Community Corner

Tales Of Survival During Breast Cancer Month

Nicole Nada posts about her experiences with breast cancer and chemotherapy.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Larkspur-Corte Madera Patch is celebrating the power of everyone fighting cancer and honoring the lives of those we've lost.

Nicole Nada started an incredible journey in May, riding her bicycle more than 300 miles from Eureka to the Marin Cancer Institute in Greenbrae. Nada, a breast cancer fighter, recently completed the 15th of 16 scheduled rounds of chemotherapy at the Marin Cancer Institute.

She posted this entry on her Kicking Cancer site Monday:

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It’s hard to believe I just finished chemotherapy infusion number 15.  One to go.

Today I returned home from chemotherapy in Marin to my daughter telling me that they lit a peace candle at school for three women and a dog who were hit by a car while on an early morning run.  Later that day I found out that I know one of the women…a vibrant, wonderful woman, a mother, and Montessori school teacher in our community.  She suffered major injuries and is in the hospital along with another of the women.  Sadly, the third woman, a mother of two, a wife, and a lecturer at Humboldt State University was killed.  So tragic that I can’t quite wrap my brain around it.

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Since my diagnosis in March, I have been majorly wrapped up (mind, body, and spirit) in my cancer, a disease that is potentially life threatening.  While I try to keep it at bay, I sometimes have the thought that someday the disease could take my life, but for now I am fortunate to be alive, having the gift and honor of being a mom each day and night, even if I am in Marin, saying goodnight to my husband and kids on speaker phone.  Being a mom is clearly the most important part of me, and from what I have heard about the woman who was killed in this tragedy…it was the most important part of her.  Emotions surrounding my cancer have taken second fiddle.  I hear she was the most dedicated and loving of moms and the nicest woman around.  I am so sad for the loss that her family is suffering.  My heart aches and I am reminded to live and love each and every day as if it could be my last.

I watched a video few nights back on curing cancer naturally.   One sentiment that stands out to me from the movie is the following:  Whatever you are doing for your healing (yoga, diet, qi gong, acupuncture, herbs, homeopathic medicine, exercise, prayer, etc)… Don’t do it in order to “not die”…..do it in order to live well today.

I was happy to come across this because lately when I perform my healing regimens in order to “not die” or to “fight for life” it feels desperate or manic a bit.  With an underlying fear to boot.

So, now I come at my healing regimen with more peace and calm.

As the summer wraps up, I certainly have been busy living well each day and feel so blessed and fortunate.

I hope you are living well each day too–with all of the crazy and wonderful things life throws your way.

See what else is happening in San Rafael:

  1. Sports Complex Critics and 10-Foot Clapper Rail Rally in Front of Library
  2. Girl Dies of Injuries After Being Struck by SUV
  3. Car Accident on Highway 101 Slows Afternoon Traffic
  4. Council Approves Marin's Toughest Smoking Ban
  5. Google Says Driverless Cars Could Be on the Road in Less Than 10 Years - Should They?

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