WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
Celebrating Cancer Survivors Day
By Vi c k i Fr e n c h B e n n i n g t o n
C
ancer isn’t a word anyone wants to hear – as the patient,
family member, friend or even medical professional.
Unfortunately, we all hear the word - a lot. Increasing
awareness of specific cancers, while celebrating those
who have beat many of the odds is what National Cancer
Survivors Day, commemorated the first Sunday in June, is all about, and
many organizations continue to celebrate the following week.
Everyone deals with cancer differently - even celebrities. Fran Drescher,
known for her Brooklyn accent and hit television show, “The Nanny,” wrote
the book, “Cancer, Schmancer,” sharing her experience of visiting eight
doctors before she go t the answer for her symptoms: uterine cancer. After
a radical hysterectomy, she has since been cancer-free. She then formed
the nonprofit Cancer Schmancer Movement, dedicated to early detection,
prevention and policy change at the national level.
The four St. Louis-area women we are honoring this month as cancer
survivors each had her own response and way of coping, too.
Harpist Amy Camie turned to the soothing music that she created,
which had previously comforted others.
Young mother Natasha Fogarty sometimes chose dark humor to get her
through trying times, as she was embraced and empowered by the loving
support of family and friends.
Raylene Hollrah put much of her energy into becoming an advocate for
women who have suffered from cancer due to breast implants.
Zaria McDonald was determined to continue enjoying her high school
years, attending homecoming and other school activities, despite her illness.
Celebrating survivors also serves as inspiration for those recently
diagnosed with cancer by demonstrating that it is possible to live an
enjoyable life after diagnosis. The National Cancer Survivors Day
Foundation provides encouragement and resources all year. ncsd.org
MUSIC SOOTHES THE SOUL
AMY CAMIE
The journey for Amy Camie began in December 2010, when she was
diagnosed with estrogen receptive breast cancer.
She had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments,
and listened to “The Magic Mirror,” a therapeutic CD she had -
ironically - previously created on her harp to help people undergoing
chemotherapy.
In December 2012, she found that fate had another chapter to add
to her story. She found a lump on her right breast that didn’t show up
on a mammogram. A biopsy came back positive for the same type of
cancer she had before. She had a mastectomy on the right side and a full
hysterectomy through the Da Vinci robotic system, the least invasive
type of procedure.
Now, she has been cancer-free for five years.
How have her views on life changed after what she’s gone through?
“My journey with cancer was a journey to love; to love myself, to
receive love more easily from others, and to more fully share my love
with the world. The 13 Life Lessons in my book, “Loving Life ... All of
It - A Walk with Cancer, Compassion and Consciousness” continue to
influence and motivate me every day. One of my favorites is, “Change is
constant, so dance within the moment.”
Her blog, her books on loving life while overcoming cancer and her
soothing CD, “The Magic Mirror” can be found at amycamie.com.
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