Miracle Survivors: Beating the Odds of Incurable Cancer

by Tami Boehmer

Overview

If you have received an incurable cancer diagnosis, hearing about someone “who made it” is like spotting a rescue ship when you’re drowning in a stormy sea. Miracle Survivors provides that lifeline with a collection of stories of cancer survivors who were given a terminal diagnosis but shocked everyone by thriving years past their prognoses. These “miracle survivors” have different cancers and circumstances, but share a poor prognosis and incredible drive to overcome it.

After being diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, award-winning author and blogger Tami Boehmer decided she and others like her desperately needed hope to override the dismal statistics and death sentences provided by many doctors. So she began interviewing incredible men and women from around the country who defied the odds and lived to tell about it.

Miracle Survivors will help answer the question: What sets people apart who beat the odds of a terminal or incurable prognosis? Overcoming the odds wasn’t something that just happened to those who share their stories. Each person took a very active role in overcoming their challenges, whether it was activating their faith or transforming their lifestyle. Rather than passively accepting their circumstances, they decided to transform them.

The book is essential reading for anyone with cancer, their loved ones, and everyone else who wants inspiration to conquer their life challenges.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629145693
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	11/11/2014
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 3.50(d)

About the Author

Tami Boehmer: Tami Boehmer started her career in health care public relations but was thrust into the world of a patient in 2008, when she was diagnosed with metastatic/stage IV cancer.
Seeking hope, she interviewed people nationwide who defied the odds of terminal cancer for this book and her award-winning website and blog, Her website, From Incurable to Incredible. She divides her time between caring for her family, blogging, fulfilling speaking engagements, and mentoring other cancer survivors. Tami lives with her husband Mike, daughter Chrissy and furry feline AJ in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Table of Contents

1 A Word from Bernie Siegel, MD 1

2 Introduction Dave deBronkart, (AKA e-Patient Dave) 3

3 Foreword Curtis Ellsworth Salgado 11

4 The Common Attributes of "Miracle Survivors" 19

5 My Story:Tami Boehmer. Living with stage IV estrogen-receptor breast cancer since 2008 21

6 Turning Triple-Negative Into a Positive: Brenda Beguin. Living with stage IV triple-negative breast cancer since 2010 29

7 The Miracle Kid: Brittany Ross. Diagnosed in 2000 with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), subtype M1 35

8 Still Making It Work… Sixteen Years Later: Carole Kubrin. Living with stage IV, HER2-positive breast cancer since 1998 45

9 Breaking Down Barriers: Dakota Neal. Diagnosed in 2009 with stage IV leiomyosarcoma 53

10 Helping and Healing: Dikla Benzeevi. Living with stage IV, HER2-positive breast cancer since 2002 61

11 Going with the Flow: Flo Singer. Diagnosed with stage IV rectal cancer in 2002 and stage II lung cancer in 2012 75

12 A Stage Is for Tap Dancing: Glenine Gregory-Ryan. Diagnosed with Hodgkin Disease in 1977 and stage IV metaplastic carcinoma (a rare form of breast cancer) in 2001 87

13 The Power of Positivity: Greg Cantwell. Diagnosed in 2004 with stage IV glioblastoma multiforme (most aggressive form of brain cancer) 95

14 Everything Happens for a Reason: Heather Rodriguez. Diagnosed in 2010 with stage 3C ovarian cancer with germ cell and epithelial tumors 105

15 Filling My Cup: Heidi Bright. Diagnosed in 2009 with stage IV, highly undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma 113

16 Driven to Thrive: Ken Falhaber. Living with stage IV pancreatic cancer since 2010 121

17 No Expiration Date: Krysti Hughett. Living with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer since 2004 127

18 Invent Your Own Miracle: Laurie Beck. Diagnosed in 2006 with incurable Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and marginal cell leukemia 137

19 Adventures at Camp Chemo: Lynda DeWitt. Diagnosed in 2002 with stage IV, HER2- and estrogen/progesterone-positive breast cancer 143

20 Lifelines to Cancer Survival: Mark Roby. Diagnosed in 2002 with stage IV epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (rare type of liver cancer) 153

21 Don't Stop Believing: Mark Williams. Diagnosed in 2007 with stage IV melanoma 161

22 Becoming Friends with My Cancer: Nancy Simpson. Living with stage IV lymphocytic leukemia since 2005 169

23 Getting in the Ring with Cancer: Peter Devereaux. Diagnosed with stage IV, HER2-posi£ive breast cancer in 2008 177

24 A Rare Calling: Susan Thornton. Diagnosed in 1991 with advanced cutaneous lymphoma 187

25 Writing Hope in the Sand: Suzanne Lindley. Living with stage IV colon cancer since 1998 195

26 Self-Care Is Job Number One: Terri Dilts. Living with stage IV, estrogen/progesterone- and HER2-positive breast cancer since 2005 205

27 Cancer-Related Resources 211