Have You Ever Known Someone Living with Cancer or known a Cancer Survivor?

About 18 years ago my mother was diagnosed with having a cancerous tumor in her breast - in other words, breast cancer. She had the lump removed and went through radiation. Months later, she checked out fine and the doctors told her that she was in remission.

In the year 2000, my mom had her routine mammogram done. Once again, everything checked out fine and they told her to come back a year later for another exam. However, a few months later after complaining of vision problems, she was diagnosed with having cancer again. This time it came back with a vengeance - cancerous tumor behind the eye, lesions in the lungs, cancerous growth in her shoulder bone and cancer under her breast.

She started chemotherapy in January 2001. Of course, she lost most of her hair. I was nice enough to shave her head so she wouldn't look too funny with her 4 strands of comb-over hair. Plus, in the midst of it all, I got her to pose for some photographs! (Move mouse over photo to see before and after!) But with the chemo she also lost her hunger, energy, and weight but gained the extra burden of depression because of all the medicine that was flooding her veins and her diagnosis seemed bleak.

Before my mom was diagnosed with cancer again, a lady friend of mine introduced me to a homeopathic supplement called Haelan 951.* This is a fermented soybean protein beverage which helps to boost a person's immune system (1 - 8oz. bottle boosts the immune system 700%) and because my mom's immune system was being murdered by this chemo, I felt she would be the perfect candidate for it. After consulting her HMO doctor who responded, "I guess it can't hurt", my mom started taking Haelan while receiving chemotherapy.

3 months passed. She returned to the optometrist who had administered radiation to her eye and had originally diagnosed that she probably would need her eye removed. The doctor checked her eye to monitor the tumor's progress, but she couldn't find the tumor and exclaimed that "this is like a mini-miracle"! She didn't understand how it could've disappeared. The radiation was only meant to do no more than stunt the tumor's growth.

She continued with the Haelan and chemo and another few months past. That summer of 2001, she had a new set of tests. The test results came back - my mom was cancer-free. Yes, I just wrote cancer-free. And still is to this day.This is exciting! But how? The doctors were all amazed. So were we. No tumor behind the eye, no lesions in the lungs, no cancer in her shoulder or under her breast.

But let's not toot the horn for the "wonderful" blood cell-depleting chemo she received. Along with eradicating a chunk of cancerous cells or at least slowing down their progress, chemo actually kills all good cells, such as the white blood cells needed to operate a person's immune system. Our immune system kills cancer, which means that if chemo destroys our own bodies immune system, then it can't fight the cancer. It takes away the body's defense against illnesses.

I feel that along with the support of her loving family, her prayers and belief system, and my cool photos of her, the Haelan product really helped my mommy to be cancer-free. Doesn't it make sense? If our own bodies kill cancer, our powerful immune system being the leaders of this fight, shouldn't we honor and support our bodies by supplying it with immune boosting natural supplements that will help it win the war against cancer as opposed to gassing the very elements needed to fight this inner battle with deadly chemo? I've learned a few important things going through this winning battle with my mom's health that I would like to share with you:

1. Be supportive. You may have family members or friends who are going through similar situations. You may not support their decisions on how they handle their treatment (or lack of) but be respectful of that. It's their body and their choice. There is nothing wrong with suggesting alternatives (such as I did with my mom) but many people try to assert their belief of what is best for someone else's health/care, forcing that person to submit to treatments that they don't want. And if they don't do it your way, you experience hurt and anger. I found that this is mostly a fear of loss that keeps us insisting that they do it a certain way. Find a way to cope with and accept the possibility of loss. This is a tough one because of course we don't want to lose anyone. But seeing what is creating this fear will help to be more accepting of their decisions.
   
2. Be a good listener. You may not want to confront the issues of what your family member/friend may be going through, that's part of our own denial. However, being able to sit and listen to their concerns helps them to feel better and may eventually be rewarding for us knowing that we selflessly were there for someone else.
   When they speak with you, they're able to voice their fears and worries. Sit there and let them talk...and listen. By expressing how they feel, it helps their healing process. The more they let out, the less stress they're holding inside. Stress makes people sicker and suppresses the immune system. Just try to stay away from the old cliche, "'everything will be alright." That isn't a solution, just an easy way out. But, also, everything in moderation. If they call you everyday with the same story, guide them away from that story and talk about other things. Which leads me to...
   
3. Be optimistic. Help them to see the sunshine that exists around them. They're already bombarded with sickness and sadness all around them. Imagine having to sit weekly in a Cancer Ward receiving your chemo with other people who are feeling sick, nauseous, irritable, (and some fellow patients on their way out). Why not give them something else to think about? A funny story, a story of old times and of times to come. Take them to the movies, the park, or just take a walk around the block with them. You know what makes them happy. Show them that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Optimism and happiness is a great natural enhancer to their healing process.
   
4. Take care of yourself too. So you get the chance to be their for them, but now all of this worry and stress is living inside you. Get rid of it. You don't want it to affect your health either. Find ways of "de-stressing" - talk to a close friend, take a half hour walk alone 3 times a week, exercise, meditate, sit at the top of a mountain or hillside and appreciate life and everything that you have. Watch your addictions though. During these times, a midnight fridge raid, the extra nightcap, the extra box of cigarettes, seem to occur more frequently.
   
5. Use this experience as inspiration. Although it's hard to believe, our family member's/friend's journey is a gift for us. We learn so much about their struggles, ups and downs, and victories, that it helps us to know more about us, hopefully inspiring us to make positive changes in our own lives so we don't go down that same road. Let me be more candid here about my path through this ongoing life-learning experience. It has been up and down, filled with tears and joy, strong faith and occasional doubts. I've taken a closer look at what causes cancer and my answer = mostly everything man-made, and living in Los Angeles doesn't help.

My mom lives in Sacramento with my dad (married 40 years). She rarely has ever exercised (except running after us as kids) and here diet has never been too healthy - rarely ate vegetables and is a fan of refined sugars and starches. Her water intake is minimal, and her tendency has always been to worry rather than know that the best will happen, which affects her stress level. I firmly believe that the combo of all those ingredients including putting pollutants, toxins, pesticides in her body (thanks to our caring government and FDA), has caused her health (and most people's) to fail.

SO, it has inspired me to take better care of myself, I've been a vegetarian for 8 years, exercise regularly, eat organic food, drink filtered water. I avoid refined sugars (which is the perfect spinach for the cancer in all of us, making them grow to be big and strong). I avoid stressful situations, I absorb and exude as much joy and appreciation that I can and walk around every moment of the day happy to be alive. Most importantly, I make sure to remain committed to my dreams of being a photographer/artist. I live a "conscious" life - not only for myself - but for those who never had the chance to experience their dreams, except only in thought. I live my life to its truest, and I'm hoping that my "being me" will inspire others to do the same.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in the Haelan product please check out the company's web site at haelanproducts.com. *Now for my disclaimer...This is not an ad nor web-o-mercial. I am not a representative or salesperson for the Haelan company, nor do I profit from their sales. I have never practiced medicine or been part of the medical community, except when I've gone for an occasional check-up. Basically, I just like passing the word along about something in which I believe. If it helped my mom, then it can probably help someone you know too.

Last updated - 1/01/08