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My Story - Breast Cancer Saved My Life My story reveals how breast cancer can attack anyone for no known reason but can bring about some very positive life changing decisions. Born and bred in Eumundi I feel I have lived a very lucky life, with no real obstacles and a lot of loving people in my life until...
I have never smoked, rarely drank alcohol, exercised all my life and considered myself to be considerably fit and definitely not overweight. My attitude was mostly very positive and there was always a smile on my face. I grew up on fresh vegetables and balanced meals as Mum was home to look after my brother and I.
From my early 20’s, after marriage and two beautiful sons, I worked very hard and soon became addicted to work as a lot of people do these days. I fell in love with work.
At the age of 33 a phone call revealed I had breast cancer in my right breast. This knowledge never really sank in as I did not tell anyone and booked in for the operation two weeks later. Straight after the operation I took myself out of hospital, went home, did the housework and went to work the very next day. That was the extent of me even considering I was sick at the time.
My daughter, Lili Rose arrived when I was 37 which was a beautiful and carefree time. At the same time my father was diagnosed with the most aggressive prostrate cancer the doctors had seen. Both Dad and I went on a beautiful life discovery journey together. I believe child birth and sickness can both open up your heart and bring about more love.
At 38 I was told I had breast cancer again in the same breast and after the journey of the birth of my daughter, and my father’s prostrate cancer, this was my time to question a few things and thus started my journey into my perfect life.
The doctors suggested I have radiation as my chances of contracting the cancer again and taking over my body were very high. This was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. To have the radiation was to purposely hurt my body and might even cause a problem with my lungs or surrounding organs. I had a hard time confirming to myself this was a good idea in the long term so I put it off for a few months, took myself to New Zealand to our holiday home with my husband, Kim and daughter Lili Rose, and comtemplated. During this time I did a lot of yoga, walking, read about life, ate organic food and ultimately came to a decision.
I would have the radiation, mostly for my family who were too worried if I did not. I knew though that whether I had it or not it would not alter the quality or term of my life.
I started radiation five days a week for (from memory) 5 weeks. I refused to let anyone come with me even on the first day of radiation. When I look back, this was my refusal to let people be there, be too independent, as a lot of women these days are.
Funny thing is I could walk into the hospital every morning at 7.30 for radiation but when I went to leave, I could not walk on my right foot. I had to hobble out. Every day it was the same, walk in and hobble out. Eventually, I learnt about reflexology and found out that the part on my right foot that was sore after radiation was the same part that reflected the right breast in reflexology. For the next year I had a weekly session of reflexology and now I massage my own feet as well as have the professionals do it regularly.
Another thing I found out by listening to my body is that I yearned to walk barefoot in the grass for the next year after radiation and later found out that walking barefoot in the grass takes the radiation out of your body. Interesting.
I am just a representation of women these days blocking out our feminine side to stay strong in all areas of family and work commitments. My life for many years, like a lot of women, was only feeding the masculine side of me and the feminine side was being shut out, seen as weak, in my opinion at the time.
The breast cancer was the instigator of an amazing spiritual enlightenment which I hear is brought on much faster by a life threatening sickness. I lived in the city at a very fast pace for many years, and loving it, but after the cancer I had to be around nature, admiring trees for the first time and swim in the ocean. The Caloundra bar, with its fast currents drew me to drive from Toowong every week just to feel the fast current of the water rushing past my body, as if I could feel the healing energy of the water all around me. I believe our body tells us what it needs if we listen to it. This was the start of me listening to my body.
Now I appreciate the things in life that are, in my new eyes, more important than work, such as family, friends, my time, relaxation, the bush, the beach, home, holidays and the list goes on.
I wonder how I lasted as long as I did in the fast lane, living on high adrenalin. I feel very lucky as breast cancer, in my life, was a gift so I could see.
I hope this story helps others to get to know their bodies and their cancer and understand the strong messages that come with the journey.
Janet Kake
Survivor
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