Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
‘Best of both worlds’ saved her life
A cancer survivor says she recovered using both medical and natural treatment, and wants others to be encouraged by her story.
Blenheim nutritionist Julia Davidson has turned personal tragedy into inspiration and is sharing the story of her own personal journey as a breast cancer survivor with the rest of the world.
Her new book Cancer: the best of both worlds, will be released in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month starting October 1.
‘‘I was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago.’’ Julia said. ‘‘It had spread to my lymph nodes, and the situation was dire.’’
Julia said the diagnosis baffled both her and doctors, because there was no family history of cancer and she had always been the picture of health.
‘‘When I first got diagnosed my surgeon asked: ‘why have you got breast cancer?’ I mean, there was no family history of breast cancer, and I ate well and exercised.’’
Julia believes it was personal stress through a recent marriage break up that caused it.
‘‘I believe stress plays a huge part in all of our lives. Doctors and scientists can’t measure stress, so they don’t see it as important,’’ she says.
‘‘I wrote the book because I received chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, but I also balanced medical treatment with my own experience in nutritional, herbal and lifestyle recovery methods also.’’
The book is an autobiographical account of Julia’s own experience with her diagnosis, treatment and recovery, but she says it is also a user’s manual from a nutritionist’s point of view on the benefits of balancing both modern medicine and natural remedies for a better outcome.
‘‘I lost two very good friends to cancer who had refused medical treatment, and went with natural remedies only. That was their personal choice.
‘‘But I was inspired to write this book because it is my belief that a successful recovery can come about by using both modern medical and natural treatment.’’
Julia said Blenheim’s Paper Plus would stocking her book, and any money raised from sales would go towards raising cancer awareness.
‘‘In the book, I follow through my own experience with each treatment and then some of my own advice on what natural remedy works best with what. All through the book the reader will get lots of hints and ideas on what they can use to enhance their well-being.’’
‘‘If it wasn’t for medical treatment, I wouldn’t be sitting here today ... But it was the combination of both medical intervention and natural remedies that gave me the optimum chance of remission.’’