[Update: I wrote this in October of 2014. It’s been 3 years, and I’m still doing great. Thanks to all of you who continue to check up on me and wish me well!]
It was February 5th, my mother’s birthday and a month before the 20th anniversary of my becoming vegan. I was sitting in a breast surgeon’s office in a paper gown, cradling my biopsied breast and waiting. After about an hour and a half, my surgeon finally appeared, apologizing for keeping me waiting because the results had only just come in. He took a deep breath and said, “You don’t have cancer.” I thought, “I didn’t think I did.” Unfortunately, as I would later find out, we both were wrong.
He went on to explain that the biopsy found abnormal cells, officially called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), but often referred to as Stage 0 or pre-cancer. While I was still reeling from the word “carcinoma,” he explained that these cells might become cancer, so they had to be treated like cancer. My options were a lumpectomy with radiation or a mastectomy. I asked whether there was any chance that the pathology report could be wrong, and my doctor said no.
I was stunned. I left in a daze and went over to my husband’s office nearby to give him the news.
Three months before, a routine mammogram had spotted a place that looked different from my last mammogram. I was sent to the Breast Health Center for another mam and then an ultrasound to get a closer look. The spot was so small and deep inside the breast that the ultrasound technician couldn’t find it at all, so I was given an appointment to return in three months. At that three month mammogram, the “spot” was clearly visible even to me as a glowing white circle in a sea of black and gray. A ultrasound-guided biopsy was scheduled for early the next week.
I’d had one of these biopsies four years ago, and that spot had turned out to be nothing but a harmless cyst, so I had been expecting the same results this time. Like most women, I didn’t think “The Big C” could happen to me. But because I was a vegan, I think I was even more positive that I couldn’t have cancer. After all, wasn’t I doing everything the vegan doctors tell us to do to protect ourselves from heart disease and cancer? Low-fat, lots of green and cruciferous vegetables and brightly colored fruit? No animal products? Moreover, no one in my family had ever had cancer. I naively thought I was immune.
So I didn’t really believe the pathology report, and I became even more skeptical when I read an article that said that DCIS is sometimes misdiagnosed. I decided to get a second opinion from one of the doctors mentioned in that article, a pathologist specializing in breast cancer in San Francisco. I had the hospital send him my biopsy slides, and a week later, I had a consultation with him on the phone. He was unable to confirm DCIS or rule out actual cancer because the radiologist who had performed the biopsy had noted that he had actually missed the “mass.” The biopsy needle had gone in front of the suspected tumor and gathered cells from there, just a few that looked abnormal. But until the actual mass was tested, the pathology specialist couldn’t rule out either DCIS or invasive cancer. He suggested I get another, more accurate, biopsy called a stereotactic biopsy, and I asked my doctor to schedule it.
I had high hopes that this second biopsy would show no DCIS and no cancer. Those hopes were shot down when my new medical oncologist called to give me the results: I had a small invasive cancer, Stage 1, that showed signs of being aggressive. She recommended surgery within the next 3-4 weeks. Just to be sure, I had the slides sent to the pathologist in San Francisco, who agreed with her diagnosis.
So I did what any logical person would do: I took a vacation. It was Spring Break, and my husband and I had planned a 5-day trip to take our high school junior (now senior) to visit 6 colleges in the Midwest. We wanted to do it while we could because we knew that after the surgery, I would need 6 ½ weeks of daily radiation treatments and might not be able to get away during the summer. The trip was a great distraction, but as soon as we got home, I made an appointment with the surgeon and scheduled my lumpectomy for the following week.
The surgery went perfectly. The surgeon removed the tumor and the area around it, as well as three lymph nodes which tested negative: the cancer had not spread to them. A week later, I returned to the surgeon’s office for more good news: The final pathology report showed that the “margins” or edges of the material he had removed were clean, meaning that all of the targeted cancer cells had probably been removed. The only worrisome thing to my husband and me were some figures in the report that seemed a little scary, particularly a “grade” of 3, meaning the cancer was aggressive. My surgeon was unconcerned, and my oncologist said that she would order a genetic test called Oncotype DX to more conclusively determine my chances of having the cancer recur.
