Narrator:
Roxanna was diagnosed with breast cancer over 3 years ago. Her
treatment included over 7 months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy,
radiation therapy, and drug therapy. Like many cancer patients, this
hard-working woman took the initiative to explore other therapies to
complement her traditional treatments.
Roxanna:
Well, I just did some research on the Internet, and I was trying to find out anything that I could try that might work for me.
Narrator:
Her research led her back to one of her favorite hobbies... writing... through a journaling class at the Place... of Wellness.
Roxanna:
I like to write. I've always written all my life. So I felt like if I
could put my feelings on paper, that maybe it might help somebody else
in the family later on. I know it helps me. It helps me get rid of my
tension in my heart. You know the stress. I get it out on paper.
Narrator:
Roxanna also finds massage therapy to be very helpful.
Roxanna:
I felt like the massages would be good for the circulation, you know,
in the body. I just feel relaxed in my body. I feel like the tightness
in my neck, or back here you know down my spine, just loosens me up.
And I feel good.
Narrator:
Her research also led her to try aromatherapy.
Roxanna:
I use the lavender on my body because I did some research, and it said
lavender was supposed to help you sleep, and relax you and help you
fall sleep, and it does. I'm just like a baby.
Narrator:
Some of the therapies Roxanna tried didn't necessarily fit her style.
Roxanna:
I tried the Pilates, but that was a little hard to get up and down off the floor, so that didn't last very long. [ Laughs ]
Narrator:
Roxanna discusses all the complementary therapies she tries with her
doctor... even the most unconventional... like the one she uses to deal
with leg cramps at night.
Roxanna:
You're going to die laughing when I tell you!
Doctor:
What do you do?
Roxanna:
I get up and drink my pickle juice.
Me and him have a real good relationship. And he knows that I'll try anything. He was real supportive. He was real receptive to the idea of me trying different things.
Narrator:
For Roxanna, all the complementary therapies seem to work together to
make her feel better about herself, her life, and dealing with cancer.
Roxanna:
I don't think of it anymore as a death sentence. I think of it as a
time of growing in my life. I have changed a lot. It's opened my heart
my feelings to people. To care about other people.
©2007 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030
1-800-392-1611 (USA) / 1-713-792-6161