My story is not new. I am a 35-year-old woman. And I had breast cancer.

As for the title of this blog, it is a statement that has taken six months to procure. I have decided to blog my experiences in hopes that it may help others. I will try and post my journey over the next year or however long needed. My posts will be in retrospect mixed with more current events.

The twist in my story is this: I refused chemotherapy, radiation and estrogen blockers. I had a lump the size of a small bouncy ball removed from my left breast along with 23 lymph nodes. Sixteen of those lymph nodes tested as cancer-carrying. So, this mixed with my age, the amount of estrogen in my body (from recent child birth) and my being over weight; the doctors did not give me a lot of options other than chemotherapy. They strongly recommended the removal of all reproductive organs and more than likely both of the girls (that’s those mammary glands, in case you didn’t know.) I did not like their options – at all! Granted, I could survive without them, but I came into the world with them and well I am sort of attached to them (quite literally.)

The oncologist ordered a PET scan to assess the damage of the disease in my body. The drum roll for the PET scan results lasted 2 weeks. And much to the amazement of my oncologist and my surgeon, I was cancer-free! Yes, I took my miracle and ran with it. I thank God everyday for it! Please don’t assume my blog will be religious ranting, I hate religion. Now, The Big Guy and I talk on a daily basis. But He has yet to note His denomination, so we keep things out-of -the-box (but this is dangerous subject matter for another blog.)

So, what am I doing? I am on a path less travelled: Alternative Medicine.

Although, there were no masses of cancer found in my PET scan, I still had the presence of cancer cells. This meant it was still recommended for me to have chemo “just in case.” I decided I wanted a quality of life and I did not want my three small children to see their mommy weak, sick, and bald. My choice for alternative treatment was not an easy

one to make. The decision rocked my world. My closest friend, my hubby, was far from happy with it. I had to inform the company I worked for, in hopes they would keep me around on quite different scheduling terms. My lifestyle of going non-stop and high-stress had to cease. And one of the hardest changes was in my diet. I no longer consume salt or sugar. I try to have most of everything I touch, clean with or ingest to be organic. I am vegan for the most part, the exception of some occasional wild-caught fish. I, also, make and drink fresh-made (by me or hubby) juice, ten times a day.

Now, at six months down the road my health is improving greatly. My husband is my new conscience (making sure I do not veer from my treatment in any manner.) The company I work for has been extremely supportive and caring. My friends and family are amazed. I have another eighteen months left with part of my alternative therapy, during this time I will share my progress. The rest is a lifetime change.