http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-heart-of-breast-cancer.html
The Heart of Breast Cancer
The greatest mistake in the treatment of diseases is that there are physicians for the body and physicians for the soul, although the two cannot be separated. –Plato
Our breasts cover our heart. If you have ever nursed a baby, it is clear that our breasts are not there for adornment, they are a primary organ of nurturance and sustaining life. They are enervated directly to our sexual center, one of our primary sensory organs to awakening libido. Their attraction, often confused with size or shape, is truly about how they connect us to our heart and the pieces of life that are most life affirming.
The rate of illness in this region of our body is mind boggling. Breast cancer affects one in eight women everyday. Heart disease kills one in four women. Just last spring, when I was called back to re-image a lump in my own breast, waiting in the hospital gown for a “better view” of what was happening in my breast, the truth of these numbers hit home. Any of us can become part of these statistics at any moment. And I knew, sitting there, that for the one woman out of eight who gets the unfortunate response of cancer, everything in her world and relationships shifts at that moment.
The physical illness that we aggressively treat with an incredible range of toxic chemotherapy or radiation therapy moves the focus to the symptoms and complications that these treatments exact. Life is consumed by the physical battle to sustain during these life challenging treatments. Many patients are left to deal with the emotional battles on their own.
This work of the heart is complex and layered. Whatever issues existed prior to the diagnosis have often yet to be understood and articulated, but now the more pressing fears and coming to terms with mortality and loss can overshadow everything. Few doctors who plan the medical attack on the cancer are equipped or have the time to explore this critical side of the illness. Even fewer recognize how much this work impacts recovery.
That sexual dysfunction issues are often ready companions to this difficult situation is not surprising considering the interruption of normal hormone production that the treatments precipitate. The results on a physical level are frequently the early onset of menopause, vaginal dryness and loss of libido. Combine this with the psychological damage of losing a breast, and the feeling of sexiness feels about as faraway as the days pre-diagnosis.
The irony of the situation is that the heart of the matter for most women is that serious illness of the heart region can often be linked to emotional distance and inability or unwillingness to share one’s emotional life. Love and intimacy are how we connect most deeply to our lives, our relationships and our life. The millions of reasons that we cannot or will not open up are as unique and individual as each woman’s struggle with disease. As we take time to honor the women who both survived and were lost to this disease, let us also give ourselves to the heart of the matter–choosing to love ourselves, our lives and the people who live with us.
Wendy Strgar is a loveologist who writes and lectures on Making Love Sustainable, a green philosophy of relationships which teaches the importance of valuing the renewable resources of love and family. She helps couples tackle the questions and concerns of intimacy and relationships, providing honest answers and innovative advice. Wendy lives in Eugene, Oregon with her husband, a psychiatrist, and their four children ages 11-20.
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8 comments
add your comment »I am so touched by the responses to this post. For those of you on the journey to wellness, rely on your heart and express what is there to be said. Thanks to all of you who shared so many great resources.
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There are lot of info.out there that 'the bra can be one of the causes of breast cancer' (contricting the lymphatic glands)but Not enough funding to do more research.What gives?
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Hi My name is Jennifer Telford and I am owner of Ho'ano. I have been teaching women about the benefits of herbal oils, lymphatic self-massage and healing the emotional heart in promoting breast wellness since 1998.
Thank you Wendy for your profound article. In 1993 I noticed pain in my left breast. I feel strongly that my breast symptoms were a physical manifestation of my inner turmoil of being in a verbally abusive relationship and not having the courage to get out and listen to my needs. Fortunately, I have maintained breast health through the years and I hold that in part to working on myself. Self-love and honoring my voice in my relationships.
Please check out some linkswww.hoano.com
www.hoano.wordpress.com"The Voice of the Heart: Supporting our Emotional Well-Being in Reducing Breast Cancer" and "Creating a Paradigm on the Cure for Breast Cancer")www.ilovemybreastcancer.com (she wrote "Making the Breast of it")Breast Caress Body Oil
www.hoano.com/breastcaress.htm
Intended for women to love and nurture their body, discover their innate healing ability, and learn the techniques of healthy breast massage in encouraging circulation.
John R. Lee M.D. says "how ironic that our own breasts can in turn attack oneself when we are not nurturing ourselves is a sign that we need to balance nurturing like we need to balance hormones."
The healing comes when we can embrace the journey.
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Michelle, you are a beautiful wonderful person, the treatment from breast cancer is the most dreadful experience of my life as I don't fee like me, the emotional isolation is so terrifying. Folk may ask how you are but generally even the most well meaning only expect an 'I'm doing fine' . My advice is to find a soul mate who will love you as a SISTER, then there are no barriers that the link between the breasts and the heart normally require. The treatment can go on for years, I'm still having treatment after 5 years, but rest between treatments and learn to love who you are, including the disease. It may not go away but the fear and horror of my bilateral mastectomy has been over come. Bless you and all our fellow sufferers as we are all ore than an illness on legs, breast/no breasts, hair/no hair we are all beautiful and infinitely campassionate and beautiful!
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For those of you who are not familiar with either naturalnews.com or mercola.com, I would urge you to search on both sites for all relevant information on 'breast cancer', 'the avoidance of' and the fallacy of going down the conventional route i.e. mammography and how it causes breast cancer instead of what it is meant to do. Allopathic medicine has never 'cured' anyone yet with their barbaric methods and immune system annihilators. Prevention does exist, but avoid conventional methods at all costs.
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The post said I had 3 characters left and it cut me off.
The dvd is affordable and mandatory for any problems.
Please delete the "I" before Tina Turner.
My heart goes out to all victims of this universe. We have the hardest road to travel. Support would be nice.
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"emotional distance and inability or unwillingness to share one’s emotional life. Love and intimacy are how we connect most deeply to our lives, our relationships and our life. The millions of reasons that we cannot or will not open up are as unique and individual as each woman’s struggle with disease."
After watching the Ike and Tina Turner movie last night, I am so surprised she didn't get breast cancer. Her mother was emotionally and physically unavailable to her, much like my own. Her husband was the same, much like my own.
What I see from her horror is that she didn't do the drugs, drinking and she exercised a LOT. Look at her body. She danced/was using that body. That's what I have always done too. Planted, gardened, rode my bike for miles, never had people DO MY PHYSICAL labor, not by choice but because I am surrounded by horrible people.
I think this is why I Tina Turner didn't manifest cancer and why I don't. We may be surrounded by people who are a nightmare but along with a strong spiritual sense (she was introduced to Budhism) I did that too,plus other prayer, the battle is/was won.
Not to get off the subject but the parallels of a mother not wanting you and the rest of your life being sheer hell in other relationships is ironic. Even the perception of mother not wanting you causes terrible people to attach to you. BAD.
HERE is the gift for breast cancer victims. Peggy Huddleston's www.healfaster.com cd. Do this as much as needed. It is very affor
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Thank you for this. I am in the middle of fighting my battle with breast cancer as I write this. The emotional toll is sometimes much harder than the chemo. People ask what they can do but there really isn't an answer.Sometimes you feel so alone even when surrounded by people who love you. So you just talk to yourself,shake your head and go on with the program.After all tomorrow will look better.
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