Cancer Dojo is a positive ideology, supported by professors of oncology, sports science and psychology in the proactive power of positive engagement, thinking, doing and participation in the Cancer Challenge to build resiliency, optimise immune function and strengthen cognitive fortitude. Our approach is based on a complimentary, visual and psychoneurological approach to healing more effectively with the medicine.
What is Dojo Thinking?
Traditionally, cancer patients are not given a role in their own healing. This often leads to depression and an even more compromised immune system. Research shows that being empowered in a debilitating situation has fundamental and beneficial effects on your immune system; enabling one to be more resilient and bounce back from treatments and setbacks better than others facing the same conditions.
We, together with professors, medical doctors and cancer oncologists, believe this fact is underutilized in the context of cancer survival.
More about our founder
In 2006, Conn Bertish, an iconic internationally awarded creative director, big wave surfer, fear factor winner, husband and father of two was diagnosed with an extremely rare and severe form of malignant brain cancer.
Using his experience in creative thinking and storytelling, Conn immersed himself in his cancer using pens, pencils, paint and sticks of chalk. The world became his physical metaphoric cancer-beating playground. An upbeat, visually engaging canvas that helped him augment his treatments, his resilience and immune system. This ultimately increased his chances of survival and helped him beat his cancer in 2013.
Conn was urged by doctors, oncologists, neurologists and professors of science to share this way of thinking to help others attain the resiliency he had achieved throughout his journey. The result is Cancer Dojo – and it’s Harder To Kill Journey. A journey of active participation in the overcoming of cancer – that uses gamification, cognitive reframing therapy, play, visualisation, sound design, journaling and deep introspection. The approach enables patients to find purpose in their disease to grow from the challenge, strengthen their immune function and literally become harder to kill by harnessing the science of psychoneuroimmunology – by literally empowering themselves to become part of the medicine.
Conn is a global speaker on the subject of resilience, purpose and creativity for mental and physical health. He has performed talks and training in over 20 countries for the likes of Google, CocaCola, Nestle, Merc, Barclays Bank, Airbnb, Red Bull and many more. He is also a purpose consultant for Africa’s largest retailer, Africa’s largest insurance company and Africas largest Crowd Funding Company.