A few weeks went by as I recovered from the surgery and waited for the results of the Oncotype test. I was expecting to start radiation soon when my medical oncologist called with the test results. They indicated that I was at a moderately high risk of recurrence. She was recommending that I have chemo.
This was the first time the other Big C word had been mentioned, and for some reason, “chemotherapy” scared me more than “cancer.” The oncologist explained that the type of chemo she was recommending was “well-tolerated” and without all of the serious long-term consequences of other treatments. I wasn’t convinced, and I began frantically researching the chemo itself and alternatives to it.
I was in a panic. On the one hand, I’ve always believed in fighting disease with nutrition and had always been opposed to taking any medication if it could be avoided. On the other hand, hadn’t I been doing just that for the past 20 years? My oncologist was telling me that chemo could reduce my risk of having the cancer recur and spread, that preventing it now would be much easier than trying to stop if it spread to my other organs. I went back and forth, one day deciding that chemo was just too dangerous and the next deciding that I didn’t want to take the risk of the cancer coming back. I was, frankly, a mess. I couldn’t sleep or eat for worrying about the chemo. I finally decided to get a second opinion from a highly recommended breast cancer oncologist at the University Medical Center.
My second opinion doctor came back with the same recommendation as the first: Have the chemo. She assured me that I was young (me!) and healthy and I could handle it. And it would cut my chance of recurrence in half.
My husband was very careful to stand back and let me make the decision for myself, but I knew that he hoped that I would have the chemo. And I was afraid that if I didn’t have it, I would be anxious for the rest of my life, afraid that I hadn’t done everything I possibly could to prevent a recurrence. I’d read the stories of people who had fought their cancer with diet and lifestyle choices, but those people weren’t already eating a whole foods, plant-based diet like I was.
So I decided to do the chemo, four rounds, three weeks apart. I read everything I could find about the treatments and armed myself with supplements that could help prevent side effects. And I found out my oncologist was right: the treatments, though no fun, we’re not as bad as I’d feared. My side effects were minimal, the most annoying being a bad taste in my mouth that would come and go and made it difficult to create new recipes.
Just after my initial diagnosis, I’d begun getting up at 5:30 every morning and walking with my husband and our dog. During chemo, and later radiation, I considered it a point of honor that I never missed a walk. On the weekends, my family and I tried to get out of the house and do a little hiking or local sightseeing so that I wouldn’t feel like the treatment was making me isolated. I ate lots of fruits and vegetables to support my immune system and was careful to avoid coming into contact with people who were sick, and I sailed through my summer of chemo without so much as a sniffle.
When chemo ended, I was determined to take a family vacation before I had to start radiation therapy, so at the beginning of August, we spent a week in the mountains of North Carolina and a few days in Nashville, seeing my newest niece for the first time (and, of course, my brother and sister-in-law).
I got back home and jumped right into daily radiation treatments–33 of them. Again, the treatments weren’t nearly as bad as I expected, but I was thrilled when they ended last week. I couldn’t wait to put all of this cancer stuff behind me.
I didn’t write about this while it was going on mainly because I was afraid that people would offer suggestions and criticisms of my decision to go through with chemo and radiation, and I just couldn’t risk the additional stress that would have put on me. So why am I telling you now? Even though this blog is recipe-oriented and not usually very personal, I wasn’t sure if I could go on writing it if I had to pretend like something this big hadn’t happened to me, something that has consumed the last eight months of my life and has changed the way I see myself and the way I think about diet, veganism, and health.
My first month post-diagnosis, before I had the specter of chemo to worry me, all I could think about was “why” and “how”: Why did I, a vegan who tries to eat healthy, get cancer when no one else in my Standard American Diet-eating family has ever had cancer? What had I done wrong? Had I eaten too few nuts? Too little cilantro? Not enough flax seeds? BPA? Soy?! I worried that I had caused my cancer by never being able to get to my goal weight and stay there, that I didn’t exercise consistently, that I had had only one child late in life and that I hadn’t breastfed her long enough.
I was blaming myself, and I had a lot of help from the Internet. I couldn’t visit Facebook without seeing posts about how eating X (broccoli, nuts, soy, orange) would help prevent cancer. Or people posting about their frustration that a friend or family member had breast cancer and refused to treat it by adopting a plant-based diet. If I, someone who had been eating all the right things (and not eating all the wrong ones), got the message that I was to blame for my cancer, how must other cancer patients feel, the ones who hadn’t been stuffing themselves with kale and mushrooms? Is there a way to promote a plant-based diet that doesn’t point the finger of blame, that doesn’t make grand promises of health, and that doesn’t make people like me feel so confident in the invincibility of our diets that we put off mammograms or other screening tests?
