a black and white image of a woman wearing an open shirt and showing the scars of her surgery

Debbie

When I received my medical diagnosis in 2010 a spiral of negative thoughts began to overwhelm me.   “What’s going to happen next? How will I pay my bills if I can’t work? How will I tell my friends, my loved ones?”  I felt caught in a web of inertia — a tire stuck in the mud.

I began practicing a wide variety of calming techniques ranging from recognizing negative thoughts and replacing them with more productive and empowering ones, to incorporating a mindfulness practice into my daily routine.  The expression of gratitude, repeating meditative affirmations as well as allowing humor were key ingredients in healing and dissolving fear.  Once I set foot on this particular path of awareness my road of treatment was paved with clarity, strength and acceptance.

I was introduced to the Foundation for Living Beauty.  It is difficult to find the words to express the gratitude and undying love I have for this organization and all involved. All I can say is attending the “Goddess Wellness Retreat” sponsored by The Foundation for Living Beauty in November of 2014 was like landing in the arms of a million angels.

It doesn’t take a bout with cancer to be a strong and powerful warrior. Coming to know the profound connection between our mind and body and embrace our scars (whether they be physical or emotional) gives us strength of character.   Obstacles and limitations mean nothing. For it is not what happens to us that matters, it is what we become through experience that is significant.

a black and white image of a woman exposing her breasts while wearing a black shirt and standing on a stairwell

Gena

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer on October 1, 2009.  I don’t think anyone wants to hear those words but I knew I would beat it.  The gloves were on and I was ready to kick butt.

 

After nine months of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, I thought I knocked it out.  To my surprise winning that fight was only the beginning.  I spent another year fighting autoimmune issues.  So the testing begins, MRI’s, PET scans, CT scans, blood work.  I was told I would need a liver transplant within a year.  I was in a wheelchair for about 6 months caused by my lupus diagnosis and fatigue that would keep me in bed for days.

 

To say that this was a lot to deal with, it was.  I know that I’m a strong person but at a point you need someone or something to hold you up.  I had my loved ones and friends but I needed someone to really understand what it was like to walk in my shoes.  I joined support groups and cancer organizations that were all very helpful, but I believe the biggest transformation was my first yoga retreat that the Foundation for Living Beauty hosted.  I will never forget the first day.  I felt like I belonged and I was understood.  More importantly, I was embraced so tight I felt completely supported.  I could be strong and vulnerable at the same time.  I met women whose fight was harder than mine and the courage they possessed only made me stronger.  It was the strength in that room that first day that I carry with me.

 

Now when I’m told how amazing I look or how great I’m doing or what an inspiration I am, I know that I carry the strength and courage of these beautiful women.  That is the gift the Foundation for Living Beauty gave me and others fighting cancer.  I did know that first day I was diagnosed that I would survive cancer but I could have never imagined the sisterhood that empowers me every day.  I’M GENA AND I’M A LIVING BEAUTY.

a black and white image of a woman holding a scarf against her while wearing no clothing and showing surgery scars

Dyan

My first diagnosis taught me that I needed to be vulnerable.  With my second diagnosis, I am learning HOW to be vulnerable; to embrace all its power, its strengths, its beauty and its full potential…that being vulnerable actually makes you stronger.

a black and white image of a woman with short hair exposing one breast while covering the other with her arm

Traci

On June 20, 2016, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Driving home from the doctor’s office upon diagnosis, I knew in my gut that I’d be able to fight this, that I’d do it with community and family, and that this was somehow a culmination of certain ways of being that I needed to transform and this was the moment to embark on that transformation.  Without even trying, I could feel the shift within me.   I suppose that was the first breath of what “gifts” cancer can bring.

Gift #1 – To finally (begin to) transform my own self in prioritizing my time, my health, my creative process, and my relationships outside of the work.

