerless" to "I have agency in this fight" changed everything.
The Nutrition as Agency Framework
Here's how taking control of what you can control transforms crisis into action:
Step 1: Identify What's in Your Control
- You can't control the diagnosis, but you can control your response
- You can't control the timeline, but you can control daily choices
- You can't control outcomes, but you can control inputs
Step 2: Make Your Choice an Act of Faith
- Every healthy meal becomes a prayer for healing
- Every workout becomes an investment in strength
- Every disciplined choice becomes an act of hope
Step 3: Focus on Alignment, Not Perfection
- Don't obsess over being 100% perfect with diet
- Focus on consistent choices that align with your values
- Progress matters more than perfection
Step 4: See Your Body as a Partner, Not a Victim
- Your body isn't failing you—it's fighting for you
- Give it the fuel it needs to do its job
- Treat it with respect through nutrition, movement, rest
The Results
That shift reminded me daily: what I put into my body affects how I show up in life. And during one of the hardest seasons, it gave me the strength, clarity, and grounding I needed to keep going.
As someone who has completed 10 Spartan races and trained in martial arts for 34 years, I knew that physical discipline builds mental resilience. But this was different. This wasn't training for a race or a belt—this was fueling my body to be present for the person I love most.
My wife is now cancer-free. I'm not saying the plant-based diet cured her cancer—the doctors and treatments did their job. But I am saying that taking control of what we could control gave us agency, hope, and strength when we felt powerless.
Your Act of Agency
Right now, you might be facing a situation where you feel completely powerless. A loved one's illness, a child's struggles, a relationship crisis, financial stress—something big that you can't fix with willpower alone.
Here's what I want you to know: you may not be able to control the outcome, but you always have agency over your response.
What can you control right now?
- Your daily habits and disciplines
- What you put into your body and mind
- How you show up for the people who need you
- The small choices that compound into strength
When everything feels overwhelming, focus on what's in your hands. Make your daily choices acts of faith, hope, and defiance against despair.
What's one area where you need to take back control today? What small choice can you make that aligns with the strength you want to show?
When you're ready, here's how I can help you:
Purchase my book "Mindset Metamorphosis"—the complete guide to transforming your thinking and taking action for a better life, written during my wife's cancer treatment when I learned that what we can control matters more than what we can't.
And if you're interested in the healing power of nutrition, check out my other book "The Kimchi Connection Cookbook"—integrating Korean fermented foods for optimal gut health and overall wellness.
Remember: Feed your mind. Fuel your actions. Find your fire.
DK Kang
Author | Wellness Advocate | Plant-Based Athlete | LMT
dk@dkkang.com
www.dkkang.com
