Nice Girls Don’t Get Angry But Then I Got Breast Cancer...

Being too nice and suppressing your emotions are risk factors for breast cancer and breast cancer progression.
 
Here are 5 signs that you are at risk:
  • It's hard to say NO
  • You feel guilty saying NO
  • You feel responsible for people's reactions
  • You hate disappointing others
  • You feel resentful but hide it for fear of upsetting others
Donna* [not her real name] was shocked when at 59 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She brought her 2 children singlehandedly while caring for her mother until her mother's death from cancer.
 
Donna ticked YES to all the above points. According to my science informed Quiz which gives you a Risk Rating for Cancer Recurrence Donna has highest Risk Rating.
 
Donna's life was not her own, but one lived caring for others. Her cancer diagnosis left her feeling she had lost control of her body and had no control over life.
 
She didn't know what to do and there was no one there for her.
 
Click here if YOU want to take the Quiz now.
 
[Donna* not her real name and her situation is a combination of circumstances of many women I have worked with over the years]
The Science Behind Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence
The consequence of ignoring or suppressing our feelings and our needs is that your body goes into a stress response. We may or may not be conscious of this behaviour pattern, however the science tells us it compromises our immune system and increases inflammation in our bodies, both of which are risk factors for cancer and cancer progression.
 
Yet our families, society and our culture often reward these very behaviours that increase risk to our health. But rather than blaming yourself it's important to understand the bigger picture.
 
The good news is we can unlearn these behaviour patterns that contribute to risk of cancer progression, and I can help you makes these changes.
 
Click here to find out how.
In the words of Dr. Gabor Mate from his latest book, The Myth of Normal:
"Disease is an outcome of generations of suffering, of social conditions, of cultural conditioning, of childhood trauma..."
Fast Forward Several Years After Donna's Breast Cancer Diagnosis
It is over 5 years since her breast cancer diagnosis and Donna no longer has anxiety attacks. She knows how to regulate herself and she can set healthy boundaries while still supporting others. Donna no longer feels guilty or selfish doing things for herself and can ask for help when she needs it. She enjoys a healthy relationship with a partner where she feels listened to and supported. Her cancer has not progressed. She is friendlier to herself and loves living her more authentic life.
 
Donna recognises that being unable to say no when she needed to, meant her body said it for her when she was diagnosed with cancer.
 
Being too nice and not expressing her emotions came at a huge cost.
 
Here are 4 key steps Donna took to reduce her risk of cancer progression. Steps that you can learn too.
 
These steps helped her shift from being too nice to others, to balancing being nice to others while still looking after herself and expressing her emotions in a healthy way thereby changing her Risk Rating for cancer progression.
Step 1 to Reduce Risk of Cancer Progression
Donna learnt how to set healthy boundaries and that it wasn't her fault she struggled with this.
Step 2 to Reduce Risk of Cancer Progression
By understanding her attachment style, in other words how she related to others, and why this influenced her adult behaviour of needing to be too nice and not to show her anger, meant Donna could address this pattern and recognise its origins in childhood without self-blame.
Step 3 to Reduce Risk of Cancer Progression
Learning to be less self-critical and kinder to herself, Donna developed key skills to protect herself against cancer progression.
Step 4 to Reduce Risk of Cancer Progression
Educating herself about the neuroscience behind the Mind-Body connection, gave Donna tools to bring her body into a state of calm and relaxation.
 
She now feels equipped to manage her stress and fears without being overwhelmed. Taking her body out of its stress response means Donna's body can focus on healing which it is naturally designed to do.
 
To find out more about what to do to reduce your risk of recurrence read my unique FREE Guide to learn about the steps YOU need to take, click here.
Donna 5+ Years After Her Breast Cancer was Diagnosed
Donna has a life where she feels more internal peace and calm as well as enjoying improved relationships. She feels free to have fun with her grandchildren and pursues hobbies that she could never make time for and would have felt guilty about even if she did.
 
She is now over 5 years post breast cancer diagnosis, and her cancer has not returned.
You Can Take Control of Your Risk of Cancer Recurrence
I have helped many women after a breast cancer diagnosis take the protective steps to buffer their risk of cancer progression and reduce their Risk Rating.
 
I have created a FREE GUIDE that includes my Quiz to help you understand your level of risk and what you can do to reduce it.
 
Click here to access your FREE GUIDE.
 
If you can relate to Donna's situation and want to:
  • Live a more authentic life
  • Know what to do to manage stress, worry and anxiety
  • Crave peace and calm
  • Say NO without guilt or feeling selfish
  • Be friendlier and kinder to yourself
  • Protect yourself against cancer progression
You can take simple steps to address your risk factors. You can learn the tools and strategies to take charge of your recovery.
 
If you are interested in finding out more, you can click here.
 
If you recognise yourself in Donna's story I'd love to hear about.
Or, if have found effective steps to cope with life after your cancer diagnosis, please share what has worked to help others.
Author: Natasha McGrath
Natasha McGrath has expertise working with women with breast cancer as an oncology social worker since qualifying over 36 years ago from the University of Ulster in N Ireland, having completed her practicum in the Regional Cancer Centre in Belfast.
 

She has undertaken decades of ongoing training and studies as a psychotherapist and trauma therapist, and specialises in evidence-based somatic techniques facilitating neuroplastic changes to the brain, which has the capacity to transform women's lives and wellbeing.

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"What's the Risk My Breast Cancer Will Come Back?"
Identify behaviour patterns that increase your risk of breast cancer coming back and what you can do to change your risk.
 

Informed by research and the latest neuroscience

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