When I received the news about my cancer it came right out of the blue. By that I mean I had actually been to hospital for surgery and had been told after the lump was removed that all was well and my surgeon assured me it was just as he expected it to be - no problem. At no stage did he even he even suggest there could be a concern. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself.

I had always been a healthy person with no health issues whatsoever apart from the usual minor things and having my appendix out.

So about five days after having the lump removed in day surgery, the surgeon rang me at home to say "I'm so very sorry to have to tell you this but it's cancerous" and I cannot describe how big a shock it was. As with most people I always thought it would never happen to me.

I know it came as a big shock to my surgeon as well. Mine was a very unusual case, so much so that afterwards he would ask my permission to take my information to seminars etc. Trust me to be different!!

Actually being told I had cancer was probably the worst of it when I look back. It was that total, total shock. For a week or so I told no one except my husband and if I could have kept it that way I would have. However I had to go back into hospital and have another operation so it was a bit hard to keep that quiet. Funnily enough prior to telling anyone everywhere I went people seemed to be talking about cancer. It was weird, I guess it was like when you are pregnant (for those that have been) - everywhere you look you seem to see pregnant ladies or prams!!

My immediate concern was for my elderly parents and my children and letting them know that I was doing ok and was facing this in a positive way. I had no problem talking about it if need be and I felt for people who struggled with how to treat me. I investigated it, got a second opinion and then dealt with it.

Through my surgeon I found someone else who had experienced a similar cancer and that was very therapeutic to be able to talk to her. I felt she was on the same planet as me.

Everyone is different in the way they approach it. One good friend who was very bright talked about it incessantly. From her research she could have almost been a doctor herself. Another told absolutely no one and it was not until a couple of days before she died that even her children knew. They were angry with her. However she needed to deal with it like that. It was her life.

I always remember being told that I was still the same person and it was something I really took on board. You don't turn into someone strange just because you have cancer.

As I lived in the country, I needed to go and stay in Sydney to have ray treatment for seven weeks. Sydney is about an 8 hour drive from where I lived. My daughter was living there at the time with a couple of other young ones. They were terrific and insisted I move in with them. I had my own room and paid rent just like them. It was a very short distance from the hospital where I went for treatment each week day. I always got up after they had gone to work and stayed elsewhere on weekends to give them space. Many people need to stay in accomodation attached to the hospital when having treatment and go without any support like I had with my daughter. I consider myself very lucky.

During this time I was probably the healthiest I had ever been. I walked miles each day and ate a very good diet with lots of salads and raw produce. I related to and followed the raw food theory of Harvey and Marilyn Diamond as that is what I feel our bodies were designed to eat. As time went by it was such an effort to stay with it though.

You would think that someone having been through my experience would always remain totally focused on health but not so. Keeping on the pure health track is so very hard in this world of convenience and temptation. However recently I have found a something wonderful that makes this a problem no more. I now take a simple product which supplies my body with everything it needs in the purest form. It is possible to stay healthy and so so important as most disease comes from what we put in our mouths.

I consider myself so fortunate that I did not need to have chemo or follow up medication. I like to avoid medication if possible. If cancer presentated itself again I would choose not to have chemo if it was recommended. I'm not suggesting that's what you do, I'm just saying that's what I would do personally. Well, at least that would be my first move. I would go down the natural health path. I have a firm belief that our health is mainly attributed to what we put into our mouths. Even though today I try to avoid food that has been "fiddled with" I would put in a bigger effort if confronted again.

It has been many years now since my cancer experience and I have survived. I used to think will there ever come a day when I don't think about having cancer and that day did finally come. Cancer is not necessarily a death sentence.

For anyone experiencing it be positive and surround yourself with positive people. Watch what you eat very, very carefully, go back to basics as nature intended. Try and destress your life as much as possible.

I feel experiencing cancer has taught me only good things. Appreciate each day, treasure those you love, don't get caught up with little things that aren't important, use that best china, that special soap in the cupboard etc etc. After all life is not a dress rehersal, but, neither is cancer necessarily a death sentence.

Recently here in Australia we lost Jane McGrath to cancer. She was the wife of well known cricketer Glen McGrath. Glen actually came from our home town and went to school with my daughter. Jane and Glen contributed so much to cancer and research and set up the McGrath Foundation.