Cancer Survivor, Patricia Diaz, has been in remission for over 30 years. We're discussing the therapies she used in conjunction with her cancer treatment, most of which she still practices to this day. Her memoir is the topic of this episode of A Healthy Bite.

Pretty Girls Don't Get Cancer. Patricia Diaz, memoir

Wait, what?

Yeah, that was my reaction, too, when I first saw it in print. What kind of doctor says this to reassure a patient? While I'm sure it was meant to console, we all know the statement simply isn't true. We all know a pretty girl who has been diagnosed with cancer, don't we? 

My sister was a pretty girl diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I have two aunts and a cousin who are pretty girls and also breast cancer survivors. 

Unfortunately, cancer doesn't pick and choose, it spreads its ugly roots without discrimination of gender, race, nationality, size, age, or even looks. 

Meet Patricia Diaz

Pretty Girls Don't Get Cancer is the title of a self-published memoir by Patricia Diaz. A touching story of Patricia's journey as a stage four cancer survivor. The title is based on the statement a physician made to reassure her. Sadly, he had overlooked the signs of adolescent and young adult cancer. (AYA)

I imagine no one is ever prepared for a cancer diagnosis. 

This was certainly true for Patricia. She was a high school student, intent on spending time with friends and family and enjoying a certain quality of life in Venezuela. 

Losing weight rapidly, barely able to breathe as one of her lungs was not even functioning, yet still unaware that cancer was growing inside of her, Patricia struggled on.

Severe nosebleeds, headaches, a persistant cough, and other signs had her parents worried. They took her to a different doctor, who after examinations and testing, diagnosed Patricia with stage four Liposarcoma. Several labs confirmed the results; a diagnosis of Stage IV Adolescent terminal cancer.

Cancer Treatment

Of course, Patricia received the dreaded cancer treatment, chemotherapy. The side effects of which made her violently ill. She later found out that the dose she was given during that first round of chemo was many times stronger than it needed to be.

Unfortunately, she's not the only cancer patient to experience the horrific side effects of cancer treatment. Although, this was thirty years ago, and health care and the cancer experience have progressed somewhat, chemo and radiation are still first-line treatments in oncology.

Hopefully, someday, cancer care will evolve to a gentler method. 

While Patricia continued to receive conventional treatment for her cancer, she also supplemented her care with alternative therapies. This is the topic of this episode of A Healthy Bite. 

We are certainly not debating whether cancer survivorship was dependant upon one or the other. Anyone who is diagnosed with any type of cancer should be treated as an individual, unique in their experience, environment, and care plan.

Alternative Therapies for Cancer Treatment

Patricia's story involves not only her care team, her doctors and nurses but also her friends and family. Her loved ones are an integral part of her story, and each of her family members had a role in her healing process.