Gift #2 – The ways in which the community has shown up in every way imaginable and beyond.  Folks got super organized; they set up a Youcaring site, did a full reach out to many circles and pulled together a meal-drop and ride schedule from surgery through chemo, held a benefit after I got through chemo, got artists together to create a chapbook of art and poetry to raise funds.  They’ve all astounded me and have reminded me of my ultimate gratitude for community.

Gift #3 – The connections through cancer and talking about cancer what offers us.  I felt a certain amount of privilege in having ways to speak publicly about my cancer journey.  The connections we make through this path are a true gift.  It’s with all of this that I’m able to fight and survive and thrive alongside cancer…the journey continues.

a black and white image of a woman holding a shirt against the lower half of her body and exposing her torso showing her surgery scars

Dunya

It’s as if something inside me got re-calibrated.  My perception of my role in my family and my priorities and duties shifted entirely.  I began putting myself first with ease.  I tapped into that reserve strength we rarely get to use and I activated my healing, transforming from an off-kilter person to being intensely aware of my spiritual/emotional/physical balance.  Now I keep my center by inhaling and exhaling and forging forward…every day.

a black and white image of a woman seated on a divan in front of a bed wearing only a leopard print shirt and exposing her body

Jacque

Breast cancer has given me many gifts.  I am the best person I have ever been.  I have learned that I have the strength and courage to accomplish any goal I set for myself; including earning an AA, BA, and Master’s degree…during two battles with breast cancer, a mastectomy, chemotherapy (both times), radiation, and eight separate surgeries!

Breast cancer has given me the gift of sitting with a stranger last week, while she met with her oncologist for the first time.  Breast cancer has helped to shape my career trajectory.  I have been blessed to walk through the many phases of breast cancer – diagnosis through Stage 4 through the end of life – with breast cancer survivors and their families.

Breast cancer has been a gift that has enabled me to be a gift to others.

a black and white image of a nude woman with her hands wound into her hair

Racheli

At 21 years old, being diagnosed with cancer and putting my life on hold was scary.  I felt that I didn’t deserve this diagnosis, I didn’t deserve to be scarred in this way.  Now, a year and a half in remission, I value my scars and thank cancer for what it gifted me.

Cancer, surprisingly enough, has given me countless gifts.  While this disease was quite literally the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, I’ve learned to look at the beauty that it has offered.

Cancer has given me the gift of knowing my own resilience.
Cancer has given me the gift of holding all the new found joy in my life.
Cancer has given me the gift of loving myself.
Cancer has given me the gift of my closest and most true friendships.
Cancer has given me the gift of finding mission and passion for my future.
Cancer has given me the gift of breaking down walls and wearing my heart on my sleeve.
Cancer has given me the gift of radiance. Literally.
Cancer has given me the gift of gratitude.
And most importantly, cancer has given me the gift of Life.

a black and white image of a woman's body from the neck down wearing black panties and black long sleeved shirt

Jeanette

Cervical cancer has given me the precious gift of time.  Time to self-reflect, connect with survivors and cancer fighters, acquire knowledge, act on that new knowledge, and improve how I care for and nourish my body, mind and spirit.

a black and white image of a woman wearing a black bra with scarring across her chest

Lana

Cancer has given me clarity.

a black and white image of a woman wearing only a white skirt showing her surgery scars

Jo-Ann

As I took these photos I cried tears of anger, sadness, fear, strength and gratitude. So many emotions mixed into one and I’m reminded that I’m alive to be able to take these photos.  I struggled for a long time to figure out what in heaven’s name could breast cancer have gifted me?!!  Then it dawned on me, it has given me humility and compassion that I never knew I was capable of.  Cancer has given me the gift of RIGHT NOW. It has forced me to be present and grateful for now, not later or tomorrow, but right now.  The most important gift I’ve received is learning that true beauty has NOTHING to do with external, but beauty is found in the flaws, the pain, the tears, the scars because through all of that I STILL RISE.  I never understood that or believed that until breast cancer touched my life.