My Breast Cancer Journey Part 1

This is a brief account of my journey. I hope to inspire with less fear, more hope and maybe some useful tips along the way. I am back at work and here if you relate and need some support.

We are all going to react differently to a cancer diagnosis. This will depend on many different factors; our beliefs about cancer - what we've been told, how it will affect us, whether a close family member or friend has been through it. How, and what the Consultant tells you will also have an impact.

There is no right or wrong way of thinking and feeling about your diagnosis.

I am sharing my experience here and how I have dealt with, and am still dealing with it. In no way do I intend to upset or trigger anyone as my views and experience may be very different to many.

December 20th 2024. I had been called in for a second mammogram due to a slight change from my previous scan. Following the mammogram, ultra sound and a biopsy, the Doctor asked me if I'd like to know what she was thinking. I said that I might as well know as I already had a strong feeling about where she was going.

My initial reaction was "For goodness sake, not more healing, haven't I done enough?". I have done much healing throughout my adult life. You will see some of the things I have been through elsewhere on this site. I was not afraid though.

My first response to my diagnosis as my partner and I drove home was "Ok, so my diet needs to change first, can we stop off at the supermarket?". In my head I immediately recognised how I had let my diet slip over the years. I have been interested in, and believed in the power of our food and nutrition. I had previously healed Candida Albicans through diet and nutrition as well as urticaria, also known as hives.

I radically changed not only what I was eating, but also upped supplement intake to better support my immune system. I also included supplements like chlorella and spirulina to help detoxify my body.

Knowledge is key. I already knew quite a bit about why and how cancer develops in the body. Every cell in our body has the potential to ‘go rogue’ and there are many factors that play a part.

So, alongside my diet that had slipped over time, I strongly believe that long term stress from various causes, including past traumas, financial and narcissistic abuse contributed. In part because although I had done my healing, I hadn’t fully let go of the negative emotions – part of me was still holding on to them.

I’m a therapist, so I am naturally there for others. I am aware that I had got into a bad habit of not saying ‘No’ when I needed to. People pleasing is a common problem for those that have lived through difficult life situations for example. So I started being more mindful of my time and how much energy I was giving out to others. I continued to work until two days before my operation so I cut back elsewhere to conserve my energy.

Another thing we need to consider is who do we tell? Again, because I wasn’t afraid of the cancer I was ok to tell others. I don’t mean I shouted from the rooftops, that’s not my style, but if someone asked me how I was, I told them.

I saw the gift in my diagnosis. The gift of making changes that my body needed to bring itself back into balance, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I am aware that not many will see it as a gift, certainly not to begin with. Again, I do not want to upset anyone here, I am just being honest and coming from a place of understanding the areas of dis-ease in my body and my life. I took control.

I then armed myself with a few choice books, listed below, and took myself off to see the lovely Jane for a bio-resonance test. This helped to identify other areas in which my body was struggling and needed support. For me, dehydration was a biggie and along with my bottle of homeopathic remedy, I was encouraged to make myself linseed tea as the lignans in flaxseed support our body to hydrate.

When I saw my Consultant for my formal diagnosis I asked for the pathology report. This helped immensely by knowing that my cancer was hormone receptive. Knowing this enabled me to further tweak my diet and cut out many products that I use on a daily basis that are known hormone disruptors.

There is an app called Yuka to help with identifying foods and products that have harmful ingredients, whilst it doesn’t have everything on there, it is a great start. Biggest surprise for me? Plant milks. Many have Tricalcium Phosphate, a texturizing agent that could disrupt bone mineralisation, affect kidneys and cardiovascular problems. I now choose my plant milk more wisely.

A few good books to read, and in no way intended to replace treatment.

Cancer is not a disease, it’s a healing mechanism.  Andreas Moritz

Dying to be me. Anita Moorjani.

Anita had a near death experience as she was in a coma with Stage 4 cancer and all her organs were shutting down. When she unexpectedly awoke, her condition rapidly improved and she made a full recovery.

The Ayurvedic Approach to Cancer. Dr Sam Watts.

Dr Sam worked in Cancer research within the NHS and now focuses on empowering others to engage the body’s ability to heal, alongside conventional medicine, through mindset, diet and lifestyle. You can now find him on Facebook or at www.drsamwatts.com

Jane Piper – Nutritionist, Kinesiology and Qest4 Practitioner  -  email jane@janepiper.co.uk   www.worcesterhouse.org