I don’t know. But for me, it’s been helpful to think of the vegan diet as promoting health, but not providing a “Get out of Disease Free” card. My friend Maria made me see that even if my diet didn’t prevent me from getting cancer, perhaps the cancer would have grown much more quickly if I hadn’t been vegan. Perhaps I wouldn’t have sailed through chemo without ever needing nausea meds if I hadn’t been nourishing my body with fruits and vegetables. Perhaps my immune system wouldn’t have stayed as strong as it did or my energy as high if I had been consuming animal products.
It’s also been helpful to me to remember my real reason for being vegan. Though I’ve followed a McDougall-type diet ever since I became vegan, my ultimate reason for becoming vegan was not to improve my own health but to decrease the suffering of animals. So if you’re reading this and worrying that I’m going to be another vegan blogger who goes back to eating animals for her own health, don’t. No diagnosis in the world could convince me to eat another animal or animal product.
As for my current health, I feel great, and I’m confident that I caught this cancer early and have done and am doing everything medically and nutritionally possible to make sure I never have to worry about it again. I’ve tweaked my diet to reduce or eliminate foods I don’t need (sugar, soy, wine, and coffee) and to increase those I wasn’t eating enough of before (broccoli sprouts, flax seeds, organics). I walk at least once and sometimes twice a day, and soon I’ll be starting a workout routine at the gym. I plan to lose the extra weight I’ve been carrying around, which is the biggest threat to my health.
I think the hardest struggle I’ve faced isn’t physical but emotional. My image of myself as a healthy person who never took pills and was confident her vegan diet would protect her from anything–that image took a pretty big hit. I’ve been worried about “coming out” as a vegan with cancer for fear that non-vegans would see it as proof that a vegan diet “doesn’t work” and that some vegans would skewer me for resorting to traditional medicine. In the end, I decided that I had to put my truth out there so that I can get past it and get back to blogging as usual. Next post, you can expect a recipe. Cancer isn’t on the menu.
Thank you to all my family, friends, and friends of friends who offered love and support. And to my church, the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Jackson, and my parents’ church, The First Presbyterian Church of Hammond, LA (love the shawl and cap, y’all!) And to Maria Maggi, Nava Atlas, Dreena Burton, and Stephanie Weaver–wise women all, whose words of advice and offers of support helped me more than they probably know.
Leon sobon
October 9, 2014 at 8:31 pmSusan you are a wonder! What an inspiration…
KalynsKitchen
October 9, 2014 at 8:31 pmOh Susan, what a brave post. And I am so glad to hear that it has turned out so well for you. xox
Carolyn
October 9, 2014 at 8:32 pmSusan,
Your blog has been a constant in my life since I started dating my boyfriend-now-fiancee almost 6 years ago. While I am not vegan (he is) your recipes have always been delicious and your blog a favorite in my reader. I’m so sorry this has happened to you – cancer doesn’t discriminate.
Also, I can’t believe E is approaching college age!!!
Thank you for sharing, as always,
Carolyn
Sarah Mc
October 9, 2014 at 8:35 pmHi Susan,
Last December I became mostly vegan, after reading Dr. Fuhrman’s Eat to Live, and shortly after that found your website, and fell in love with your recipes. You are my go-to person for new inspiration and delicious food.
I have just read your “unexpected diagnosis” blog, and I want to thank you for sharing your story, and for your bravery. This past August I marked my 5th year since my surgery for invasive breast cancer, followed by (I’m guessing) the same chemo you had (I know that 2 drug, 4 round every 3 week regimen). I wasn’t a vegan at that time, but I did eat what others considered a pretty healthy diet, with lots of organic fruits and veggies, only whole grains, no sugar of any variety, and almost no alcohol. I breast fed 2 children for nearly 7 years total, no one in my extended family had ever had breast cancer, I exercised regularly, I wasn’t over weight, I would have had my 1st child before my 30th birthday if he had been on time – you get it. I also didn’t really think it could happen to me. You are right – the emotional toll is huge as you realize that while there is a lot you can control, ultimately, there is also a lot you can’t.
