Viewing Cancer through a Kaleidoscope
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope & Healing for Your Breast Cancer Journey
By Mary Lou Galantino

As a pregnant woman of “advanced maternal age,” with two previous miscarriages, there was enough to worry about without finding a lump on my left breast. But there it was! An ardent supporter of breast self exams, I did this on a monthly basis. Palpation is my specialty!

As a physical therapist and yoga instructor, I assist in rehabilitating individuals with chronic pain, and to some degree “sculpt” the human body to alleviate pain and reclaim bodies under medical treatment through rehabilitation. And through my professionally developed manual therapy skills, I knew any consistent change in my physiology. Furthermore, my cancer rehabilitation training at MD Anderson in Texas, my involvement with survivorship, and developing research trials to explore the benefit of yoga, tai chi and meditation fostered a strong foundation in this field.

The beginning of my journey started with my OB/GYN physician. She assured me that all was well after her examination. I had no family history of cancer, my breasts remained cystic on both sides and there was no need to worry about this lump. I was reminded that I was the patient. I smiled and thanked her for the reassurance, but asked to be monitored through my pregnancy. We did just that, and every time I suggested seeing a breast surgeon, this was dismissed. (Keep reading)