Stories of Hope

Judith Shelden Diagnosed in December 2006 at age 76 Stage IV adenocarcinoma "I know that it was the toxins that resulted in remission, but i feel that my refusal to acknowledge the possibility of death from cancer was equally important and this is what i wish to share with others."

Chemotherapy began in March.  In April, I experienced a blood clot and in June I had surgery for a herniated disk which required that I stop the chemo for a month and a half. 

My most recent scan revealed that there were only two sites left and these had shrunk considerably; the lymph nodes were normal and there was no evidence of the bone met on my spine.  At this time my doctors tell me i am in remission.  I no longer receive the toxins in my infusions, just Avastin which will continue well into the future.

My doctors tell me that only 1% of cancer victims in my condition achieve this success.  I think i know why.  I did not, and do not, plan to die of this ugly and evil thing.  I told my oncologist at the onset of consultation and treatment that I did not want to hear any prognosis, and purposefully practiced total denial...even while I was receiving chemo for 4 hours every 3 weeks.  I visualized these poisons as tiny huns and vandals invading my body thru the port in my chest, killing everything in sight (including all my hair follicles).  This picture was real to me,

I know that it was the toxins that resulted in remission, but i feel that my refusal to acknowledge the possibility of death from cancer was equally important and this is what i wish to share with others.

Judith Shelden
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan