Discovering Faith, True Beauty, and Confidence

By Karen Rice

Without questioning—that is the way I conquered my diagnosis of cancer twice. When going through a serious illness, you learn to know what faith truly is and find the true meaning of beauty, confidence, and how you really feel about yourself. I know this all too well because I have experienced trials and tribulations in my life. Through it all, I gained strength that I never knew I had and much more confidence in myself, which led me to love myself all over again. I experienced a new beginning all on my own.

After going through so much in my life, things were going well until I had a head-on collision with not only breast cancer but also colon cancer, and it changed my entire outlook. I thought I had endured rough years before, but going through cancer was the rest of the iceberg. There is nothing like it. You wonder what you have done so wrong to have this placed upon you. You began asking, “Why me?” Yet, through my tragedies and all that I had to endure, it all became an awakening for me, during which I received and gained all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer it. Through it all—the chemo, the radiation, the pain I endured—not only did I find the true meaning of life, but I still felt beautiful. I found myself looking in the mirror even more during this time because I thought what I was dealing with would change me drastically. But as I viewed the imperfections on my body that I now must live with, over time, it got better. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I embraced it.

Whether we are dealing with an illness or any other negative feelings about ourselves, our lives, and our bodies, we need to be our own cheering section. Through all my mishaps, I still feel beautiful, and it is real. I have realized that even going through such a dark time, I still have a life to live, and I will live it to the fullest. When I think of the “gift of life” given to me twice over, I know I did not have a moment to waste. I would never say having or going through cancer is a gift—surviving it and receiving a second and third chance at life is the gift. Yet, through it all, I did not allow the disease to take away who I am or what I stand for. I am a survivor and an example to show that it can happen. One can go on and look and feel just as beautiful, inside and out, and it shines brighter when you are through the darkness.

True beauty is within, and when you feel beautiful on the inside, it shows so clearly on the outside.

Through these tragedies, I received and gained all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer them. True beauty is within, and when you feel beautiful on the inside, it shows so clearly on the outside. I want to spread mine and help others do the same. Just because I had cancer does not mean cancer had me. As women, we should never allow anything or any circumstance to steal our joy or our self-esteem—even while cancer is taking us through many emotions and many unanswered situations. I know for sure that, with cancer, many times you are too weak to even think about your looks because you don’t feel your best. Through any tragedy, we are and always will be beautiful and unique. Women, we all know that our bodies take lickings, yet we keep on ticking!

Surviving cancer has taught me not to blink twice in life—my eyes are wide open, and I am living to the fullest. I also realized, after surviving cancer both times, that I was about to face new beginnings, have new hope, and do and see more with a whole new perspective. I was modeling, doing some acting, and working full-time when cancer hit me, and it slowed me down for a while, but I’m back with a vengeance to see how far I can go.

I’m fulfilling my dreams now, even at the age of sixty-six. I share my story with others, hoping to positively impact anyone who is ill or going through hardship so they can proceed with life in a whole new way. I cherish each day and moment; through it all, I feel I’m at my best. I am confident in myself, as well as grateful. I am starting over, doing things I should have done before cancer.

I recently wrote my third book, Cancer, Yet Cancer Again: But I Will Not Die Before I’m Dead. I titled it that because I genuinely feel that you should not stop living because you have cancer, which is exactly what I almost did. I am a realist, a regular everyday woman who has overcome many obstacles. The scars and mishaps that are now attached to my body due to cancer are symbols of inspiration and hope. I will never be thankful for having cancer, but I’m thankful for some of the struggles I’ve gone through. If I hadn’t, I would not have found my true strengths. I’m not allowing anything to stop me. I am a true example that you can survive cancer not once but twice, provided you get to it in time. I am not saying it will be easy or that all will survive. I am urging you to have faith, fight with all you have, and then hold on.

I honestly believe when and if you survive a horrific tragedy or a horrible disease such as cancer, it is for a reason. You have a purpose, and through that purpose, faith, compassion, strength, and true beauty are born.

— V —

Karen Rice is a two-time cancer survivor and three-time author from Houston, Texas. Her latest book, Cancer, Yet Cancer Again: But I Will Not Die Before I’m Dead, is available on Amazon.