Cancer Healed Anna

I am writing this book in order to help other people diagnosed with breast cancer (and, indirectly, all other cancers) and their entire support networks.

I believe this book is an invaluable source of both personal and professional information written as my own cathartic, reflective diary in order to heal my own breast cancer whilst going through the process of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and recovery during 2007.

This book is a result of my own search for meaning through healing. It is a combination of my own unique process and survival taken from an extremely wide source - some with evidence-based practice and research and development whilst others have just evolved from my own mind.

If I can help one other woman by the writing of this book, whilst healing myself then I regard this book as a success.

Enjoy and please send any feedback or comments to: anna@lpltd.go-plus.net

EXTRACT - Chapter 1 - Diagnosis
Life went pear-shaped - 7 December 2006

"I am sorry to inform you, Mrs. Libby, that you have breast cancer". My perception of life changed forever in that moment, the doctor's face and the consulting room we were in became crystal clear and focused and yet surreal and strangely unreal.

I had given my husband, Steven, a piece of paper with 2 hurriedly scribbled triangles on it, one with the base at the bottom, one with the base at the top, medical symbols of diagnosis and prognosis and an “R” with a line through it to symbolise treatment. He immediately started recording the doctor's comments just as I had asked him to as I asked Mr.Green the relevant questions.

As we had both had long drives from work that day we had Meet briefly beforehand in a nearby supermarket for a quick cuppa and I had asked him "Do I have cancer?" and his intuition said to reply "Yes". Now it was confirmed; I believed it immediately the doctor told me as why else would I be there at 6.15pm with an oncologist sitting before me. He was so warm, gentle and informative, his manner so appropriate and polished – clearly he had delivered this message to so many women before me.

Driving my red Alpha Romeo across Cambridge life went into second-by-second mode as I faced my own mortality, I had been fit and well my entire 47 years on planet earth with so many plans ahead of me and suddenly I was staring at redder than red double-decker buses and greener than green traffic lights as if I had suddenly seen this familiar scene for the very first time and in a few seconds it would be over for me for ever. It felt like I had been hit by a ten-ton truck and yet, somehow, remarkably survived. Steven followed behind me as a loving, supportive, husband in his big yellow work van.

We sat my teenage sons down on the sofa with me between them holding their hands and confirmed their greatest fears.

How can a mother tell her children she has a life-threatening illness? What words can she use? There is no easy way. I explained the facts as I understood them, the practicalities and the plans for the immediate next few days. I told them to share this with whomever they needed to. I made it clear they could come and talk or cuddle anytime day or night whenever they wished, to ask whatever questions they had and I would always answer them the best way I could. The phone rang and rang and we waited in silence for it to stop knowing it was my mother anxious to hear news. Steven and I had discussed that we would not answer the phone and allow this time with the boys to be interrupted or diluted.

I explained to Tom and Ben that at some point in every mother's life the status quo shifts, this moment had very prematurely arrived meaning they were the fit, healthy kids with a mum with a terminal illness, that they would need to take full responsibility for their lives and care for me the best way they knew how. They were very quiet and sad as this harsh reality hit home. They both disappeared into their rooms as cavemen always did...