Steve shares his knowledge, experience, and wisdom to help better equip and empower your capacity to mount a robust and effective response to a serious challenge.

steveHOLMES
2 brothers diagnosed with the same aggressive terminal cancer and 6 months to live.
“Steve survived, but Graeme did not. Steve’s survival became a modern-day medical breakthrough that provided a new doorway to how patients can better respond and survive a serious cancer diagnosis.”
Surviving stage 4 metastatic and terminal cancer is remarkable in itself, it attracts attention, and therein lays a new unexpected responsibility.
Cancer patients suffer a lot, that’s what it is to be a patient, so anything that I can do to alleviate that suffering is a good thing, a positive thing, a meaningful thing. Sharing my story, knowledge, experiences, and wisdom in the best way possible does exactly that, it helps make other patient’s lives more liveable and shines a light on what is possible.
cancer READY
I find a lot of patient suffering comes from not understanding things and the confusion and overwhelm that comes from that. So helping people understand their diagnosis and options is a good start to improving their survival chances.
I have also learned the advantages of becoming cancer-ready, just as CPR awareness and basic knowledge can improve survival rates.
steveHOLMES
2 brothers diagnosed with the same aggressive terminal cancer and 6 months to live.
“Steve survived, but Graeme did not. Steve’s survival became part of a modern-day medical breakthrough, providing a new pathway for how patients can better respond to and survive a serious cancer diagnosis.”
Surviving stage 4 metastatic and terminal cancer is remarkable in itself, it attracts attention, and therein lays a new unexpected responsibility.
Cancer patients suffer a lot, that’s what it is to be a patient, so anything that I can do to alleviate that suffering is a good thing, a positive thing, a meaningful thing. Sharing my story, knowledge, experiences, and wisdom in the best way possible does exactly that, it helps make other patient’s lives more liveable and shines a light on what is possible.
cancerREADY
I find a lot of patient suffering comes from not understanding things and the confusion and overwhelm that comes from that. So helping people understand their diagnosis and options is a good start to improving their survival chances.
I have also learned the advantages of becoming cancer-ready, just as CPR awareness and basic knowledge can improve survival rates.
In ANUTshell
As a Stage 4 Cholangiocarcinoma survivor, I am a living testament to the latest advancements in genomics and personalized medicine. My personal journey from person to patient to an empowered patient has been a transformative experience, navigating the complex landscape of scientific theories and their medical applications. This unique combination of personal experience and technical acumen has empowered me to develop a next-level approach to patient empowerment.
Empowering Patients to Transcend Constraints
Medical professionals and the healthcare system operate within the confines of evidence-based opinions and guidelines. However, patients facing a terminal cancer diagnosis are not bound by such constraints. They have the remarkable capability to look and see beyond these limitations and embrace boundless possibilities.
Embracing a Scientific Mindset and Personal Journey
Patients fighting for survival embody the spirit of scientists at their core. They possess the innate inclination for exploration, questioning assumptions, and seeking out alternative options. By adopting a scientific mindset, patients can transcend conscious limitations and become beacons of inspiration, resilient, and proactive in their pursuit of better outcomes.
My personal journey from a hospital ICU bed facing certain death to becoming a survivor of terminal stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma is proof of the power of transcending beyond the 1% survival of my prognosis it underscored a hard-earned realization; “The opportunity is life until our last breath. I have not wasted a single breath since that realization.” The Empowered Patient became part of the opportunity and I came to realize that only a successful experienced patient with the right type of obsession had the capacity to drive this over the line. Luckily, there are now more patients who are also embracing this mission as if their lives depended on it.
Shaping the Future of Healthcare
Functioning on the sole currency of their survival a patient’s role in shaping the future of healthcare is paramount. By challenging the status quo and embracing patient empowerment, individuals become catalysts for transformative change in the healthcare system. This empowered mindset not only benefits the individual but also has a profound impact on the larger healthcare community.
From Patient to Patient Expert: Bridging a Vital Gap
As a successful patient who has navigated cutting-edge experimental cancer interventions, I have acquired a professional-level understanding and proficiency in the latest scientific and medical advancements. I did not simply survive; in fact, I became the 2nd ever CCA patient to achieve a full and complete response from a stage 4 setting. It was a remarkable feat that only took 3 days unofficially and 9 weeks officially. This unique opportunity has propelled me to develop a clear, coherent, patient-centered pathway that equips and empowers patients from the moment of their diagnosis.
I am privileged to be in a position where I can contribute to improving survival rates by utilizing my experiences and acquired skills. Outside of waiting for medical science to provide more curative solutions, I am actively involved in innovative initiatives that aim to decrease avoidable cancer deaths resulting from lack of knowledge, understanding, or access. My goal is to help others achieve the same level of success and survival that I have experienced.
All of this is born from my need to survive and now extend a helping hand to others. It requires fresh thinking and the development of new “rocket ships” to navigate this space of patient empowerment and transformative change.