I also learned from 3 of my doctors that sometimes, the hardest part emotionally comes AFTER the treatment ends. During treatment, you are so wrapped up in what is happening to you physically, that it is afterwards that it fully hits (not that it was a walk in the woods between diagnosis and the end of treatment, just that there was still an emotional hurdle to get over when things were quiet and that you have the mental/physical space to realize what the heck just happened to you.)
So my wish for you for the next few months and beyond is that you continue to be good and kind to yourself – whatever that means to you. Light a candle when you are paying bills. Turn on music when you might otherwise not. It’s okay to lie down in the middle of the day, even if you are not in chemo. Continue to sharpen your skills of tuning out anyone who would judge or try to tell you what or how you should be eating/living (every woman needs to find her own path.) Keep taking those walks, if that’s what you love (I also walked more with my husband during treatment than before, and it was lovely in a way.)
One of those 3 doctors told me to be “selfish” for the next YEAR. I thought he was nuts, but in the end, I tried to follow his advice, and it was good advice. Your readers love you and your recipes, and will totally understand if you need a break OR if you need to go on a crazy recipe producing frenzie, and we will be here for you either way. And I personally am looking forward to even more non-soy based meals, because that was my go to food for years, but not in the last 5 years, and counting.
Wishing you well, and continued health and strength, and the healing benefits of time.
Sincerely,
Sarah Mc
Vicki
October 9, 2014 at 8:37 pmBless you Susan. I think I would feel the same – how could this happen? I’ve been so good – and it’s never really been easy – it’s so unfair.
Hang in there. Thank you for sharing.
Susie
October 9, 2014 at 8:42 pmBlessings and many prayers for continued and total recovery . . .and certainly no judgment! How an individual chooses to treat cancer is a very personal decision, and what’s right for one person may not be right for another. None of us, no matter how healthily we eat, are completely immune to illness. I’m sure it must have been frightening and difficult for you. Thanks for sharing your story with us — your honesty is appreciated, and your presence here is treasured. ♥
Jen Havard
October 9, 2014 at 8:43 pmBlessings, Susan. Thanks for sharing the journey, the experiences, with us all. I had a breast cancer scare, which turned out to be nothing worrisome, BUT, when facing the idea of cancer, I struggled much with the idea that eating a plant-based diet for a number of years now was supposed to be my protection against this. So, your words about it not being a Get out of Disease Free card are right on target!
Prayers for you!
Preetha
October 9, 2014 at 8:52 pmSusan, thank you for sharing. wishing you all the best.
A reader of your blog and I love your recipes.
Meghan
October 9, 2014 at 9:13 pmThank you so much for sharing your honest account and experience. It is so personal, and I’m sure it wasn’t easy to put it out there for any kind of public scrutiny. There are a lot of strong opinions out there for or against using diet to combat disease, but there is a noticeable lack of honest personal experiences.
Evelyn
October 9, 2014 at 9:14 pmWow…just…wow. I had an enormous amount of respect for you before this latest post; it’s grown way beyond that now.
I admire your thought process dealing with this profound diagnosis. There is nothing like happily living your life only to have a huge bump in the road like this one stop you in your tracks.
I admire your courage and your husband’s as well. It would’ve been really easy for him to “tell” you how to handle this, but instead he paid you the ultimate loving compliment by letting you make the very difficult decision on how to proceed. You are surely blessed!
I firmly believe that a vegan diet is the healthiest one on the planet. And, I agree that had you been eating “conventionally” your prognosis would have been very different.
You are supported by a loving family, loving friends, and very capable doctors. I can’t wait to see what fabulous fixin’s you’ll share in the coming years with those of us who faithfully follow your blog. I look forward to each and every one of them.
Blessings to you and your family!
Donna
October 9, 2014 at 9:15 pmOh, Susan! I do hope you are well, and thank you for sharing. Please don’t even think about what other people think or feel. There is so much judgement in our “community”. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a return to “normal”. You are an inspiration.
Angela W
October 9, 2014 at 9:15 pmSusan — Like all the others, I am so THANKFUL for all you do for everyone… and now you share with us such an intensely personal story. Wow! You are an amazing woman. I have so much respect for you.
On another subject, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the photos you used for this post. All of them are so great! You could publish one of those coffee table books of amazing photos and skip the recipes altogether. Of course, you SHOULD also publish a book of all your AMAZING recipes (that we eat more often than not!). (Where does your talent stop?!)
Loving you here in Cincinnati!
Patti
October 9, 2014 at 9:20 pmSusan- I can’t thank you enough for sharing your story. The timing is amazing- tomorrow morning I have my biopsy, followed by the same wait for results, hopefully good news. Thank you for sharing such a deep personal part of your life! Wishing you the best.
Christa
October 9, 2014 at 9:26 pmThank you for sharing. Sending positivity and luv ….
Veganopoulous
October 9, 2014 at 9:29 pmThis is your truth and I absolutely admire and applaud your honesty here. It’s nobody’s place to tell you that you should have done this-or-that. I completely understand the hesitation in writing and again I really do appreciate and admire that you have published this. Wishing you all the very best!
Eileen
October 9, 2014 at 9:29 pmWill be praying for you. We are very familiar with the challenges of serious medical problems in this family so are aware of what you have, and will, face. Medical difficulties impact your life physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially and socially. Even with all the stress there will also be some amazingly unexpected positive affects that will surprise you. Things that would never have happened had it not been for the challenges illness (or preventing illness) presents.
I’ve been a long time subscriber of you wonderful blog…and have enjoyed many of the great recipes. You have been very helpful to me because my daughter reqires a low fat/fat free diet to maintain her daily health. Thank you.
We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Rose
October 9, 2014 at 9:35 pmSusan, thank you for sharing your story! I’m a vegan who had a heart attack. It was a shock to my family and friends and my doctor because I take good care of myself. Heart disease doesn’t run in my family and there was no significant plaque in my arteries. Seems I have some rare type of heart spasms. But like you I couldn’t help but ask why and analyze my diet and lifestyle to death. Of course like you I did some diet/lifestyle tweaking. But the thing that helped me feel I was doing the right thing by being vegan is when my doctor told me that I most likely wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been vegan. We may never know what caused our illnesses, something we did in our past, the environment, or many other reasons might come to mind but that won’t stop me from being vegan because it is the right thing to be for many reasons and I’m so glad you decided to remain vegan. Your recipes and the Forks Over Knifes way of eating has helped me be a better vegan. Thank you and I wish you continued good health.
Cherie Oden
October 9, 2014 at 9:43 pmSusan, this is an amazing and inspiring story! You are a courageous, beautiful woman. I completely understand why you didn’t share your story earlier, and I want to thank you for sharing it now. I am sending hugs and healing light your way. Never give up!!! 😉
Leila Shafiq
October 9, 2014 at 9:44 pmSusan, thank you for sharing your experience. You have touched my life in so many ways and have been instrumental in my journey to improve my health. All of us struggle in some way. And life surely has no guarantees. At a time when so much of the world around us spins out of control and people move heedlessly through their days without reflecting on the choices they make and the consequences of those choices, it becomes a point of strength to find others who struggle to live a conscious life. May God grant you the patience and perseverance to meet your challenges and reward you for all of the good you do on your blog. Truthfully, I can hardly find my way around the kitchen, yet you have me eating better and eating good! Thank you.
Bobbi
October 9, 2014 at 9:59 pmSusan,
Ya do what ya gotta do. Take what you need, leave the rest. Everyone has an opinion; hopefully no one leaves advice or criticism that you don’t need to hear.
Best wishes for your health and happiness.
Merrilee
October 9, 2014 at 10:00 pmWhat a beautiful and heart felt revelation! Thank you, for sharing your story!
As we know, Paul McCartney’s wife died of breast cancer and she was vegan. I’m 60 years old. I smoked for decades, had eating disorders for 7 years and ate nothing but sugar and refined foods as a child. I live in California and am ALWAYS in the sun…………..and I haven’t gotten cancer? Go figure.
Diet can’t change genetics. Your story reminded me of that truth.
