Standing Up to Cancer with Strength and a Positive Mindset

Hearing my doctor’s words, “I’m afraid it’s cancer,” is not only a defining moment, but it’s one that almost immediately elicits fear. How bad is it? Is it terminal? Is there a cure or treatment? What stage? These are just some of the thoughts that ran through my mind in a matter of seconds.

After I had time to process the answers I received, I realized I needed to figure out how I was going to stand up to my diagnosis. I knew I was a fighter, and this was going to be the biggest fight of my life. I tried to focus on the positive: while there was no cure for my chronic cancer, there were treatments available. I could still live with it, as long as i did what was required of me each time the cancer progressed. I interviewed several doctors and chose the one who gave me the most hope because that’s what I needed most.

My doctor assured me I hadn’t done anything to cause this, but I disagreed. I knew I hadn’t been a healthy eater and that I hadn’t practiced much self-care. I had pushed myself for years caring for my husband and three daughters, teaching full-time, and pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Teaching Reading and Language Arts. My goal was to become a reading specialist, and in order to make it happen, I stretched myself thin, working long hours to fit everything in.

Despite my doctor’s reassurance, I felt otherwise. I turned to books for answers, as I often do. While none could prove my theory, what I read reinforced my belief that better nutrition and stress management might have made a difference. I decided to take action. At first, I went overboard with a strict plant-based diet, but I couldn’t sustain it. Someone wisely suggested aiming for 80% instead of perfection, and that advice made it manageable. I now eat much healthier than I once did, and I strive for a more balanced lifestyle. It hasn’t been easy, but my determination to be here for my family gave me the motivation I needed.

Around that time, a friend with the same diagnosis shared advice I’ll never forget. He said, “The first and most important thing is your PMA.” I had no idea what he meant until he explained: Positive Mental Attitude. At the time, I wasn’t there yet, but his words stayed with me. Sixteen years later, I can honestly say my PMA is much stronger and it has made all the difference.

Of course, my family was just as shocked and affected as I was. My daughters were 31, 28, and 24 at the time, none of them married, two still in graduate school, and one just starting her career. The news rocked our entire world. Yet they rallied around me, and their love and support became my foundation. To stand up to cancer, I believe you need a support system, and thankfully, I had that in place. Still, no one feels the weight of the diagnosis like the person living with it. I remember telling my family I had a “cancer alarm” in my head. It was there when I closed my eyes at night and still there when I opened them in the morning. With time, more knowledge from my doctor, and gradual adjustment, that alarm finally began to fade.

I do think you need to develop tough skin to stand up to cancer. You have to decide to think positively, do what treatment is needed, when it is needed, and keep up with your checkups. Try your best to live a healthy lifestyle, which includes trying to walk daily. It’s also important to communicate with your support system and talk about what you’re going through. Connecting with others who have walked a similar path helps as well. It’s not easy to stand up to cancer, but if you put your mind to it and you have reasons you want to live, it certainly helps!

This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

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