Beating breast cancer feels like a triumph, an exit from a dark, frightening valley. Recovery is often accompanied by overwhelming joy, a sense of exhilaration, and a desire to celebrate life and appreciate all the colors, smells, and flavors around us with a child’s sense of wonder.

When the medical arsenal withdraws and the endless and difficult treatments cease, the mere prospect of a return to normal is a source of immeasurable happiness. Survivors want to catch up on lost time, grab life by the horns, and take up abandoned projects.

Yet fear and anxiety can be a downside for many of these fighters who battled tooth and nail against breast cancer. Living in constant dread snuffs out the flame of life. It is a thorn in the side of this new beginning. Breast cancer survivors must treat this fear like any other. Healthy habits and a good life philosophy are far better than obsessive fear. Besides, for many of us, cancer turns out to be an isolated case, a temporary setback.

After their long journeys through the desert, thousands of women are able
to take a new look at life and transform their core values and their relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Let’s hope that their inspiring example strikes a billion sensitive cords and becomes a shield in the fight against cancer!