Rhonda's Story: Adding Complementary Techniques to My MBC Treatment Plan
Rhonda Schaller, MPS, MBSR is a Breastcancer.org community member in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. She is the co-leader of The Mindfullness Collaboratory.
When I received my MBC diagnosis, I discovered that meditation and mindfulness would become my trusted companions on this unexpected journey. Through my daily meditation practice, I've learned to embrace both the challenges and the joys that each day brings. When my cancer progresses and I face new treatment lines, I allow myself to feel everything – the tears, the worry, and yes, even the moments of unexpected laughter. My practice has taught me to pause, breathe, and surround myself with healing light, while also reaching for things that lift my spirits, like a good comedy show on Youtube, or a warm chocolate croissant. Through meditation and visualization, I've found that it's possible to hold space for both difficulty and delight.
My twice-daily meditation practice, rooted in both Tibetan visualization techniques and mindfulness, has become my anchor. When anxiety about my body arises, I gently return to my breath, visualizing healing light flowing through my body. This practice helps me stay present and find pockets of peace amid the medical appointments and treatment decisions. I've discovered that teaching these techniques to others brings me profound purpose and joy – there's something deeply fulfilling about helping another person find their own path to mindful awareness, with loving kindness. The simple act of turning toward myself and others with compassion creates ripples of positive energy that somehow always find their way back to me.
Living with MBC has taught me that uncertainty is a universal human experience, though some of us face it more directly than others. Through mindfulness, I've learned to navigate this reality with both grace and authenticity. I maintain a regularly refreshed bucket list, practice gratitude for life's simple pleasures, and find joy in small, precious moments with my husband, kids and cats. Yes, there are days of overwhelm, tiredness and confusion, and I honor those feelings too. But I've discovered that by accepting and relaxing into life's impermanence – something true for all beings – I can actually live more fully, spiritually aware and in the present moment. And that for me, is so happy-making. In this way, mindful awareness, meditation and visualization helps me create a life that's rich with meaning, purpose, connection, and even joy, while acknowledging the very real challenges of this journey. It's not always easy, but it is, surprisingly often, beautiful.
Join the discussion on Rhonda's Breastcancer.org community thread Contemplative practices - Affirmations, white light visualizations, healing meditations.