Sincerely,
Merrilee
Sheila
October 9, 2014 at 10:03 pmI am a 14-year breast cancer survivor and I admire the way you got what you needed and made your decisions. Back when I was in treatment I told my oncology nurse I read that a vegan diet could help to prevent a recurrence of cancer and asked if she thought I should change to a vegan diet. She said the answer to that is, if you had a recurrence, would you take comfort in knowing you did all you could, or would you wish you had just eaten whatever you felt like? My answer is I’m glad I started eating this way and doing what I can to be healthy. A vegan diet is good for my body, mind and spirit, for the earth and for the animals, no matter what may happen in my life.Thank you for sharing your story.
mary
October 9, 2014 at 10:09 pmFirst — absolutely – no need to answer this email. Second —- Thanks ! and thanks again. I think I held my breath through the whole thing. I hope all your responses from folks have been positive ones. What a journey and how much compassion you have for ‘both’ sides of the coin now – a sure blessing. Much respect for all your choices and best wishes for a long and healthy future. Take good care.
Lois Gowen
October 9, 2014 at 10:13 pmI wondered what you meant by surgery. I am so glad that you made the right choices for you and are recovering nicely. Thank-you for all you have done for all of us. Much love to you. Lois
Patti
October 9, 2014 at 10:13 pmHoly cow! I’ve followed your blog for years??? You’ve been so inspirational to me as a vegan and healthy eater. I’m so sorry you had to suffer this disease. I’m so glad you found the courage to talk about it. Thanks for sharing your story. I wish you years of happiness and health. Thanks for all you’ve done for me.
Mitzi R
October 9, 2014 at 10:17 pmBrava! I would do the same. In the face of an aggressive cancer, what is left to do but everything possible? I loved your very thought provoking article. Be well and continue to nourish yourself, body and soul. <3
Diane
October 9, 2014 at 10:18 pmHi Susan,
I NEVER comment on sites due to time and my technical skills. Thank you for your blog. Hundreds of us –who are behind on scheduling mammograms will schedule them. Breast cancer attacks healthy women and men and unhealthy women and men. It’s a terrible disease that we should fight by funding research and not blaming ourselves. Sending prayers your way.
Rosalie
October 9, 2014 at 10:21 pmSusan,
I have to say I had been concerned about whatever you needed to take a break for and figured if it was important you would share if need be. I am sorry you had to go through this much pain and suffering, but am glad that it is all behind you now and that you can leave it behind.
You are such an inspiration as a great designer of foods but also as someone who takes their eating seriously unwilling to consume animal products. I have been vegetarian for over about 15 years and have been slowly getting the dairy, oil and sugars out. Think I will be more serious from now on. Thanks again for being such an inspiration.
Behind you all the way,
Rosalie
Karen
October 9, 2014 at 10:21 pmThanks for writing something personal. Someday we’ll get a handle on cancer, probably not in our generation. Good luck &. Thanks for all of your recipes.
Karen
Corrin Radd
October 9, 2014 at 10:27 pmAmazing story. Thank you for sharing it and thank you for the blog in general.
Dana
October 9, 2014 at 10:44 pmSusan, Thank you so much for sharing your story with us all.
I am so sorry about your battle with cancer. It seems to me you have an incredible attitude. You see the positive side of your experience and that is sure to inform your view on food and feeding not just your body but also your soul.
I love your blog and your commitment to eating low fat and vegan. Wishing you health and longevity and better days ahead!
Rajee
October 9, 2014 at 10:48 pmCongratulations and thank you for sharing a very personal experience. Congratulations on facing this monster on a very positive attitude and with a goal to live your life daily to the fullest. I think your vegan lifestyle has given you the strength and confidence, it saved your life. My prayers to God for a speed recovery. I will think of you during the upcoming Breast Cancer walk. Looking forward to reading and cooking more of your recipes.
Jacqui Williamson
October 9, 2014 at 10:49 pmThank you for sharing your story. I feel sad that we live in a world where you didnt feel free to share your journey earlier. Each person is living their own unique life and if they take full responsibility for their life and choices, whilst not intentionally harming others then no decision they make is wrong. By living the healthy life you do I truly believe you have given yourself the best opportunity to heal. For all you know it could be enviromental factors of which you have no control over which has triggered the cancer. Thanks for all the awesome recipes. Best wishes to you and your family.
ritabarber
October 9, 2014 at 10:49 pmThank you for your inspiring story. We have been vegan for 4 years for many reasons and believe that we are following the right path for the alleviation of animal cruelty, the environment and health. We don’t look at it as a guarantee for a disease free life. We are in our 60’s and grew up with smoke filled air and fatty food, so I imagine its taken its toll and we don’t know how much genetics plays a part. We are so glad that you are well and grateful for your recovery, that’s great news!
