“I came here a bit apprehensive, not knowing what to expect. I leave here wondering if this was real or a dream. But as I leave, I know it was real.”
Millard · September 2025
Lumby, British Columbia
Sixty private acres for those healing from cancer.
A cancer retreat in the forests of British Columbia. Integrative therapies, meals from a private chef, a place of your own, and someone to bring with you if you want. Forty minutes from Vernon Hospital, and roughly half the cost of going abroad.
Watch: what The Healing Oasis actually is
60Private acres
7Cabins
3New modern suites
40Min from Vernon Hospital
What this actually is
Not a hospital. Not a hotel. A natural cancer centre in the trees.
You get a place of your own, sixty acres, and a team that has time for you.
Most people arrive exhausted. Exhausted by appointments, by the fear, by explaining themselves to a new person every week. There are very few cancer retreats in Canada, and The Healing Oasis is a working retreat, not a clinic ward and not a spa. You stay in a place of your own. There are seven cabins beside the lake, and three new modern suites we built this year a short walk from the treatment centre. A registered nurse is on site. A naturopathic doctor who works exclusively with cancer patients designs your protocol before you arrive.
In between, you eat food made by a chef who cooks for you specifically, sit by the water, use the sauna, and sleep properly for the first time in months.
You can bring one support person, or your family, at no extra cost. Plenty of guests choose to come alone and use the three weeks as their own. Both are right, and we will ask which you would prefer.
The grounds
Sixty acres in Lumby, BC, designed for rest.
Sixty acres in the Creighton Valley, with a private lake, seven cabins, three new suites, walking trails and a great deal of quiet.
Watch: praise & prayer
Where you stay
Seven cabins, and three new modern suites.
The seven cabins beside the lake are still here. We also expanded this year and added three modern suites a short walk from the treatment centre, which are considerably easier to live in than a cabin. That matters more than you might expect when you are tired.
New for this season
The modern suites
Purpose built for guests who want less to think about.
- A short walk from the treatment centre, not a drive across the property
- Central heating, so you set the temperature once and forget it
- Modern bathrooms and kitchens, easy to move around in
- Quiet, private, and simple to manage on a low-energy day
The original
The seven cabins by the lake
For guests who want the woods, and the walk.
- Set among the trees beside the private lake
- Wood stoves, books, and an infrared sauna in the cabin
- More rustic, more separate, more of a retreat
- Room for family, and certain cabins take dogs
Not sure which suits you? Mention it on your call and we will match you to the right one.
Our approach
The five pillars of health
We believe healing is physical, emotional and spiritual. Everything on the property is built around these five.
01
Detox
Supporting the body's natural detox pathways through gentle daily practices: infrared sauna, movement, hydration.
02
Oxygen
Encouraging circulation and oxygen flow through breath, movement, nature and oxygen-supportive therapies.
03
Nutrition
Nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory meals that are easy to digest and tailored to individual needs.
04
Enzymes
Supporting digestion and nutrient absorption through whole foods and gentle digestive support.
05
Balance
Creating nervous system balance through rest, emotional support and time in nature.
The therapies
Supportive therapies that work with your body.
Which of these forms part of your stay is decided by our naturopathic doctor during your intake call, based on your situation and whatever treatment you are already receiving.
IV Therapy
Targeted vitamin and mineral support to aid detox, energy and immune function. A short-term boost, not a dependency.
EBO2 / EBOO
Blood oxygenation and ozonation designed to support detoxification, oxygenation and overall cellular wellness.
Oxygen Therapy
Guided breathwork and oxygen-supported movement, delivering oxygen in natural, restorative ways.
Infrared Sauna
Gentle infrared heat to support circulation, relaxation and the body's natural detox pathways.
PEMF Therapy
Low-frequency electromagnetic pulses used to support cellular balance, circulation and recovery.
Mistletoe Therapy
Used selectively within a broader integrative approach, always with practitioner oversight.
Emotional Therapy
A calm space to process emotions alongside physical healing, at your own pace and without pressure.
Colon Hydrotherapy
Gentle water-based cleansing supporting the colon's natural function and nutrient absorption.
Supplements
Targeted nutritional supplements guided by assessment and integrated into a broader plan.
Plus a wood-fired sauna and hot tub by the lake, and a revival gym. Read about each therapy
Food
A chef who cooks for you, not for a dining room.
Shane LaRoche is one of the best chefs in the Okanagan. Every meal is organic, whole-ingredient and built around what your body can handle that week. Unlike most retreats, you are not making your own salads.
Who looks after you
A small team, and you will know their names.
Not a rota of strangers. Most of them live and work here through your stay. Dr. Ceaser designs your protocol from his clinic in Winnipeg, and Dr. Yu lives on site for one full week of every cohort.
Dave & Jennifer VassOwners
Dr. Sean CeaserHead ND · Remote
Phyllis CherryRegistered Nurse
Dr. Vanessa YuND · One week per cohort
Shane LaRocheHead Chef
Christine MuirCancer Concierge
Abby & Jaden OverendGuest Experience
Tracy PolhillKitchen
Dan MilneMaintenance
Holly FergusonSocial MediaWeighing it up
Comparing cancer retreats? Most people weigh three options.
