The Healing Has Begun

My teacher Dean Lerner has always said that the practice of yoga helps us to face things in life. Now life is asking me to dig deeply into my “yoga account” as I face a big challenge – a diagnosis of cancer.

I have uterine cancer that will require surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. I choose to view this process not as a battle, but as a healing journey. If it’s a fight, you can only win or lose, but a healing journey can take place with all outcomes. And I don’t want to “fight” – a fight sounds exhausting. I want to heal, and come out of this stronger, clearer and even more whole. I choose to view every single exam, procedure and treatment that I receive as a healing modality, bringing pure love and vibrant health to every cell of my being. The outlook for a complete cure is very good.

We met with the surgeon yesterday. He was kind, soft spoken, and patient and I feel very good about working with him. The surgery will be laparoscopic, with a small chance he would need to make a larger incision, although he says his incidence of needing to do that is very low.

During the surgery they will also biopsy lymph nodes and some fatty tissue in the pelvis. It will take 2 – 3 weeks to get the pathology report back, which will inform us about what happens next. 90% of the cancer is of a type easy to cure, but 10% is an aggressive type that can travel anywhere in the body. Therefore the doctor has recommended 6 treatments of chemo 3 weeks apart – 5 months. He also recommended three treatments of radiation within the vagina. If the nodes or other pelvic tissues have cancer, then I will need the full pelvic radiation treatments.

I did all my pre-op tests today. One hopeful sign is that the CAT scan showed that my pelvic lymph nodes are not swollen. This is a good indication that cancer has not spread to other sites in my body. It is still possible that there is microscopic cancer in the lymph nodes – that will be determined through the post- surgery biopsies. But the fact that they are normal size is definitely a hopeful sign.

The surgery is planned for either August 21 or September 7. We will know by next Thursday, August 16. Whenever it occurs, the studio will be closed the following week. Please watch for your email newsletter and check the web site regularly so you stay updated about the studio schedule.

I will be using this blog space to keep you informed about my treatments and progress on this path. I will post dates for the surgery, chemo and radiation sessions and ask for special prayers and healing energy at those times. I will keep you informed about my process, the highs and the lows, and the insights and learning that I know will come. The blog will also give you a way to share your thoughts and prayers, poems and jokes, and your love with me as I walk this path. I am soliciting recommendations for funny movies, which I plan to make a staple part of my media diet!

I appreciate your positive thoughts and prayers. I would also like to request that we all deepen our practice of yoga, and dedicate that practice to the benefit of all beings. There is no more powerful way to bring healing, wholeness and freedom to ourselves, to each other and to our world.

In peace,
Karen