Breast Cancer

I love the title of one of Barack Obama’s books: The Audacity of Hope. Certainly during times when things consistently look bad in the world, it can be very difficult to feel hopeful about anything.

Recently, I have been communicating with breast cancer survivors who are learning to keep hopeful about their futures using EFT.  I suggested incorporating Pat Carrington’s “Choices” method into their daily tapping routines.

After collapsing a lot of fears about recurrence, living to raise their children, losing a breast, etc., I encouraged women to come up with an entirely positive list of attitudes that reflect the idea of HOPE.

H is for Happiness, or Health, or Hilarity.

O is for Optimism, or Openness, or Opulence.

P is for Peace, or Positive Attitude, or Pleasure.

E is for Enthusiasm or Energy or Ecstasy.

You can use the idea with ANY problem.  Just remember to collapse or neutralize (as much as you can), whatever you are working on.  Then (and only then), you can tap on a list of NEW attitudes with great success.

I suggest at least 10 “Choices” and then tapping on one basic tapping point for each new choice.  Here is a choice list of a recent breast cancer survivor who was so afraid of a recurrence that she wasn’t able to enjoy her cancer-free life.
After she got to “0” on a number of her biggest fears, “Jane” started tapping her Choices list every night before she went to sleep.

KARATE CHOP:    I choose     HEALTH.

EYEBROW:        I choose     OPTIMISM.

SIDE OF EYE:    I choose     PEACE.

UNDER EYE:      I choose     ENTHUSIASM.

UNDER NOSE:     I choose     HAPPINESS.

CHIN:           I choose     OPENNESS.

COLLAR BONE:    I choose     POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

UNDER ARM:      I choose     ENERGY.

UNDER BREAST:   I choose     JOY.

TOP OF HEAD:    I choose     JANE.

I am offering one free teleclass for breast cancer survivors and their concerned loved ones.  If you would like to participate in the live call, or receive a recording, please e-mail me at: kiya@eft-tap.com.  

“Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” was the name of the 5 mile walk I did on Sunday, October 18, 2008. Here’s a picture of me (in purple) in the front row of the hundreds of breast cancer survivors who participated. Thousands more supporters walked with us along the lakefront in Chicago on a perfectly beautiful Fall day.

What struck me most was the joyful energy of the day. We marched and laughed and soaked up the sun. It didn’t matter if we were only a few months past treatment, or in my case, 14 years surviving (and thriving).

Attitude is everything, and I saw no one feeling sorry for themselves, or projecting any kind of fear. My shirt said it all: “Live Life Better, Not Just Different.” It wasn’t enough that we all LIVED and got to wear our pink medals. We showed a sense of celebrating life and showing up.

I would have changed the name of the march if I could. Even when I told people about the walk and asked for donations, I called it: “Walk for a Cure.” I really embrace Mother Teresa’s attitude. She said: “Don’t invite me to a March AGAINST War because I won’t come. But if you invite me to a march FOR Peace, I’ll be there!”

Thanks to all of you who made donations. I was the second highest fundraiser in my group!

I have a very personal connection to October’s emphasis on Breast Cancer Awareness. I am a grateful 14 year survivor (and thriver) of that common disease. Please read my recent article about using EFT to help a woman get past her fears when she discovered a lump in her breast.

The most important point I want to make is that I believe that the worst “cancer” is the fear itself about the disease, the treatment, and the outcome. How I wish I knew about EFT back when I was going through my own lumpectomy, chemo and radiation!

My client believes that EFT actually caused her tumor to shrink and to become benign. I have no proof of that, and I feel it would be irresponsible of me to make any such claims. What I do know is that tapping away the fears connected to any illness is enormously beneficial.

The list of legitimate concerns for women who discover a lump in their breast covers many topics:

• fear of death
• loss of a breast
• inability to work
• worries about health coverage
• fears about chemotherapy
• fears about radiation
• fears about spousal support
• fears about loss of attractiveness

If you discover a lump in your breast (and please do conduct regular monthly breast exams), there are a number of simple things you can do:

• Make a doctor’s appointment right away.
• Do lots of tapping on whatever fears come up for you.
• Gather positive, supportive people around you.
• Take a friend with you to your doctor’s appointment.
• Pray for a positive outcome (if you pray).
• Make a list of positive Choices and tap on them after your fears are greatly diminished.
• Call me (or another EFT Practitioner) for extra support.

Remember: fear is the worst kind of cancer. Do everything you can to keep it in check. Most cancers can be cured with early detection. So, tap away those fears and trust that you will be fine!

If you know anyone struggling with breast cancer, who might benefit from a telephone EFT session, please let them know that during the month of October and November, 2008 I am offering one free phone session for any breast cancer survivors who contact me at: (773) 880-5492 or email me.

Also, if you would like to sponsor my “Walk for a Cure,” please follow this link and make donations on-line to the “American Cancer Society.” 

Blessings,

Kiya 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States, and it was because of the extra emphasis on breast exams last year that my client, “Molly,” discovered a lump in her left breast. Before she went to her doctor’s appointment, Molly worked with me over the phone about her intense fears:

Even though I’m terrified that I have cancer….

Even though I’m afraid that I’ll have to have a masectomy…

Even though I’m scared that I’ll have to go through chemo and radiation…

Even though I’m afraid that my husband won’t love me anymore if I lose my breast…

Even though I’m so afraid that my little girl will have to grow up without a mother…

All of her fears were a “10″ and she was unable to sleep or think about anything except her worst case scenario fantasies. When we got all her fears down below a “3,” we started working on Choices for her doctor’s appointment the next day:

I choose to sleep peacefully through the night tonight…

I choose to be calm when I go to the doctor.

I choose to be optimistic.

I choose to pray…

I choose to hear good news…

I choose to have a benign tumor…

I choose to be free…

I choose to be happy…

I choose to be healthy…

I choose peace…

By the end of our phone session, Molly was laughing and joking and ready to go to sleep. We tested our work together by having Molly describe her worst fears about seeing the doctor and she tried to get upset, and couldn’t.

The next evening, I got a wonderful phone call from Molly. “I have great news! I tapped before I went to bed and slept through the night. When I got up, I checked my breast and I could have sworn that the lump was much smaller! When the doctor did a needle biopsy, he was able to tell me almost immediately that the lump was benign!”

Molly believes that EFT “cured” her cancer. I wouldn’t say that. What I do believe is that the worst kind of cancer is fear, and that EFT definitely cured Molly of her debilitating fears. Another great victory for EFT!

P.S. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to celebrate that I have personally survived and thrived for 14 years, I am offering one free EFT phone session to any breast cancer survivor who would like to make an appointment with me during October or November, 2008!