Enduring and Prospering Through Cancer: My Personal Journey of 9 Recoveries
In 2015, author, speaker, and radio show host Anna Renault received a devastating diagnosis - metastatic breast cancer. Four years later, she is still alive and thriving, defying the initial prognosis that she would not live past Christmas.
Renault, a mother and grandmother, has been battling cancer for more than 40 years, making her an eight-time survivor. Her journey has been marked by resilience, determination, and a deep-rooted purpose to live a meaningful life.
When she first heard the words, "You have cancer," Renault was initially scared and unsure, leading to a 4-day panic. But she soon found her strength and began her fight. She started radiation and chemotherapy, and in the process, discovered a new definition of "surviving cancer."
For Renault, surviving cancer means waking up each day, being able to get out of bed, completing activities of daily living, and eating and drinking without vomiting. It means attending conferences and support groups, helping educate their caregivers, advocating for people with cancer, mentoring those who contact them for help, and continuing to hope for a cure.
The medical community defines surviving cancer as being alive, going through treatment steps, having multiple options with positive expectations, striving for a cure, and not being expected to die. Yet, Renault has found that the definition varies among individuals. In conversations with fellow cancer patients, she has learned that surviving cancer often means simply being able to live each day to the fullest.
Renault's survival has also depended on factors beyond the disease itself. She credits her faith, her love for reading, and spending time with family and friends as essential elements in her journey. She continues to pray and feed her soul, finding solace and strength in her beliefs.
Despite the challenges she faces, Renault remains optimistic. She continues to write books, interview guests on her radio show, write for her local paper, and learn about options for metastatic breast cancer. Her purpose in life keeps her determined to fight and live a meaningful life.
In her capacity as a speaker and advocate, Renault has talked with hundreds of people undergoing treatment over the past 40 years. She offers them hope, encouragement, and practical advice, drawing from her own experiences and the wisdom she has gained along the way.
Anna Renault's story is one of courage, resilience, and hope. Despite the odds, she continues to thrive, not just survive, proving that life can be lived to the fullest even in the face of adversity.
