Brainworks® - Carla's 5 Step Journey to Overcome Fear and Cancer

Carla's 5 Step Journey to Overcome Fear and Cancer

BACKGROUND

December 15, 2007, Carla's husband, Gerald, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and lung cancer on the same day. He needed emergency surgery within 10 days. He survived the surgery with only a tremor in his left hand. On February 2008, following 3 weeks of brain radiation and his first chemo treatment, Gerald had a pulmonary embolism resulting in an oxygen deprived brain. The outcome was a brain operating at a second grade processing speed. Today his cancer is stable.

On September 21, 2009, following a routine mammogram, Carla discovered she had cancer in two areas of the right breast. On October 8, 2009, she had a radical mastectomy. Because it was discovered so early, today she is "cancer free." All she has to do is take a daily estrogen blocker pill for 5 years!

USING 5 STEPS FOR OVERCOMING FEAR by Carla Crutsinger
  1. Verbalize and analyze the fear

    When you hear the word cancer, your brain goes into shock mode. You are overwhelmed. You do not hear all the details being discussed. You want to know what are the statistics of surviving. On a fear scale of 1-5, cancer is a 10!

  2. Create a support team

    A. When you meet with the team of doctors, always have someone with you to give you a second set of ears and to take notes. Use a tape recorder, so you can replay what you are told. Keep a small notebook for notes with you at all times. Get business cards from every doctor as they introduce themselves.

    B. God has been the captain of my support team. Faith in a higher power creates a calming effect and can stop despair. Hearing that your husband only has 2 months to live would scare anyone; however, I felt blanketed by the prayers of hundreds. As a result, I felt courage to focus on the possibility of a positive outcome, but I could accept the hand being dealt.

  3. Think about a time in your past that you conquered a fear

    I quickly had to practice what I preach at Brainworks. When I caught myself saying, "Gerald and I are going to die," I would replace that negative thought with a positive thought. I would say, "Only God knows each person's time to die." I would wake up each morning thinking Gerald and I survived yesterday. Let's go for one more day!

  4. Devise a plan of action

    As soon as you are out of life and death crisis mode, start thinking about what can be done to restore the body and mind to become healthy again.

    Gerald had home health care and outpatient therapy (occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy) plus Brainworks cognitive therapy. Gerald's processing speed now is in the above average range again! We returned to our church for activities. Instead of being confined to a wheelchair, today Gerald walks on his own. He is still on oxygen 24/7 and takes a daily chemo pill for his lung cancer. I had surgery on a Thursday and went back to work on Monday because I didn't have any pain! How is that possible? Ask God.

  5. Do it scared!!

    You may be scared, but you should believe in miracles. Gerald and I have experienced more than we ever expected. Thank God!