Prior to being diagnosed with cancer in 2007, I was one of those people who said I’d NEVER do chemo. To voluntarily put these dangerous chemicals in your body? Well, first of all, I’d never need such a thing. I had been practicing yoga and healthy eating for 15 years. I meditated for at least an hour everyday and swore by it. I had begun integrating yoga and meditation into my work as a psychotherapist in the form of retreats, workshops, groups, and classes.
In fact, I remember being pregnant and teaching a class about “breast health” and the importance of self massage using sesame or coconut oil to keep the lymphatic system strong.
In October of 2007, I had a beautiful home birth. There was a birthing pool in my dining room, relaxing mantra music playing, and an experienced midwife who had helped birth hundreds of healthy babies. It wasn’t pain free, but it was magical. My husband was there every moment of the day, not leaving even when he was getting on my nerves. Our long relationship and recent experiences with partner meditations helped us be relaxed and in sync. We could laugh and yell and also trust. Each other and the process. It was one of the peak moments of my life.
Then, two months later, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.
I sought treatment at MD Anderson in Houston. Not just because it’s considered the best cancer hospital in the country. It is also a 5 minute drive from my parent’s house to the front door of the hospital entrance and they offered to help care for my daughter while I received treatment.
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