My Journey Through Cancer’s Touch 

My journey with cancer began, when I began experiencing symptoms in early 2002. I was forced to visit the Emergency Room as the pain became unbearable. The ER doctor decided to take some medical test and he referred me to a gynecologist. Additionally, he explained that I had a severe infection and I was given medication. Once I finished the medication, the symptoms came back in two weeks, so I scheduled an appointment immediately.

On Oct 23rd of 2002, I met the gynecologist, who discussed my test results with me. He explained that I had cervical cancer and referred me to a GYN/Oncologist. I endured many tests, but I tried not to think about was happening to me. Once, the results came back, I cried when I learned that I had Stage 2-B cervical cancer. That day, I met my new chemotherapy nurse and was referred to the hospital’s Radiation Oncologist also.

Escaping Death Sentence

Subsequently, I began life-saving treatment on December 6th, 2002, which changed my life instantly. In addition, I was asked to participate in a clinical trial, which I agreed to try. The aggressive radiation, Brachy therapy, and chemotherapy treatments lasted, until April 2003. Thanks to my personal health care team and modern technology, I was given a second chance to live.

I was so grateful to be a cancer survivor at age 28, but I still had many painful side effects daily. The radiation damage caused my life to change in many ways, due to my inability to walk well. One night, after losing my chemo buddy to cancer, I gained a strong passion to help other cancer patients with their fight and living beyond their diagnosis. I knew that I had beaten the odds and survived a possible death sentence.

Changing my Life

During the first initial days of my diagnosis, I decided to enroll in an adult High School course and take my mind off the diagnosis. I set out to achieve my diploma and gain a career in writing or journalism. I also changed my eating habits and began taking an array of vitamins. Then, I began soul searching and got to know God again, despite my daily struggle with pain.

Honestly, I felt humiliated to be 27 and wearing adult diapers, due to my bladder damage from the aggressive treatment I received. I began using a walker or wheelchair, in order to stay mobile. This decline in my health brought on feelings of depression and worthlessness. After discussing these feelings, my primary care doctor started me on an anti-depressant and referred me to pain management.

Since my aggressive treatment began, my medical team worked hard to find the right medicines to help. In addition, my young children and fiance instantly became my daily caretakers. They encouraged me in every way they could, while coping with my chronic disability. Luckily, I began seeing a pain management specialist in early 2004, but nothing seemed to work at first.

Fortunately, we continued trying different doses of medicines each visit, until we found the right combination and dose for me. Finally, the pain became less overwhelming and easier to cope with on a daily basis. My pain specialist began teaching me more about what is causing my flare ups. With this knowledge, I began effectively controlling the pain I felt everyday.

Chasing a Career

Throughout the aggressive treatment I endured, I wrote funny stories and poems about my feelings. Immediately, I found that writing was my escape from the pain and my depression. I studied hard and learned more than ever before, because of my new passion to get an education and to write for children. After doing some research, I enrolled with the Institute of Children’s Literature freelance writing course.

For the next two years, I completed my educational goals and successfully graduated both courses by 2006. After earning my diploma, I decided to pursue a career as a freelance author or columnist. However, I knew I needed to strengthen my writing and grammar skills. In June of 2006, I enrolled in an Associates Degree in Business Arts program with the University of Phoenix.

My Family’s Struggle

Everyday, I have had to adjust my life in several ways, in order to accommodate the many changes in my health. My family and I have struggled emotionally, financially, and spiritually. Just to survive and stay together is a blessing in my eyes. Each family member felt depressed in their own way, because our lives had change so drastically since my treatment. However, they continued helping me in every way, plus handling the household responsibilities.

Building our Dream

With my grandfather’s help, we started the Laugh at Cancer Support Group in Jacksonville, Florida. Honestly, I enjoyed meeting new people, but many were home bound and disabled like me. At first, I tried visiting every patient I could and at their home. Instead, I stayed in contact with the few members by the phone and began researching ways we could meet on the Internet.

Personally, I was feeling better, despite the pain and other side effects of my aggressive treatment. I had began writing for a few internet communities and pursuing my writing goals. Suddenly, I learned that my grandfather and best friend had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer in Dec 2004. Thankfully, his medical team was able to send it into remission and he became a survivor in early 2005.

Cancer Struck Again

Slowly, my grandpa began getting sick again and was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in early 2007. His health began rapidly going downhill, while I started feeling better with each new day. This made me feel guilty, but we both kept a positive attitude and tried to continue living life. We continued discussing the support group and how to make it onto an organization.

Three weeks before he died, I wrote him a letter from my heart and we discussed how much we loved each other. So that night, I decided to write his personal biography, while I tried to locate an alternative treatment for him. However, his health deteriorated rapidly and his doctors referred him to the local Hospice. Sadly, his journey ended on June 7th 2007, which shattered my heart.

On a Mission

After losing my grandfather, I was hurting emotionally and began researching the best ways to move the support group online. I looked into many options and created many sub-groups in different established communities I found like Yahoo and MySpace. Finally, I partnered with Ning.com in 2008, in order to bring the Laugh at Cancer Support Community to those touched by cancer across the globe.

This online support community offers free membership to anyone, who has felt cancer’s touch in their family. Additionally, we welcome members of all ages, religious faiths, and nations around the globe. In this time of uncertainty, my mission is to help families focus on life beyond cancer’s touch. Recently, I built the LAC Youth Community, so the younger members could receive peer support in a safe environment.

Last month, LACSC Vice-President Michele Domsky opened a community for pet owners, who have been touched by cancer. Michele opened this support community, because she lost her beloved pet Klausie. Unfortunately, his aggressive form of cancer took his life within just a 4 ½ weeks from diagnosis. She has elected me, as the Vice President of the community, which was an honor to me.

My Future Awaits

Throughout my journey, I have learned to celebrate my life everyday, by making new memories with my family. Now, when I feel depressed, I am reminded of what I have been blessed with. On November 30, 2006, my husband and I said our vows in front of our friends and family. Luckily, I have used my time to study and become a professional freelance author and copywriter.

Today, I still live with side effects and pain, but I will try to overcome it with a positive attitude. Now, I live by a simple motto that I created with my grandfather, “Laugh everyday…Drive the cancer blues away!” Honestly, I know that my cancer may return at anytime, but I refuse to allow my fear to control my future. I won’t say that life has been easy for me, because I struggle each day to overcome life’s new hurdles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I will continue to pursue my dreams and goals, no matter what the Lord has in store for me. Additionally, I know from my own experience that cancer can not take away my laughter or my passion for life. Since my diagnosis, I made many different changes in my life, from chasing a career to helping those touched by cancer. Today, I am proud of who I am and what I have accomplished in the past six years.

As a survivor, I have learned that a positive attitude and emotional support are essential in the fight against cancer. Personally, I will continue doing my part to help families touched by cancer…directly or indirectly! In the future, I hope to continue celebrating my life with my family and friends each day possible. Therefore, I am looking forward to a future, where cancer and its side effects will no longer control my life.

Laugh at Cancer Organization Inc. became an official non-profit organization on November 25, 2008.

Contact me if you can help!

Me at home posing for a picture.

Me as a baby with Papa

  My grandfather and I posing for a picture.

 Me feeding my grandfather, just a few days before he died.

I did it! I earned my first degree! (AAB)

LACO became a Non-Profit Organization On Nov. 25, 2008.

Founder of Pet Cancer Support Community

Michele and Klausie posing for a picture.

Rick and Klausie posing for a picture.