The ABC's of
Living Without Cancer
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The ABC's of |
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Introduction. When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on August 2, 1996, at the age of 57, I was flabbergasted. Incredulous. How could I, Sally Miller, have ovarian cancer? Never in a thousand years did I think I’d get cancer. Alzheimer’s was what ran in my family. And heart problems. My father died of a heart attack at the age of 62, and I experienced chest pains during my 40's, so I just assumed that when I went, it would be from heart failure. I was prepared to die, or so I thought. I had an agreement with a longtime friend about helping me end my life if it became too painful, or without dignity. He knew, and my children knew, that I didn’t want to live in happy la-la land like my mother did. That I didn’t want life without awareness and some degree of comfort. Even before I figured out the answer to how I’d gotten cancer, I knew my having it was for a reason. But before I could figure out what the reason was, I had to get the cancer removed. My belly was so swollen that I had new stretch marks in places I’d never had them after carrying four children, including a ten-pounder! If I didn’t get it removed immediately, something important was going to give way in my body – my heart, my liver, my kidneys – or perhaps I would lose my will to live. I could feel the ugly thing fighting to take over my body, but I really wasn’t ready yet to die. With tears and determination I shopped around for the best gynecological surgeon I could find to cut out the monster growing inside me. On August 12, 1996 I was operated on for Class III mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer. Historically there is only a 20% chance of 5-year survival with traditional medical treatment. I ‘knew,’ from the right-brain, intuitive part of me, that I wanted to have no part of chemotherapy or radiation. My regular doctor, my surgeon, and an oncologist I consulted for a second opinion all wanted to tell me of the benefits. I had watched my husband die of the effects of chemotherapy, after a team of brilliant New York surgeons cleaned him out. Later I knew a woman who went from disfiguring surgery through years of chemotherapy, more disfiguring surgery, and more chemotherapy, to a slow, torturous death. I would never do that to myself or to any of the people I loved. I focused instead on giving my body a chance to heal itself from the surgical trauma, and I started making changes in my lifestyle that would hopefully keep the cancer from growing back again. I found an understanding doctor – a young woman – and a therapist who supported me in my efforts. Every three months I got a cancer antigen test (I still do) to check my progress. My doctors have been amazed at the good results. Several times during my recuperation I heard or read about places where cancer patients could learn to live with cancer, and I thought, "That’s why I’m different! I’m trying to live without cancer!" I’m boosting my immune system to get rid of unwanted cancer cells as they develop so I won’t grow more tumors, as well as drastically reducing the number of toxins I let into my body. I’m living as stress-free a life as possible so my energy can be directed toward the healing process. I’m eating more of the right things, breathing consciously, drinking lots of good water, and exercising more than before. I have supplemented my diet with vitamins, tumor inhibitors, antioxidants, immune system stimulants, and tonics during my convalescence. I’ve tried to make amends with those family members and friends that I was at odds with, and most of all, I’ve tried to pay back those I owed – if not directly in money, then by giving to those around me who need love, a hug, or just a moment of my time. I have reconnected with my qi ("chee"), my life energy that is part of a larger whole. Now I am living without cancer. Return to The ABC's of Living Without Cancer Contact Sally
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