I was in no way prepared to hear the doctor say, “You have cancer.” I had far too much life to live, and the shock and fear of that news shook me to my core.

In 2008, I began training for the Los Angeles Marathon, following a strict regimen of healthy eating, ample rest, and training runs. I loved the discipline of the process and have continued with much of what I practiced since that race. Because of that experience and my commitment to my well-being, I have always considered myself a healthy person. I eat fresh foods, exercise regularly, don’t smoke, and generally make healthy lifestyle choices. So, when, in August 2015, I discovered two lumps in my right breast, I wasn’t overly concerned. There is no history of breast cancer in my family, and in the past, I had been diagnosed with benign breast cysts that were either stable or disappeared over time. However, within four months, I noticed the lumps were rapidly increasing in size. Adding to my stress, I lost my medical insurance due to a job transition. I had to navigate the complexities of Covered California to secure a PPO with my previous HMO insurance. This process was daunting and overwhelming, costing me the one thing I felt was working against me – time.

After undergoing ultrasounds, MRIs, and biopsies at the City of Hope, I was relieved to learn there was no evidence of cancer. My oncologist recommended I monitor the lumps for six months, but I chose to have them removed, trusting they were not supposed to be there to begin with. During my follow-up appointment after the surgery, my doctor informed me that the lumps were cancerous. I was sure there must have been a mistake. The ultrasounds, MRIs, and biopsies before the surgery were all negative. The news shocked me, since there is no family history of breast cancer or other factors that would make me a likely candidate for the disease.

I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is a very early form of breast cancer. The cancer cells are confined inside a milk duct of the breast and haven’t yet spread into the breast tissue. It is sometimes called noninvasive, preinvasive, or stage 0 breast cancer. At the time of my diagnosis, I was an active 42-year-old and had many plans for my future, which I was determined to accomplish.

After consulting with my oncologist, I chose to undergo a single mastectomy to ensure all cancer cells were removed from the breast. I did not want to risk them spreading into the breast tissue itself. I also learned that I had “triple-negative” breast cancer, which is more aggressive than other types of breast cancer and less responsive to targeted therapies. According to my doctors, this type of cancer tends to grow and spread more quickly, has fewer treatment options, and generally has a poorer prognosis. Despite this, I felt at the core of my being that I would be okay. 

In June 2016, I underwent my first surgery, a single mastectomy with implant placement. My social support at the time was limited to a few family members and friends. A couple of nights after returning home from the hospital, I experienced internal bleeding and required a second emergency surgery to prevent infection and replace the implant. I spent several days in the hospital on strong intravenous antibiotics and lost a significant amount of hair, likely due to stress. After being discharged, I experienced ongoing pain and discomfort in the affected breast for four months because the implant was not properly positioned. I underwent a third and final surgery on October 19, 2016, to replace the implant and alleviate the chronic pain.

After that final surgery, I attended regular checkups every six months for five years. In 2021, doctors found no evidence of cancer. My oncologist told me that if I developed cancer again, it would not be in my breast but likely in another part of my body.

In 2022, I discovered the book Radical Hope at a workshop at the Cancer Support Community Pasadena. After reading it, I realized I had already been practicing many of the healing factors it discusses for the past few years. I believe this had a positive impact on my health and well-being. From that day forward, I made a point to practice all the healing factors consistently and diligently.

In the summer of 2023, professional demands were unusually high. Of course, we were still dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic, and the stress was way high for everyone in the community since 2020. During one particularly intense meeting, I felt my nervous system literally vibrate with stress. I recognized that my body was carrying a heavy emotional burden, but I thought it was stress I could manage or that would eventually dissipate. Soon after, I discovered two lumps in my left breast. Although surprised, I wasn’t overly worried because I had been monitoring a previously diagnosed cyst in the same area. Conveniently, I was scheduled for my annual mammogram within a few days.

After reaching the five-year mark with no evidence of disease, I went to my mammogram appointment feeling calm. I expected just another routine checkup, followed by the usual “See you next year” comment. That didn’t happen this time. I was told the doctor wanted to see me in her office. My heart raced, but I thought it must be nothing to worry about. The doctor said she was very concerned about two new lumps and had discovered yet another in a lymph node. These findings required more biopsies. My heart sank as I realized the stress I had been under in the previous years was likely affecting my health. Over the years, I had become highly attuned to my body and able to sense when something wasn’t right. The new lumps felt identical to the first ones, hard and growing rapidly each day. I was once again left in a state of shock and disappointment at the possibility of cancer returning or a new cancer appearing in my body. Waiting for biopsy results was challenging, but I believed I would be okay. I knew I needed to lean heavily on friends and family for their support.

I have been significantly influenced by Radical Remission practices. I did considerable personal healing work and surrounded myself with loving people. I informed everyone in my social circle about my medical concerns and asked for their prayers, knowing they would reach out to a higher power on my behalf. I freely accepted their love, support, encouragement, and prayers. I answered their many questions and kept them informed about appointments and developments. Their love and support carried me through some of the darker moments of the process.

I continued practicing the Radical Remission healing factors. I moved my body, ate healthy, connected with nature, released suppressed emotions, trusted my intuition, took vitamins and supplements, reassessed the causes of my stress, and reminded myself of the important work I still had to do for others. It took a month to go through this process, and right before my follow-up appointment to review the results, I checked my breast and couldn’t find the lumps as easily. They had shrunk to the point that I could no longer feel them. A sense of hope washed over me that I would be okay and would overcome this latest episode. At my next oncology appointment, my doctor was surprised and confirmed that the lumps had indeed shrunk. She simply said, “Whatever you are doing, keep doing it.” I joined the 2023 Radical Remission cohort in September and completed my Radical Remission Health Instructor Certification. I genuinely believe that applying the ten healing factors helped me overcome the cancer scare for a second time. During my latest medical checkup, my primary care physician was astonished that, at my age, I take no medications or have any chronic illnesses. While I understand that I am not entirely free from the risk of developing a chronic disease or having cancer return, I firmly believe that my lifestyle choices are helping maintain my health.

It is important to me to share my story with others who may be facing chronic illnesses like cancer. It has been in my best interest to live a healthy lifestyle as a preventive measure against cancer or other chronic illnesses. The Radical Remission healing factors (supported by science and thousands of personal success stories like mine) tell us that moving our bodies, eating healthy, connecting with nature, releasing suppressed emotions, trusting our intuition, taking vitamins, and understanding our purpose in life help us recover from disease and illness. 

I am grateful to be able to share my story, and my hope is to continue helping others feel healthy, whole, and supported on their journey toward well-being. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my story!