Driving Patient Empowerment Through Initiatives
As the Founder and Director of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Australia and New Zealand, and the creator of The Empowered Patient Initiative, I leverage my personal experiences and technical expertise to unlock the full potential of patient empowerment. Through initiatives like The Cancer Toolkit, Patient Journals, and The Second Opinion Project, I strive to better equip and empower patients, enabling them to navigate their healthcare journey with confidence and make informed decisions. By providing these resources and support, I believe we can accelerate improved survival outcomes and drive a healthy patient-led transformative change in healthcare.
In Conclusion:
How patients digest, understand, and act upon the knowledge that emerges at the intersection of these communities will shape their future but most of all Patient survival – the reason for being.
A healthcare system that understands that the patient is and will always be the central uniting force for these communities will continue to excel.” does it still fit and align with this content or should it be in another section about the empowered patient
My personal journey from patient to patient expert has provided me with a unique perspective. I have navigated cutting-edge experimental cancer interventions, gaining valuable insights and proficiency in the latest scientific and medical advancements. Now, I invite you to join me in transforming lives through patient empowerment. Embracing the concept of patient empowerment is not just a nice idea, but an absolute necessity. Together, we can achieve what once seemed impossible and shape a future where patients are at the center of their healthcare journey.
Thinking and imagination transcend knowledge; they transcend the ‘now’ to new realities and new knowledge beyond our current conscious measure.
Attitudinally
Thinking is my biggest activity
Life is a harsh yet effective teacher through the experiences it serves up as lessons. It is those experiences that have profoundly shaped my thoughts and how I think and act on them.
Through these lessons, I have evolved a daily mantra of ‘Eat light, move light, be open, be willing, be consistent. It lightens the load in all ways. It has also helped me rebuild my road cycling discipline with a rhythmic version of ‘ride within, ride with rhythm, ride for tomorrow, be open, be willing, be consistent.’ a rhythm that feeds the dreams, visions, and aspirations a way that honors the opportunity I have been given.
TheCHALLENGE
It has been a significant challenge to separate out my emotions which have been such an integral part of my battle, from the harsh lessons learned within them. Initially, I tried to separate them so as to provide greater clarity when sharing. However, I came to realize that these emotions were in themselves an incredibly important component that essentially encased and carried the lesson(s).
It is my hope that I can present both in a way that you can take away something that really helps.
Pathway &Navigation
I have meticulously documented my treatment journey so as to contribute to the success of future patients, providing them with the knowledge they need from the moment of diagnosis. Through my experiences, I have forged new pathways beyond the physician’s office.
To know what must be known, in the order it must be known” from that very moment of receiving a diagnosis.
At the forefront of a new era in healthcare, I help to better equip and empower patients to respond to an unexpected cancer diagnosis. This era emphasizes patient empowerment, cutting-edge research, and innovative funding approaches that are driving new breakthroughs and advancements in cancer treatment and care.
My involvement in innovative patient empowerment initiatives places me at the forefront of these breakthroughs, where we strive to improve human health and extend life expectancy. I am excited to be part of the next stages of this journey.
Patient empowerment emerges as a central focus in this new era, spearheading generational changes in cancer treatment with a focus on parity and empowering patients.
RealityCheck
HEALTHY PEOPLE GET CANCER TOO; We are all healthy until we are not.
None of us can predict when we might face a cancer diagnosis. Even healthy individuals, including doctors, nurses, and scientists, are not immune. That’s why being well-equipped with knowledge and resources becomes a crucial factor and advantage if we are ever unexpectedly diagnosed with a serious cancer.
While we can’t wait for the next big medical breakthrough, we can better prepare ourselves with the available resources today. Consider checking out or following my ongoing work on developing a cancer CPR-styled program. I was surprised to learn that 40% of all cancer diagnoses occur during our working years. Here is the link to view my initial outline.
Focus &DETAILS
EmpoweredPatient
The Empire of the Empowered Patient
“The Empire of the Empowered Patient” rises above the limitations imposed by the need for certainty in healthcare. It recognizes that just because something cannot be seen, it does not mean it does not exist. In the realm of science, possibilities abound, and everything is within reach.
The empowered patient is a visionary, seeking to navigate the uncharted territories and connect the dots that lie beyond the boundaries of certainty. They are driven to explore the vast array of possibilities, embracing them as opportunities for growth and transformation.
By bridging the gap between what is known and what is yet to be discovered, the empowered patient empowers not only themselves but also others to challenge assumptions, seek alternative options, and drive positive change. With their knowledge and agency, they become agents of transformation, pushing the boundaries of healthcare and shaping a future where possibilities become realities.
In the Empire of the Empowered Patient, the quest for certainty is balanced with a willingness to explore the unknown. It is a realm where patients take control of their healthcare journey, harnessing their inner strength and resilience to shape a brighter future for themselves and those around them. Join the movement, embrace the power of empowerment, and together, let us build an empire where possibilities reign supreme.
The evidence-based burden, a cancer in itself: In other words, the over-reliance on evidence-based approaches can lead to the proliferation of rigid thinking and limitations, similar to the uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells in the cancer we as patients are already fighting.
The beauty of humanism has been its ability to consistently knock down its own walls, it is the most special thing that we have ever done.
