Five Years Free of Disease

Five Years Free of Disease January 2014

Preventing Recurrence of Uterine Leiomyosarcoma is My Full-Time Job

It was November of 2008 when I was diagnosed with Uterine Leiomyosarcoma. My lab report said it was Stage II/III with a mitotic count of 100 in a 10X magnification field. The sky high mitotic count definitely downgraded my prognosis. Typically a mitotic count of 1-2 is low and 9-10 is high. My score of 100 indicated that the cancer had been multiplying rapidly. I was told I'd have a 50% chance to live 2 years, and a 27% chance to live 5 years. That's when I immediately embarked on a total change of lifestyle, one that would nourish my physical body and create a pervasive sense of relaxation and well-being. If I was going to ask my immune system to prevent this cancer from returning, I had to do my part by adopting the best practices to optimize my own body’s healing ability.  

My number one goal each day is to stay peaceful and calm inside, like it feels when you've just had a massage, or upon awakening from a deep and peaceful sleep. Guided imagery, affirmations and meditation help me to do this, along with walks in nature, acupuncture and deep breathing. My second job is to focus on the physiological and biochemical needs of my body - my nutrition, my supplements, my juicing, my exercise... and so much more. Since my diagnosis my body demands that I put my physical and emotional health first, and I don't feel guilty about doing it. You will need to decide that your health is more important than anything else and that your full-time job is taking care of you. At first, this is all I want you to do.

Your mind can aid in making your body well, but you will need to be actively involved in the process. I recommend that you take time off from your job for at least one year after surgery. I waited two years before resuming part-time work. Right now your full-time job is to make yourself well. You will begin a rigorous program of mind-body training, detoxification, and exercise. Time will be needed to shop for organic foods, juice vegetables, and prepare nutritious raw, vegan meals. My husband and my mother both remind me that my job is to focus on wellness, and everything else must be subservient to that goal.

Your body listens and responds to your subconscious thoughts, so it is not enough just to verbalize that you are going to become well - you must believe it in your core, in your spirit, in your "energy," in your subconscious mind.

Right now, your mind is the battlefront. Focus on everything that is uplifting. 

Realize that when you entertain negative thoughts, your are effectively using negative guided imagery on yourself! 

Learn to listen to your heart - when your spirit is in balance, you will feel love, joy, peace, perseverance, gentleness, goodness, humility and self-control. When your spirit is out of balance and in distress, you will experience anger, resentment, hatred, bitterness, excessive worry, and the ultimate spiritual stronghold of cancer - fear.

I began this blog because when I was diagnosed there was NOTHING positive to read about survivors of Uterine Leiomyosarcoma. In fact, my doctor told me NOT to look it up on the internet! Since that time my blog has been reaching women all over the world, in nearly every country you can think of. I've also started a Facebook page where women and caregivers can comment and ask questions as well. 

I realize that if you are newly diagnosed, or if you are a caregiver of a newly diagnosed patient, that sifting though all of these blog pages can be a bit overwhelming. For that reason I have decided to write a book so that you can have the information at home in your own hands to refer to again and again. I hope to have my book available in the coming months. 

Remember that your body is designed to prevent cancer from multiplying. At one point, something got out of balance and your immune system failed to work properly. I know that stress played a huge role in my own cancer.  I also know that my body can change. It can be made well, nourished and strong, able to prevent the cancer from returning.

It has been five years since my diagnosis, and I have not had any recurrence of the disease. My body is preventing the cancer from returning. When I saw my doctor he said, " Remarkable! Remarkable! Keep doing what you are doing!" I most certainly will.