The Cancer Gene
Creepy-Looking Cancer Cells
My mom used to read my blog posts. She’d read every one and call me gushing each morning when I published something new, telling me how talented I was. Each post seemed to be a revelation for her, sparking anew her awe for who I’ve become.
She doesn’t read my posts anymore. I think she still would if she could, but she’s busy dying of advanced metastatic cancer.
She’s been avoiding doctors here entire life (I’ve always suspected she’s the stubbornest woman on our humble planet) so none of us knew the severity of what was happening until she stopped eating and collapsed about a month ago, landing her in the ER and under the cold, objective eyes of a CT scan.
Anyway, that’s why I haven’t been blogging recently. I’ve been in New Jersey most of the past month handling her affairs and making sure she’s getting the proper care.
I’ve seen a lot of her friends and our family too as a result of all this, and it’s been interesting to hear how they’ve been reacting to the news. “Well your grandma died of cancer at the same age” they all say. Yup, I remember visiting my safta in the hospice in Israel when I was a little girl. Now, all these years later, my mom is the one in the bed. Same age. Indeed, like eerie clockwork.
Clearly there’s a genetic factor involved here. The cancer gene has been passed down, piggybacking on the more favorable genes my mom got – the DNA gems like her awesome cheek bones and beautiful hair and great legs. But the prevailing attitude I’m hearing is that this was destiny. My mom was a victim and the time bomb just happened to have gone off.
But I don’t buy it. In fact, if I were to believe my mom was a victim of her DNA it would go against the very rules I live by, the foundation this blog is built upon.
Choosing Your Future
I don’t believe my mom was fated to develop cancer. I believe her current reality is simply one of potentially hundreds of possible futures she could have lived into. Of course, it’s true that if she didn’t have the cancer gene, then perhaps she would simply be biologically unavailable to develop it. But she did have the gene and tragically, this was the future she chose – consciously or unconsciously.
Now please understand, this is not the same as blame. I don’t think it’s her fault that she has cancer any more than I think it’s my fault that I have MS. But I do think we are both responsible for what is happening to us, and therefore we both have the power to change the course of our lives.
My mom has been very sad and very angry for much of her life. She was a charming, beautiful, intelligent, funny, incredible, vibrant woman, and one hell of a cook, but she fell into a cycle of misery and got really good at it. And I absolutely believe that anger and sadness and misery grow cancer just as effectively as environment toxins, poor diet, and unlucky DNA.
So when I hear my relatives say “Ah, well you know, your grandma had it” as if that’s the entire story, I have to argue that in fact that’s only one line of a story that could or could not have been written. Our genes play a role in determining our fate, but so do we.
The Biology of Belief
Dr. Bruce Lipton says it best in his game-changing book “The Biology of Belief”, which details the science behind how what we believe can change our health, our relationships, our entire lives. I actually sat down to write this post about Dr. Lipton because I wanted to tell you about the sale I’m currently running on my interview with him.
But apparently I wanted to write about my mom instead. What’s interesting is that my mom’s story is actually a perfect illustration of Dr. Lipton’s work.
I’ve wondered many times lately how my mom’s life could have turned out another way. What if she had chosen differently at critical points in her life? Or what if she had chosen differently at many smaller junctures, stacking one decision for health on top of another. Would she still be dying right now?
What about my life? What if I hadn’t chosen to take control of my illness and make massive changes to my life? What if I didn’t believe in the healing or disease-creating power of my own beliefs, like Dr. Lipton suggests? Would I be in a wheelchair already? How would things be different?
I’m not worried about dying of cancer at age 65 like my mom and her mom. Do I think I’m immortal? Certainly not, but I do believe I’m a creator of my destiny. Do you believe you’re a creator of yours?
My interview with Dr. Lipton is now available for sale individually (it was previously only available as part of the MS Voices Interview Series). It regularly sells for $29 but is on sale this week only for $19. If you’re interested in purchasing it, you can do so here.
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Great post. I too want to believe in controlling my own destiny until i have days like today where bed is the only option. No matter how warrioresque i get! Im sorry about your mom and just dont understand this things happen for a reason mumbojumbo. Does your mom deserve to suffer? No. I have made aquaintances with some of the most ruthless skum that are so healthy its unreal! Hey maybe my next blog! Love your stuff.
hi george! thanks so much for your response! i want to first apologize for not getting back to you or anyone else sooner – for some reason my wordpress account just decided to stop emailing me when i had new comments, but it’s fixed now.
you made me laugh out loud with your comment about ruthless scum being “so healthy it’s unreal.” i know i know, i have come across those folks as well, and i wonder…but the truth is, the more i immerse myself in my own spiritual path the more i believe that illnesses are indeed the universe’s calling to us to evolve. evolve or die. and though some choose the latter, the call to evolve is a great one to get, if you answer it and step up. and i consider myself privileged to have received it (though i do sometimes curse those ruthless scum!” 
Wow, that’s a fascinating concept Karen – “illnesses are indeed the universe’s calling to us to evolve.” Viewing my diagnosis in this way really transforms its meaning to and for me. Thank you for this. Thank you very much!
Karen,
The Lipton interview is amazing and well worth the $19 I reccomend it to all walks of life, disease or not!!
The Greek
thanks so much george!!! it remains quite powerful and inspirational for me as well.
I’m with you Karen…
thank you piernicola!
Hi,
I appreciate the depth and position of this story or sharing. It provokes in the direction counter to the culture of disease and non-responsability. Instead, the vision is of possibility. There’s a full vulnerability in speaking about the illness/disease in one’s family and the stories that the family wants/needs/presumes. I prefer the story that you live and inspire in others.
Best,
T
thank you tivo, as always.
I’m sorry to hear about your mother. This therapy is not for the weak of heart–but I watched a couple of great documentaries on the Gerson Therapy yesterday for cancer–”Dying to have known” on youtube. And the gerson miracle on another video website. The daughter of Dr. Gerson makes a statement that cancer and all degenerative diseases can be healed using this therapy. There are cases of autoimmune disease including MS being healed on the documentary -Dying to have known. Very compelling movies. I’d love to hear more information on the success rate of healing AI/chronic illness using this therapy. Part of it doesn’t make since like soooooooo much carrot juice (i.e. lots of sugar) and very cooked veggies and excluding things like nuts and seed, avocados and other veggies (mainstays since I’ve taken up eating alot of raw food). But the results are certainly compelling especially with cancer. The overall theory of intense nutrition and detoxification is in line with other healing philosophies. It makes me really wonder if this could be an effective therapy for autoimmune and chronic disease.
hi selma. thanks so much for sharing. i’ve heard of the gerson therapy but don’t know the specifics. i agree with you that lots of carrot juice and no avocados certainly raises my skeptic flag, but i’d have to explore the theory and results further before making any assumptions. i’d definitely be curious to hear about the results with MS. i’ll look into it. thanks again for making everyone aware of it, information is power.
Karen, sorry to hear about your mother. My sister just recently passed away from cancer.Kinda sucks in a big way. A sweetheart of a person and total opposite of my mother who I always thought could make lucifer look like an angel.
Mom’s had her share of battles with it as well. Still alive and in a nursing home with what they call dimensia. A label they use when they don’t know what it is. Personally I think she just lost her mind, not that she ever had one, lol. Long story
Thanks for the article. I already have Liptons book and am presently looking for Gersons book. Its funny how we have evolved in that arena over the years. Years ago I had searched for good books on nutrition only to be dissapointed. Knowing full well at that time they were selling me more or trying to, lol, more inadequate information.