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Beyond the Fear

10 Ways to Take Charge of Your Life When Battling Breast Cancer

By Gwen Morrisson

On Monday, January 6, 1997, Dr. Glacel underwent surgery. Just five days later, the pathology report came back showing more cancer – and more surgery followed. After many struggles, she underwent chemotherapy, and just two years later, she felt like she had weathered the storm and decided to share her journey with others. It was then that she wrote her memoir, Hitting the Wall: Memoir of a Cancer Journey.

Over 180,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, yet each one will feel alone, afraid and at a loss when faced with such a devastating diagnosis. Dr. Glacel wrote her memoir in hopes of encouraging and empowering women to take control of the difficult aspects of their treatment and recovery and to remind them that they are not alone.

"When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I knew very little about the subject," says Dr. Glacel. "If you receive the same devastating diagnosis, don't hesitate – take charge. Being in charge puts you on the road to recovery."

Dr. Glacel shares her tips on ways to help women face the road from diagnosis to recovery and beyond.

1. Learn as much as you can about your type of breast cancer and the treatment options.
2. Interview your doctors and make your own decisions.
3. Build your own support group.
4. Tell people what you need.
5. Spend time with people in pleasant places.
6. Find reasons to laugh.
7. If you are having chemotherapy, cut your hair first.
8. Exercise your affected arm and your whole body.
9. Take stress out of your life.
10. Pamper yourself.

"Although brast cancer is the leading cause of death in women from 40 to 55 years old, there are so many women who get breast cancer who survive it," says Dr. Glacel. "I think it is important to focus on survival and to realize that breast cancer is not a death sentence. Doing things to help ourselves take charge also helps us increase the odds for survival."

Want to see more?

• Facing the Challenge of Breast Cancer: One Woman's Story of Breast Cancer Survival
• Breast Cancer: Get the Facts
• The Breast Cancer Quiz
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!