I had major back surgery 3 years ago and was expected to be in hospital for up to a week. My husband had booked a hotel for 3 days to be nearby. I was so well the following day that I was able to go home to recuperate. The Surgeon thought I was a fit and healthy women and would recover well. Within four weeks, I was back teaching and at the gym by six. Never underestimate the power of a healthy lifestyle!!! The other 3 ladies were moaning and groaning when I walked out to the car!!! I am inspired by your recipes and look forward to learning more. Very best wishes for a full and healthy lifestyle and to a great future
Take Care
Linda Marcella
October 9, 2014 at 10:51 pmI admire you for your tenacity and am glad you can put the C behind you ! One more thing…..now don’t get mad at me, but I love that darned cat of yours!! So beautiful, too!! I love seeing the critter here on your website!! Have a Loki spot along with the recipes!! Cause, darn it, I love that CAT !!
Susan Voisin
October 9, 2014 at 11:15 pmI love that cat, too, and I think that’s a great idea! You wouldn’t believe what a comfort he’s been and a distraction, too, especially when he went missing for 5 days. I’ll try to feature him more often. 🙂
Maria
October 9, 2014 at 10:52 pmThank you for being so open and honest with your readers. I applaud you for being so brave, both in fighting your fight and in telling others so they can understand the reality: a vegan diet is not a cure-all but it is the best way to fight disease. Will be praying for you, that the cancer doesn’t return!
Julie
October 9, 2014 at 10:52 pmSusan thank you so much for sharing your story. I completely understand your reasons for not sharing earlier. I’m so happy to hear you are doing well now. I also understand your thoughts as to why people eating an american diet weren’t sick…I was diagnosed a few years ago with diabetes, type 1.5, which means I will be on insulin at some point in my life, and have to take oral meds for now. I remember when I was first diagnosed, having Thanksgiving dinner with some obese family members and wondering WHY they weren’t diabetic (I am small and even had doctors asking me why I had diabetes). Thank you Susan for all you do for us; for all the delicious recipes and thoughtful words. Wishing you all the best!
Julie
October 9, 2014 at 11:02 pmI also had a mammogram guided core needle biopsy at my last mammogram; that was a whirlwind, numbing experience! when the radiologist called me a few days later, she said she actually thought she would be calling with bad news. That mammogram was over a year ago~I’ve been delinquent in getting in this year. Your story has urged/reminded me I need to get back in! Thanks again.
Randy
October 9, 2014 at 10:58 pmSusan, you have been my vegan food hero for a long time. Yours is my go to place for recipes all year long. Now you’re even more of a hero to me. I am so glad your shared your story here with all of us. Bad things happen to good people and cancer can happen to anyone these days. Thank you for sharing and here’s to quick healing and a happy ending to this story.
Colleen
October 9, 2014 at 11:03 pmThank you so much for sharing your story. I’m so happy for you and your family that your treatment has gone better than expected. My husband has had cancer, and many of the points you bring up are things that he has mentioned to me in the past. He is in remission, 6 years now. I wish good health to you as well.
Diane Young
October 9, 2014 at 11:04 pmSusan, my sister and I have been wondering where you were. How wonderful that you have come through your treatment, you are a good reminder that the extra pounds are another risk factor, no matter what you are eating. I know so many women who have lived through breast cancer, it is very encouraging. Each woman makes her own choice for the treatment that is the best for her. I’ve been a nurse for many years and like to see women who use herbs, psychics, nutritionists, counseling, chemo and radiation– in other words, everything they can get their hands on! My mom had DCIS and insisted on a mastectomy when she was 79, against her doc’s recommendation for a woman her age. mom said two of her friends had lumpectomies and then later needed a mastectomy. Logic and looking at the statistics did not work on mom, but she was in charge. Your story is very important for others to hear because of the way you took charge and sought out more than one opinion at different points in your diagnosis and treatment. You have been such a help to me and my family on our our vegan path! So glad you are well,