If you are researching us, you have probably also looked at an overseas clinic, and wondered whether to just stay home. Here is an honest comparison.
| A clinic abroad | Staying home | The Healing Oasis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Often double | Lower, but you build it yourself | All inclusive, roughly half an overseas clinic |
| Getting there | International flights while unwell | No travel | Drive or fly to Kelowna, then under an hour |
| A support person | Expensive to bring anyone | With you, but nothing changes | Welcome at no extra cost, or come alone if you would rather |
| Food | Cafeteria style | Whatever you can manage to cook | Prepared daily by a private chef |
| If something goes wrong | A foreign healthcare system | Your own doctors | Vernon Hospital, forty minutes away |
| Afterwards | You are on your own | No change in routine | We teach you the habits to take home |
We are not going to tell you an overseas clinic is the wrong choice. For some people it is the right one. We would rather you saw the trade-offs clearly.
Guest stories
What people say when they leave.
Taken from the handwritten guest book that sits in the main house. Every one of these was written by someone on their last day here.
“There are a lot of false promises along the cancer journey, and I was blown away with the authenticity at THO.”
Gaylene Noyes · Kelowna, BC
Watch: guests talk about their three weeks here
“You are literally doing something no one else does. No one else is truly helping cancer patients with hope and love. People need hope.”
Danielle · June 2026“I had very little strength when I first came due to my health. But soon I’ll be able to climb the hill most days easily.”
Derek · June 2024“Everything I hoped for and everything I didn’t even know I needed. I appreciate you being so transparent, genuine, and offering non-judgment and guidance.”
Heidi · June 2025“You never stopped trying to help me with my stomach pain, from the goat’s milk to the recliner chair. Shane, thank you for constantly working with me to find food I could eat.”
Keith Colyer · Ohio, USA“It is even all the little things. The welcome card, the flower on the table, the most comfortable bed, the books in the cabins, the infrared sauna.”
Christina Tracy · Three week stayWorth saying plainly
We do not discourage chemotherapy or surgery, and we never ask you to choose.
Our approach is supportive and designed to sit alongside whatever care you are already receiving. Some guests come during treatment, some after, some having decided against it. All of those are welcome and none of them get an argument from us.
Every stay begins with an intake call with our naturopathic doctor, whose job is partly to tell you honestly whether this is right for you, including when the answer is no.
Nothing here is a cure and we will not tell you otherwise. What we can offer is rest, good food, careful attention, and a quiet place in the trees.
How it works
Three conversations before you commit to anything.
The discovery call is free. There is a one-time fee for the intake with Dr. Ceaser, and a 50% deposit to hold your dates. No pressure at any stage.
Step 01
A discovery call
A relaxed Zoom conversation with our team, free of charge. You tell us your situation, we tell you honestly what we do and do not offer. Nothing is booked.
Step 02
Intake with the doctor
A paid one-time consultation with Dr. Ceaser, who works exclusively with cancer patients. He gets to know you and your condition, and will say plainly if this is not a good fit.
Step 03
Your protocol, then your stay
If it is a fit, he builds a protocol specific to you, carried out on site by our registered nurse. A 50% deposit holds your dates, and then you come and we look after you.
Where we are
Creighton Valley Road, Lumby, BC
Far enough into the trees that it feels like somewhere else. Close enough to a hospital that nobody has to worry.
- Vernon Hospital40 minutes
- Kelowna International AirportAbout 1 hour
- Vernon, for shops and anything you forgot40 minutes
- Nearest neighbourNot close
Questions
What people ask before they come.
What does it cost?
It is an all-inclusive price, so there are no surprises or extra fees while you are here. The therapies alone, at retail, come close to what you pay for the three weeks. On top of that you get a private chef, a fully equipped cabin assigned to you, family able to stay at no extra cost, an emotional healer, workshops and full access to the lake and facilities. We are roughly half the price of the well-known Mexico clinic, and we are in the Okanagan. We talk about the actual number on a call rather than publishing it, and Dave has written about why.
Do you discourage chemo or surgery?
Not at all. Different cancers respond very differently to chemotherapy and surgery. Our approach is to provide therapies that support you through conventional treatment and help with some of the side effects. For those who choose not to go that route, we support them with non-toxic therapies. We educate and inform, and then you make your own decisions.
Can I bring my family? My kids? My dog?
Yes to family, at no extra cost, because we think relationships are part of healing. Yes to children. Certain cabins allow pets, so ask us about that one. Get in touch and we will work out the arrangement that suits you.
Are your practitioners licensed?
Yes. Our doctors and nurses are all licensed. We are careful about who we hire.
How do I know your protocols will help me?
Our doctor builds a protocol specific to your situation after an intake call. His protocols come from years of treating people from all over the world at his clinic in Winnipeg. There are no guarantees in life, and we will not pretend otherwise. What we can say is that you will feel better, have more energy, and give your body what it needs.
When are you open?
May through to the end of September for our main season. We also run small winter cohorts, limited to three guests at a time, which is the quietest and most personal season we offer.
How does booking work?
Start with a discovery call, or take the fit survey if you would rather begin there. If it looks like a fit, we arrange a Zoom to answer your questions, then an intake call with our doctor. The whole process is free and there is no pressure at any stage.
No cost, no obligation
Start with a conversation.
Tell us where you are and what you are dealing with. We will tell you honestly whether we can help, including when the answer is no.
Book a Discovery Call Take the fit surveyIn memory of
Mark Vass, whose passing lit the fire that started The Healing Oasis.