I’ve come to realize over the last 8 months that I talk about cancer very differently than many other people. Whether they have their own diagnosis or are caring for someone who has cancer, I’ve always shared more about the power that my diagnosis has given me
From the very start, when my therapist first called me a “warrior” and talked about how I would “beat” this cancer, I stopped her and said, “I have no interest in going to war. I’m far more interested in working WITH my cancer to heal.”
I had no idea how much of me was affected beyond cancer. How much needed healing.
When a person gets diagnosed with cancer, one of the first questions is usually around why or how it happened. Many people accept it as a random act of fate, bad genetics or some other force of nature outside of their own control. This allows them to continue moving through life as a victim and blaming their circumstances on things outside of their control instead of taking responsibility for the areas of their life and health that they can control.
I saw a post about someone eating jelly beans during their chemotherapy treatment.
I’m not doing chemotherapy, so I’m not judging them for the way they cope with an experience I can only imagine is emotionally and physically draining.
But everything I’m learning about how diet and environment impacts health tells me that highly processed sugar is about as far from a health-promoting food choice as one could get.
There are aspects of our health that we most certainly CAN control. So when I was diagnosed with cancer, I saw it as a wake up call that there must be some ways I hadn’t been supporting my whole body health. Probably for quite some time.
One thing that I’ve learned is that fighting against my own emotions, my own purpose, identity and intuition has likely played a major part in the development of my disease. Which meant that for me, more fighting could likely make it worse instead of better.
So I’m interested in what I can do WITH my cancer. Who I can become with cancer. What I can learn from cancer. Who I can inspire with cancer. Where I belong with cancer. Who I am with cancer right now. How I can heal with cancer, regardless of whether or not my cancer heals.
So I created tohealthwithcancer.com to offer my unique perspective about wellness WITH illness. There is no one right way to heal. And a healing path looks different for each person who walks it. I want to contribute my voice to a different kind of conversation around cancer and help put the power back with the patients where it belongs. For the patients who are ready to step up and own their power, that is. Not everyone with cancer is ready for this conversation. And not everyone in this conversation has cancer. Maybe it’s something else.
My intention is to share on a more metaphysical level, using words, poetry and perhaps some art along the way. When you sign up for the To Health With Cancer newsletter, you’ll receive notifications about new posts on this very blog, and eventually I may create something else to serve cancer healers on their walk to wellness.
If you’re ready to contribute to this conversation WITH me, click the button.
Thanks for following along with my journey. To support me in my healing, visit saradeacon.com/support for a list of practical ways to help. To make a financial donation, click the button below.