Hi, my name is Karen. Have you ever wondered how in the world that one person can survive so much pain and suffering in their life? Well, I would love to share with you how I went from despair to joy. Would you like to find out what it's like from a cancer patients point of view? Our bodies are miraculous!! It's amazing how much abuse, pain, surgery, poking and prodding that a body can endure. Mine has come through 14 different surgeries in just the last 14 years. Walk with me as I share my journey through this incredible ordeal. It has taken a lot of personal development on my part to get me through the trauma. My story could possibly be your story. There are probably many things that we have in common, you just haven't written yours down. I pray that you will have the courage to do so after reading my book. My name is Karen; I am a 44-year-old mother of four, with a marvelous husband, one grandson, and two granddaughters. I started singing when I was 8 years old. God has taken me down many paths since then. At the age of 9, twice a copperhead bit me. At the age of 10, I was in a severe car accident with my family. In the 10th grade, I started working at a rest home as a volunteer. I enjoyed it so much, that I continued through until the 12th grade. I was told that I could not stay there anymore because I was spending too much time with the patients. I sang to them brushed their hair, and rubbed their feet. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I say this to let you know that I have a deep love for my elders. At the age of 25, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had a complete Hysterectomy. God wasn’t finished testing me yet. At 32, I was diagnosed with a Vertebral Artery Dissection in the brain. As you can imagine, I often wondered how much a body could take. I trusted in the Lord to take care of me, and he did. In 1997, I started my own business so I could stay home with my children. God blessed the business with an overabundance of joy and financial blessings. I still sang for Gods glory during all of the trails and all of the good times. I learned from reading Gods word and from huge amounts of self-motivational books, that "If it is to be, its up to me!" I decided that it was time for me to give back something of myself to mankind; by helping others feel good about themselves, and to have a positive attitude no matter what the situation. I began doing that through sharing my testimony. In June of 2001, I was once again diagnosed with Cancer. This time of the Colon, I prayed for God to get me through this and once again he delivered me. He wasn’t finished with me yet, so in February 2002, I was diagnosed with Cancer of the Liver. I told God that I would bear the load if only I could touch one person. He allowed me to touch more than one; he has allowed me to touch thousands. Before going into surgery for the Liver Cancer, the doctors told me to get my affairs in order because I probably wouldn’t make it through this time. I told them that they weren’t God, and that he would decide when it was time for me to go. I got through that one with a victorious smile and a lot of pain after 9 hours of surgery and a lot of prayer. With great expectations, I continued to sing Gods praises. Little did I know that he had more in store for me, In June of 2003, I was diagnosed with Rectal Cancer. They told me I would have a permanent colostomy and basically not much of a life. They wanted me to go to counseling, but God wanted me to be the counselor. Have you ever wondered what your family member or friends are going through when they are diagnosed with cancer? Just read the words of my book for encouragement. There is something you can do to help. You can take action now by purchasing my book. I guarantee that you will travel an emotional highway as you live through the experiences with me. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will rejoice with me as you find the answers that you have been searching for. In conclusion, I just want to sing and share my testimony with the world.My prayer is that this book will be a blessing to you and your loved ones. It has been very healing for me to write. I look forward to sharing my whole story with you in the upcoming pages of One Woman’s Story: How I Survived Cervical, Colon, Liver and Rectal Cancer. In His Grip, Karen www.4xcancersurvivor.com fourxsurvivor@yahoo.com




Connecting with a cancer support network is a great source of strength and hope. Each of us experiences cancer in a unique way. Even those of us who have the same kind of cancer and undergo the same treatment regimen will nevertheless have vastly different experiences.

While everyone's experience is unique, they all have faced similar decisions and battled issues similar to those we must now confront. Sharing our experiences with each other provides a powerful source of encouragement that benefits everyone.

Finding inspiration in one another

We can look for -- and find -- inspiration in each other's stories. We can read about famous people like Lance Armstrong, who not only won in his fight against cancer but went on to win the Tour de France more times than anyone else in history. We don't need to be world-class athletes for his story to touch us.

There also is incredible inspiration in the stories of the people around us every day -- our neighbors, friends and loved ones. We can get hope just by hearing about the determination and strength it took for them to triumph. These people can become our support network.

Why is support important?

Cancer support networks give us a chance to share our stories with people who have been there. It can be incredibly encouraging to hear that someone who may have been in a worse situation than ourselves actually is healthy and happy today.

A lot of practical help and detailed information can be found in cancer support groups as well, such as the latest breakthrough cancer treatments, complementary therapies and healthy changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle.

They can help families, friends and care-givers learn more about how to live with and support someone who has cancer. Friends and loved ones who want to get involved in advocacy, donations, volunteering or other events can find out how to do this through support groups.

How to build a cancer support network

There are several ways to build a cancer support network. It may be easiest to just connect with an existing support group in your area through a local hospital or nonprofit cancer organiation. Another great way to find a support group is to go through a church or other community group.

Some people have simply placed an ad in a newspaper or on the Internet. Through an online cancer support network, we can find stories of cancer survivors throughout the globe. Many of these are from people who have gone on to do extraordinary things. It simply takes the desire to reach out to someone and ask them to share their story.

You are not alone

The take home message is: You are not in this alone. In addition to your own network of friends, family, and healthcare providers, there is a widespread support structure for people with cancer.

Take advantage of the opportunities you have to talk with cancer survivors or other people going through similar treatment about their experiences. Chances are there are ways in which they parallel your own.

No matter where you live, there are local resources available for you to connect with people willing to volunteer to share their own experiences. Simply check the phone directory or ask your family doctor. In every state, there are a wide variety of organizations dedicated to providing support for people with cancer and their families.

You may not be ready to talk to survivors or to go into details with friends or relatives in the first days after diagnosis; this is OK. Be ready for questions and to say "Can we talk about this later" or "I'd like to talk about something else now."

Where to find a cancer community

• Connect with others who are in the same boat
• More places to find support
• Feedback on online mailing lists
• Feedback on message boards