Karen Rice ~ Two time Cancer Survivor
Without question, when going through a severe illness, you learn to know what faith truly is and find the true meaning of beauty and how you feel about yourself. I know this all too well because I have experienced trials and tribulations. Through it all, I gained strength that I never knew I had and much more confidence in myself, which led me to love myself all over again. I had a new beginning, all on my own. After going through so much in my life, things went well until it happened. I had a head-on collision with both breast and colon cancer, and it changed my entire outlook on life. I thought I had endured rough years before, but going through cancer was the rest of the iceberg. There is nothing like it. You wonder, what in life had you done so wrong to have this placed upon you?
You began asking, why me. Yet through my tragedies and all that I had to endure, it all became an awakening for me, in which I received and gained all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer. Through it all, not only did I find the true meaning of life, I found the true sense of beauty. I still felt beautiful through all the chemo, radiation, and pain I endured. I found myself looking in the mirror even more during this time because I thought what I was dealing with would change me drastically, but as I viewed the imperfections on my body I now must live with, over time, it got better, and instead of feeling sorry for myself, I embrace it.
Whether dealing with an illness or negative feelings about ourselves, our lives, and our bodies, we need to be our on-cheering section. I still feel beautiful through all my mishaps, and it is accurate. I have come to realize that even going through such a dark time, I still have a life to live, and I will live it to the fullest. When I think of the “gift of life” given to me twice over, I know I do not have a moment to waste. I would never say having or going through cancer is a gift. Surviving it, receiving a second and third chance at life, is the gift. Yet, through it all, I did not allow the disease to destroy who I am or what I stand for. I am a survivor and an example to show that it can happen and that I can go on and look and feel just as beautiful, inside and out, and it shines brighter.
Yet through my tragedies and all I had to endure, I received and gained all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer. True beauty is within, and when you feel beautiful on the inside, it shows so clearly on the outside, and I want to spread mine. Just because I had cancer does not mean cancer had me. We as women should never allow anything or any circumstance to steal our joy or our self-esteem, even while cancer is taking us through many emotions and many unanswered situations. And I know with cancer, you are often too weak to even think about your looks because you are not constantly feeling your best. Through any tragedy, we are and always will be beautiful and unique! Women, we all know that our bodies take lickings, yet we keep on ticking. Surviving cancer has taught me not to blink twice; my eyes are wide open, and I am living my best life. After surviving cancer both times, I also realized that I was about to face new beginnings, new hope, and see more with a whole new perspective on life. I was modeling, doing some acting, and working full-time during the time cancer hit me, and it slowed me down for a while, but I’m back with a vengeance to see how far it will get me.
What I’m doing right now is fulfilling my dreams, even my age. I won’t allow my tragedy to stop me. I share my story with others, hoping to positively impact someone ill or otherwise so they can proceed with life in a whole new way. I cherish each day and moment, and through it all, I feel I’m at my best. I am confident with myself, as well as grateful. I am starting over, doing things I should have done before cancer.
I recently wrote my third book, “Cancer, Yet Cancer Again, but I will not Die Before I’m Dead.” I titled it that because I genuinely feel that you should not stop living because you have cancer, and that is exactly what I almost did. I am a realist, a regular everyday woman who has overcome many obstacles. The scars and mishaps now attached to my body due to cancer are just that. They are symbols of someone else inspiration and hope. I am thankful because I would not have found my true strengths if I had not struggled. I am not allowing anything to stop me. I am a true example that you can survive cancer, not once, but twice, provided you get to it in time. I am not saying all will be easy. I am not saying all will survive it. I am saying to have faith, fight with all you have, then hold on. I honestly believe when and if you survive a horrific tragedy or a horrible disease such as cancer, it is for a reason. You have a purpose; through that purpose, faith, compassion, and strength, true beauty is born.