There is nothing in science and its downstream products of evidence-based opinions that are not vulnerable to being knocked off their pedestals of certainty. As individuals, we all possess a natural inclination for exploration and inquiry, embodying the spirit of scientists at our core.
Cancer Patients facing certain death with all evidence-based options exhausted must become their own scientists and transcend the limitations and constraints that created these finite evidence-based medical opinions.
Patients fighting for survival must embrace the boundless possibilities beyond the limitations of evidence-based dogma.
There can be no bigger motivation than survival itself. A patient’s pursuit of survival should never be marginalized, or disempowered by those entrusted to their healthcare.
A scientific mindset, seeking out options, questioning assumptions, and exploring possibilities for one’s own survival is the mindset of an empowered person, resilient, and proactive in their pursuit of better outcomes.
Thoughts and Observations in Plain Sight
Below are segments of observations, viewpoints, and feedback gained from my extensive relationships with patients fighting for their lives and their relationship with the wider healthcare landscape. In recording these it is my aim to continue focusing on how I can contribute and be part of the solution.
BeyondPatient
Beyond Our Conscious Measure lies greater Opportunities and their Realities; You just have to look through!
To go beyond our conscious reality, question your truths and challenge their truths. Brace yourself for the ensuing backlash. If you can withstand the challenges, you will transcend limitations and discover a new world of possibilities and realities. In doing so, you can become a beacon of inspiration rather than a thorn.”
My reality is mine and your reality is yours; therein lies the distinction of survival and the opportunity it affords; Life!
Happen on life or life will happen on you.
Embrace change and see the all opportunities within it, or change will embrace you with all its chaos and overwhelm.
Be open, Be Willing, Be Consistent:
- Be a little unrealistic often and feed the dream, and the visions and aspirations that rise up from them.
- Do that one thing,
- Be remarkable @ it,
- Be Resourceful with it,
- Add Value to it or don’t do it,
- Surround with people of talent and great character, people who can lift it to its higher reality.
- Pursue its Perfection: It’s the Pursuit that flushes out the potential within the perfection.
Fiction always proceeds its Reality
There would be no reality if not first it was someone else’s fiction.
👉 The Definition of Fiction; *Something imagined – a story not yet real- ‘NOT YET!’
To walk on water, I had to believe it was possible, despite everyone else knowing it was impossible.
I had to look through the impossible to where it could be and take that first step, and the one beyond that, until momentum reached out and embraced, lifting me up and above the now, transporting me to that place where dreams can breathe and their visions and aspirations free to rise up and meet their own realities, and make plans for their outward appearance.
Thinking and imagination transcend knowledge; they transcend the ‘now’ to new realities and new knowledge beyond our current conscious measure.
My hard-earned distinction:
My reality is mine and your reality is yours, therein lies a distinction within the constant struggle for survival and the opportunity within it – that is how I survived
These words are my journey, should you choose to follow them, be forewarned; you will have to cross a sea of other people’s realities to find your own. These words were not my realities before I began – they are now.
SteveH
Why DoTHIS?
Why would I undertake such a challenge?
Why would I undertake such a challenge? Because I survived, and because I can. It was a higher sense of responsibility that I never anticipated, which led me to develop patient empowerment initiatives relevant to today’s patients.
I deeply understand that ‘hope’ is a real, tangible human asset often dismissed as unrealistic. Yet, all ‘hope’ needs is a little structure to move it forward. As a patient who has overcome stage 4 cancer from a very terminal setting, I know the true value of ‘hope’ and my own ‘reality’ from a patient’s perspective. Being a little naive and unrealistic has allowed me to see beyond the limitations of others’ realities.
Another reason is that I have acquired significant experience-based skills and insights that would be a disservice not to share for the benefit of those who follow. When it comes to cancer, it always boils down to actions. You have to lean into it with your best, or it will lean back even harder. Hard is harder than hard; there are no shortcuts.
If you have the capacity to pitch in and provide some financial support, I would be very happy to talk with you.
Steve
+61415153522
steve@steveholmes.net.au
Why would I undertake such a challenge?
Because I survived, and because I can. Ultimately, it was a higher sense of responsibility I never saw coming that led me to develop patient empowerment initiatives that are relevant to today’s patients.
Because I know ‘hope’ is a real tangible human asset, that is very easily dismissed as not being realistic. All ‘hope’ requires is a little structure to move it forward. As a patient that has overcome stage 4 cancer from a very terminal setting, I know the true value of ‘hope’ and ‘ my own ‘reality’ from a patient perspective. Sometimes great achievements can only come at the expense of other people’s realities. I have found that being a little naive and unrealistic has helped me see beyond the limitations of their realities.
Another reason is I have acquired significant experience-based skills and insights that would be a crime to not share to the benefit of those who follow. When it comes to cancer, it always boils down to actions. You have to lean into it with your best, or it will lean back even harder. Hard is harder than hard; there are no shortcuts.
If you have the capacity to pitch in and provide some financial support, I would be very happy to talk with you.
Steve
+61415153522
steve@steveholmes.net.au
ContactME
For toolkits, courses, and modules, please contact me to have a chat and discuss how I may be of help.
Steve
- +61 415 153 522
- steve@steveholmes.net.au