Signal Mountain native Amy Brock is taking her experience with breast cancer and turning it into something positive for others with her new book, "Being Cancer Happy," available online through self-publishing company Lulu.
When she was diagnosed with very aggressive, stage 3 breast cancer in 2013, Brock was 38 years old with two young, active children, a 6-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son.
"They were very afraid and very nervous, as anyone would be," said Brock. "I didn't want them to be afraid of things they had no control over."
So she immediately set out to help her family redefine cancer as something good, or at least reframe it as something that's not entirely bad. She typically did so by employing her self-described "weird" sense of humor. For example, she joked with her husband about him creating an online dating profile, and cut her thinning hair into a mohawk.
The goal of Signal Mountain native and breast cancer survivor Amy Brock's book, "Being Cancer Happy," is to help cancer patients rediscover their joy in life while facing the struggles of the disease. (Contributed photo)Though she has successfully had her lump removed and is in remission, her medical journey has continued. And Brock said it hasn't always been easy to stay positive. Her first radiation treatment burned her skin, which happens to only a very small percentage of patients. Her long-term hormone therapy treatments have caused problems with her nervous system and caused her spine to degenerate, and she has experienced swelling on her right side - her dominant side - from lymphedema she developed after her lymph nodes were removed.
"Simple things became very challenging," she said. "It was frustrating at first, but you find ways to try to still have the best quality of life afterward."
Because of her positive outlook, her doctors would ask that she speak to other patients about how to find happiness and joy when faced with the struggles of cancer. Since her diagnosis, she said she has met many people in similar situations who didn't know what to do. Those interactions and the joy she got from helping others gave her the idea to start a blog to share her experience with cancer.
"My inner-self has always been about other people," said Brock, the former development director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga. In fact, she has always worked in the nonprofit sector. "I love life and want to live it, and I wanted to help other people do that too."
She set out to write her book, "Being Cancer Happy," to help other cancer patients find their own happiness amidst trials. While it's directed toward people with cancer, the book's message of putting a positive spin on one's struggles is applicable to anyone, she said.
"... I believe it's a choice to be happy," said Brock. "I hope others can find their own happiness, and if I can help even a little bit, I feel lucky."
"Being Cancer Happy" is available at lulu.com. Check out Brock's blog at tatawarrior.com.