Mission- Not Impossible

My name is Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos and I am a woman on a double mission; to tell my story and save lives, one person at a time.  

As a two-time breast cancer survivor whose cancer was missed both times by doctors and the tests on which they relied, I am determined to raise awareness about the importance of self advocacy, and listening to our bodies. We must balance our body and spirit with  conventional and intuitive health practices for total health and wellness. Early detection of any illness is always important for complete healing.

   I survived aggressive breast cancer—twice—that was missed by physicians at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston Massachusetts and the scientific tests on which they relied; three mammograms, blood tests and physicals.

 “Go home. Your’re healthy,” my doctor said.  However, my dreams, inner guidance and female intuition empowered me with signs, symbols and information. I returned repeatedly and requested different  medical tests. The new test,  exploratory surgery and a pathology report, validated my dreams by founding the cancer.

While most women would be glad to hear that they were healthy and to go home, I knew my doctors words were incorrect and self advocated in order to live. I took chemo and radiation Therapy. I always worked with my doctors but never forgot to make the final decisions concerning my life.

 My first cancer was stage 2, the second was stage 4. The chances of dreams finding cancer missed by “state of the art medical tests” twice is as lucky as winning the lottery two times in a row. Luck had little to do with it. Divine intervention did. Listen to your Physician- within. Don’t tell your Higher Power how big your troubles are. She already knows. Tell your troubles how big your Higer Power is.

It is my goal to use my story to teach doctors how important it is for them to listen to their patients and patients how important it is not to give up in the face of adversity.

As an author, radio co-host, R.A. BLOCH Cancer Foundation Hotline Counselor, Cancer Question & Answer columnist, blogger for women’s online magazines and cancer sites, and inspirational speaker at Cancer Groups and Health Freedom Expos throughout the country, I am an advocate for organizations and movements based on encouraging women to stand up and be heard. Don’t take “No” for an answer and don’t be dismissed. Be a squeaky wheel until you are heard.

I continue to be inspired by sotries of women listening to their female intuition and becoming empowered by connecting with their physician-within.

We must find balance between our female intuition and conventional medicine for a healing that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. We are a combination of body and soul that uses conventional and spiritual healing. Finding balance is as easy as loving both.

About the author: Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos is an author, Radio co-host Beyond the 5 Senses, Q&A cancer columnist for Cape Women Online Magazine, & RA BLOCH Cancer Foundation Hotline Counselor. Her website @ www.survivingcancerland.com Follow her @ FBhttp://t.co/aD3Zo3q;Thttps://twitter.com/#!/PsychicHealing;LIhttp://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top