“I was concerned, but not upset,” she said. Tammy McQuitty was 28 and a mother. Her doctor had suggested she have a mole removed—nothing serious, but he didn’t want to take any chances.
“My own diagnosis came in the recovery room. I had gone in for emergency surgery after a doctor took a look at a very unassuming lump on my leg, and the first words I heard coming out of the anesthesia were from my doctor saying, “It’s malignant. I’ve made an appointment with an oncologist for you on Friday.” And he was gone. Treating cancer is unlike anything you have experienced. There are typically a number of options that a tumor board at your hospital will consider. The typical cancer patient is handed stacks of papers, and options are discussed. More information can be found on the Internet, at bookstores, from friends, natural healers, and others. Typical allopathic treatments include surgery that may or may not change the shape of your body; radiation that can lead to internal and external burns; and chemotherapy that is designed to bring your body to a near death state in the hopes of killing cancer cells and leaving healthy cells the opportunity to recover. In addition, there are a variety of health regimens that may be recommended by your doctor or others. Because your immune system is particularly weak, you may decide to cut out sugar because cancer cells appear to thrive in the presence of sugars; you may decide to eliminate harsh chemicals (cleaning equipment, cosmetics, dyes, smoke) from your environment; or you may even want to limit your exposure to pets. You will be more tired than you have ever been. You will probably be frightened. Your life will revolve around your doctor and hospital visits and tests. It is so tempting to give up, and yet, talk to a cancer survivor and you will learn that life with cancer takes on a sweet edge. You have the opportunity to pare life down to what really matters. All of a sudden, death isn’t something on the horizon that you can avoid thinking about for a little longer. While it is possible for some people to get to the other side of cancer with little impact in their lives, many cancer survivors recognize the gifts they have been given.
“I had just returned to work after 25 years at home. I was a career counselor at a college and recently divorced. I worked through my treatment because I had to. Luckily, my employer was very supportive,” she says. Adele, an author and public speaker, spoke and wrote about depression. However, roughly six years into recovery, she decided to talk about cancer. “Surviving the experience deepened the richness of living. Now that I am helping with a support group, I honor the sacredness of conversations between patient and caregiver,” says Adele. Although her husband was very supportive during her treatment, four years later, Tammy is now divorced. She has become an esthetician and she is adamant about sun protection. Melanoma is not just a disease for the old. She is an ardent campaigner for awareness. As a result of the cancer experience, Tammy has become more contemplative. “I’m not as willing to ‘get into it’ with other people these days. Life is too precious. Yes, I worry sometimes that cancer will come back, but I really appreciate each moment. I have started attending church regularly and I am looking for other ways to give back,” says Tammy. It takes courage to live through cancer. When you know what to look for, it is often easy to detect who has been through the experience. While cancer is not a recommended strategy for developing self-awareness, it is certainly proof of the old adage: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
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“After the biopsy, I was told to get back in to my doctor’s office as soon as possible. I cried. My first thought was: what is going to happen to my children?” says Tammy. 
Adele notes that cancer was her second life-threatening illness. Her first was a profound depression that led to a suicide attempt. When cancer came four years later, she took it matter-of-factly. 
