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

In 2008, I began training for the Los Angeles Marathon, which included a strict regimen of healthy eating, ample rest, and training runs. I loved the discipline of the process and continued with much of what I practiced since that race. Because of that experience and 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. Which is why in August 2015, when 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 cysts in my breast that were either stable or simply 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 from 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 that 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 41-year-old and had many plans for my future, which I was determined to accomplish.

After consulting with my oncologist, I chose to have a single mastectomy to ensure all cancer cells were removed from the breast. I did not want to take a chance of 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 is 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 ok.

In June 2016, I underwent my first surgery, which included a single mastectomy and implant. My social support system at the time was limited to very 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 suffered from ongoing pain and discomfort in the affected breast for four months after the second surgery because the implant was not correctly positioned. I underwent a third and final surgery on October 19, 2016, to replace the implant and alleviate the chronic pain.

Following that final surgery, I attended regular check-ups every six months for five years. In 2021, doctors found no evidence of cancer. My oncologist informed me that if I were to develop 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 during a workshop at the Cancer Support Community Pasadena. After reading it, I realized that I had already been practicing many of the healing factors discussed in the book over the past few years. I believe this had a positive impact on my health and well-being. I made a point to consistently and diligently practice all the healing factors from that day forward.

In the summer of 2023, professional demands were unusually high. 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 thought it was stress that I could manage or would eventually dissipate. Soon after, I discovered two lumps in my left breast. While surprised, I wasn’t overly worried since 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 of having no evidence of disease, I went to that mammogram appointment feeling calm. I expected just another routine check-up, followed by the usual “See you next year” comment. That didn’t happen this time. 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 the two new lumps and discovered yet another in a lymph node. These discoveries triggered the need for more biopsies. My heart sank as I realized that the stress I had been under in the previous months was likely affecting my health. Over the years, I had become highly attuned to my body and able to sense when something within me wasn’t right. The new lumps felt identical to the first ones as they were hard and growing rapidly each day. I was once again left in a state of shock and disappointment at the possibility of the cancer returning. Waiting for biopsy results was challenging, but I believed that I would be okay. I knew I needed to lean heavily on friends and family for their support.

I have been influenced significantly by the Radical Remission practices. I had done considerable personal healing work and surrounded myself with loving people. I informed everyone in my social circle of my medical concerns and asked for their prayers, knowing they would reach out to a higher power for me. I freely accepted their love, support, encouragement, and prayers. I answered their many questions and kept them informed of 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. Within a day of my follow-up appointment to find the results, I checked my breast and couldn’t find the lumps. They had disappeared or shrunk to the degree I could not feel them. A feeling of hope washed over me that I would be okay and would overcome this latest episode. During 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 check-up, my primary care physician was astonished that for 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 to maintain my health.

It is important to me to share my story with others who may be facing chronic illnesses like cancer. It is in our best interest to live a healthy lifestyle as a preventative measure against cancer or chronic illness. The Radical Remission healing factors (supported by science and thousands of personal success stories just 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 are the things that help us recover from disease and illness.

I recognize that we tend not to consider preventative measures when feeling good. We happily live our best lives and sometimes take our good health for granted. Once we are sick or face a challenging diagnosis, we are instantly motivated to do all we can to regain good health. What I am suggesting is that we all apply the Radical Remission healing factors in advance of that illness or diagnosis. Will doing that guarantee we won’t become sick? Of course not. But I believe it can absolutely reduce the chances of a severe illness or diagnosis and possibly help us recover from any cancer, illness, or injury we may experience. I am just one of the many living examples of that.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope reading it inspires you to adapt to lifestyle changes that can enhance your health, well-being, and quality of life.