SURVIVING CANCER

This book is a hearty yet candid memoir of a 37-year-old single mum who was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in 2019. The initial shock and trauma of her diagnosis culminated in a speedy referral for an operation to remove nine centimetres of her bowel where the tumour resided.

Hoping this was the end of the nightmare, Rachael was then told she had to endure six months of intravenous chemotherapy, to be sure all rogue cancer cells are terminated before they have the chance to spread elsewhere in her body. Determined to do whatever it takes to give herself the best chance of surviving, being alive to raise her child, Rachael commits to the treatment, despite a stubborn logic that says; 'the cancer has gone, why do I need to do it?' Along the way she meets two important people. A local guy her own age, battling the exact same cancer as her. The two becomes fast friends and a much-needed comfort. She also meets an inspiring integrative medical practitioner, Rowena, a naturopath who works alongside oncologists performing life-saving cancer treatments in Thailand and specialises in oncology. This meeting completely changes the trajectory of Rachael's journey. Instead of seeing chemo as a prison sentence, Rowena teaches her that surviving cancer can be done your own way. With power and positivity, rather than fear and weakness. Armed with a fresh new mindset, Rachael embarks on eight rounds of chemotherapy. Her mother lives with her during the six-month journey and looks after her son while Rachael's friends drive her two hours down the highway for the three-weekly rounds. Each friend offers a different experience and a different perspective that adds flavour (sometimes even fun!) to the story. During the six-month road to recovery, Rachael works full-time as an Editor of two local magazines. She also follows a strict natural medicine protocol, which includes supplements that are known to work alongside chemo. With cancer-coach Rowena guiding her through each round and testing her bloods, Rachael remains healthy throughout her treatment, even experiencing less side-effects as she goes. This is the story of a young woman who took control of her own journey, looked cancer straight in the eye and did it her way.