Power of positive thinking
Puja Thomson will not allow despair to become part of her vocabulary, although there may have been times she felt close to it after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003.
“It came as a total shock,” said Thomson, a holistic therapist, minister and writer who lives in New Paltz. “I was feeling fine. After I received the diagnosis, the doctor had already decided on the treatment program; before I could even recover from the shock. I wanted time to think about other options and to regroup mentally.
“There’s no ‘good’ way to get the news or express your feelings. If it helps you to scream at the top of your lungs, or go for a long walk, do what you have to do, and then prepare yourself. We have to be our own advocates and take decision making power back when it comes to our health. Legally, it’s our responsibility what happens to our bodies. When you sign a paper agreeing to a procedure, you have made a decision. Make sure you read it thoroughly and know what you are signing ... and never sign anything unless you are comfortable with it.”
Thompson researched her options and went to another doctor for a second opinion, then gathered her closest confidantes to tell them the news and “build a support network. I advise anyone who is diagnosed with cancer not to go the journey alone. It’s important to have trusted friends and family around you. One person may be good at doing research; another about the types of food that you will need to be eating or avoiding; another to take you for your checkups and doctor visits. Let them help you in the best way they can to take the burden off you.
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