After undergoing a total hysterectomy and six cycles of chemotherapy, complete with the nausea and hair loss that came with treatment, Annie Tolentino could have easily given in to self-pity. "Without faith and without Jesus being part of my life, I don’t think how I would have been able to keep my sanity," says the ovarian cancer survivor, who lives in the San Francisco Bay area.
Religion was already an integral part of life for Tolentino and her family. They would pray together at night, and attend church services together each week. When she was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer, her faith became a lifelinea way for her to stay positive through the difficult treatment process. Her belief also helped her cope with the loss of her mother from the very same cancer.
Read More"Gifts of My Ovaries"
One of her fiercest warriors is her husband, who she calls her "number one support." He pushed her to stay positive throughout her cancer journey. A few days after she returned home following surgery, he encouraged her to get up and moving, and avoid wallowing in her diagnosis.During Tolentino's treatment, her husband also became the primary caregiver for their three children, ages 11, 13, and 16. She calls her kids "gifts of my ovaries," and says she can't imagine her life without them. "That's why I'm not so mad about being an ovarian cancer survivor, because that's where these three wonderful gifts came from."
Positive Affirmations
Tolentino has made a few changes in her life since her diagnosis, which have helped her feel better. She writes in a journal, experiments with new recipes in the kitchen, and spends time walking and biking outdoors. She also relishes the time she spends with her extended family, long-term friends, and members of her church and community. "The positive vibes and the encouragement that I get from them are very helpful for my recovery," she says.
She says positivity has been an essential tool for helping her cope with cancer. "I think our brain, our mind is a very powerful thing," she says. She recommends that anyone who is faced with a cancer diagnosis feed their mind and heart "with positive affirmations" and stay close to people who "make you feel the sunlight."
Prayer has been integral for her, but she acknowledges that it's not for everyone. "For those who are not religious, just maybe think of some higher entity that you believe in," she says. "It could be just going outside and enjoying the sun or the soothing air or the wind. Those things, I think, are helpful."
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