Rising Above Cancer With Compassion and Healing – Exclusive Interview With Sarah Hurst

Sarah Hurst is a transformational coach, Touch Therapy practitioner, and the creator of the Mind Medicine Movement™ and Mind Medicine Massage™, a holistic approach to healing that bridges emotional wellbeing, nervous system regulation, and self-connection. Drawing on her own lived experience of navigating cancer multiple times, Sarah understands that healing is not just physical, but deeply emotional and personal.

After years of running a successful therapy practice, Sarah retrained in life coaching, emotional and behavioural psychology, meditation, breathwork, Advanced Cancer Touch Therapy, and sound healing. Through this journey, she developed her SIPS™ framework, Slow Down, Identity, Purpose, Self-Love, a gentle yet powerful approach that supports people to move out of fear and into healing.

Through her work with Rising Above Cancer, Sarah supports individuals living with or beyond cancer, as well as those navigating burnout, trauma, or major life transitions. Her work combines compassion with practical tools, helping clients reconnect with themselves, calm their nervous systems, and rediscover hope and purpose.

Based in Hove, East Sussex, Sarah works with clients both in person and online. Her mission is simple yet profound: to help people take back their power and rise above cancer, and fear, one gentle sip at a time.

Sarah Hurst, Coach and Creator of the Mind Medicine Movement™

Who is Sarah Hurst?

I’m someone who understands what it feels like when life suddenly shifts beneath your feet. Professionally, I’m a transformational coach and Touch Therapy/massage practitioner, but at my core, I’m someone who helps people reconnect with themselves when fear, illness, or overwhelm has taken over.

My work is grounded in lived experience. Having faced cancer more than once, I know how disorientating and lonely the journey can feel. Today, I support people to calm their nervous systems, rebuild trust in themselves, and rediscover who they are beyond diagnosis or circumstance.

What inspired you to start Rising Above Cancer?

Rising Above Cancer was born from my own healing journey. After my experiences with cancer, I realised that while medical treatment is essential, it often doesn’t address the emotional and psychological impact of diagnosis. Fear, loss of identity, and a sense of helplessness can linger long after treatment ends.

I created Rising Above Cancer to offer the kind of support I wish I’d had. A safe, compassionate space where people could process what they’re going through, learn practical tools to support their nervous system, and feel empowered rather than defined by illness.

How do you help individuals navigate life after a cancer diagnosis?

I help people slow down, first and foremost. A diagnosis often throws the body into survival mode, and without calming the nervous system, it’s very hard to heal emotionally or mentally.

Through coaching, meditation, Touch Therapy, and mindset work, I support clients to reconnect with themselves, understand how fear shows up in their body, and gently rebuild a sense of safety. From there, we explore identity, purpose, and self-love - helping them move forward with more clarity, confidence, and calm.

What makes your approach to cancer recovery unique?

My approach is deeply gentle and integrative. I don’t believe in forcing positivity or pushing people to “be strong”. Healing doesn’t work that way.

The Mind Medicine Movement™ is built around small, compassionate steps. Through my SIPS™ framework - Slow Down, Identity, Purpose, Self-Love - clients learn how to work with their body rather than against it. It’s about creating space for healing, not rushing toward it.

What are the biggest challenges people face during their cancer journey?

One of the biggest challenges is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of recurrence, fear of losing oneself. Many people also struggle with feeling disconnected from their body, or feeling like life will never feel normal again.

Another challenge is the pressure to “stay positive”, which can leave people feeling isolated when they’re struggling emotionally. There needs to be space for honesty, compassion, and vulnerability.

How do mindset and emotional healing influence recovery?

Mindset and emotional healing are deeply connected to the nervous system. When the body is stuck in stress or fear, it remains in a survival state, and over time, this can suppress aspects of the immune system. Research in psychoneuroimmunology shows that chronic stress can impair immune function, while calming the nervous system supports the body’s natural ability to heal.

The language we use matters too. What we tell ourselves becomes the story our body listens to. When someone shifts from an identity rooted in fear to one grounded in empowerment and hope, the nervous system begins to settle. As the body moves out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer state, the immune system is better supported, creating conditions that aid recovery.

Can you share a success story that deeply moved you?

One client came to me feeling overwhelmed and consumed by fear following a recurrence. Although her treatment was going well physically, emotionally she felt lost and unable to quiet her thoughts.

Through our work together, she learned how to slow her breath, calm her nervous system, and gently change how she spoke to herself. Week by week, her anxiety softened. She found moments of peace again, and slowly rebuilt trust in herself. Watching her reconnect with joy and move forward with renewed belief in herself was incredibly moving.

What common misconceptions do people have about life after cancer?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that once treatment ends, everything should feel “back to normal”. In reality, life after cancer is often a process of rebuilding – emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Another misconception is that fear should disappear. Fear can still show up, but it doesn’t have to run the show. With the right support, people can learn how to live well alongside uncertainty.

How do you support families and loved ones of those affected by cancer?

Cancer doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed, it impacts the whole family. I often support loved ones by helping them understand the emotional landscape of healing, encouraging open communication, and offering tools to stay grounded themselves.

When families learn how to regulate their own nervous systems, it creates a calmer, more supportive environment for everyone involved.

What can someone expect when working with you for the first time?

They can expect to be met with compassion, not judgement. My work is never one-size-fits-all. Sessions are gentle, tailored, and grounded in what someone needs in that moment.

Whether through coaching or Mind Medicine Massage™ the focus is always on helping someone feel safe, supported, and empowered in their own healing journey.

How has your own experience shaped your mission and message?

My experiences taught me that healing isn’t about returning to who you were before. It’s about becoming who you are now.

I know firsthand how fear can take over, and how powerful it is when someone feels seen, supported, and understood. That’s what shapes everything I do, offering hope, safety, and a gentle path forward.

What advice would you give to someone who feels hopeless after a diagnosis?

I would gently remind them that hopelessness is a response to overwhelm, not a truth about the future.

You don’t have to see the whole path ahead. You just need to take one gentle step. Slow down. Breathe. Look for small glimmers of safety and comfort. Healing doesn’t happen all at once. It begins with tiny moments of connection, compassion, and hope.

If you’re navigating life after a diagnosis, or supporting someone you love, know that you don’t have to do it alone. Healing is possible, even when it feels distant. Often, it begins with the smallest pause, the softest breath, and the willingness to take one gentle sip of self-connection.

If you feel ready to explore support, you’re welcome to reach out and schedule a call to begin that conversation.

Schedule a call here.

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