Argentina M.P. (49 years old, female)

[Onset of breast cancer]

　Around March 2006, I noticed that my right breast had a strange feeling; and when I touched it, it had a lump. I was worried because I had a feeling of discomfort in my right breast. I was examined at the Buenos Aires Wellness Center on October 18. After palpation, Dr. S told me, “It is better to have an examination at a specialized hospital.”
　When I was examined at the cancer center on October 26, it was diagnosed as the most feared breast cancer. After the anti-cancer drug treatment, it was necessary to remove the right breast by surgery and perform the anti-cancer drug treatment again while observing the situation.
　I felt hopeless as if I was in a pitch-black tunnel where I couldn’t find an exit.

[Family compassion and support]

　Not only I, but my husband and three daughters were terribly upset. My daughters said, “I don’t want to accept my mom’s illness” and “I don’t want to lose my mom.” At the beginning, I often saw them crying in their room. I said to them, “I care so much about you. I want to cherish the bonds of my family even in such a difficult situation.”
　I think my husband was the most shocked. When he learned that I had cancer, he was very worried. He would be very frustrated and he would get angry at me or even with our daughters for no reason. After a while, he helped me with housework and laundry on my behalf.
　Although my husband hates vegetables, he said, “I want you to get better,” so he cleared the backyard of our house and started a vegetable garden. He was a complete amateur who didn’t know about gardening. Even though he was tired from work, he cultivated the soil almost every day and sweated hard until vegetables were produced. My husband’s actions really made me happy.

[Suffering from the anti-cancer drug treatment]

　The anti-cancer drug treatment was performed from January to March 2007, and my right breast was surgically removed on April 10. And from June, I started the anti-cancer drug treatment again.
　I visited the center on April 25 after the surgery and received advice from Dr. S about future policies. After seeing the results of the cancer center diagnosis and cell test, Dr. S advised me to “increase Purifying Therapy to three hours or more a day” and “improve my eating habits.” Since then, I went to the center three times a week by commuting two hours one way from home to receive Purifying Therapy. On days when I couldn’t go to the center, I received it at home from my second daughter.
　I suffered from post-surgery anti-cancer drug treatment through various side effects such as headache, high fever, chills, diarrhea, nausea and palpitation. Thus, I couldn’t sleep for a long time. In addition, there were times when my fingernails came off, my hair fell off, I slurred my words, I spit bubbles from my mouth, and I was very depressed, and sometimes I couldn’t get up from bed. Nevertheless, I tried to continue receiving Purifying Therapy. By receiving Purifying Therapy, I was sometimes able to be completely relieved of my unbearable pain so it was equally important as my family’s encouragement.
　Since I started going to the center, my thinking has become more positive. At first, I was worried about whether I could endure this situation; but as I confessed my worries at the center, they would encourage me. Through experiencing the Okada Health and Wellness Program, I gradually felt that it was important for me to think that everything depends on how I look at it. Then I told myself, “I have to face the illness” and “I will never give up.” Now, I can deal with the illness.

[Significant improvement]

　On November 1, 2007, I had my doctor at the cancer center examine me. After the test, Dr. S, who saw the test results in my medical record, was surprised and said to me, “It is a remarkable progress.” He said, “In this situation, there is no need to continue anti-cancer drug treatment from now on.” Anti-cancer drug treatment was scheduled to continue for about a year, and in just half way through, I was able to end it.
　Hope arose at once through this unexpected result. At the same time, I attributed these results to my family and the center staff who encouraged me and gave me Purifying Therapy.
I was getting better day by day. I was sometimes asked “How did you get better?” by other patients with the same type of breast cancer, who I met while I was in the hospital. I shared my experience with Purifying Therapy.
　On October 12, 2007, when all 10 siblings got together for the first time in 27 years, I shared my experience with Purifying Therapy. Some of my siblings showed interest so I took them with me and we participated in a Health Promotion Seminar held at the Derqui Zuisenkyô on November 16. In particular, my sister and her husband were impressed by the content of the seminar and said, “I want to get a MOA pendant to practice Purifying Therapy.”

[Realize the importance of family]

　My husband also participated in a Health Promotion Seminar with my sisters on that day. I think he was interested because he saw how I continued to receive Purifying Therapy and regain my energy. He has come to understand the concept and contents of the Okada Health and Wellness Program.
　After experiencing ikebana flower arrangements at the seminar, my husband said, “I have become more aesthetically elevated.”
　I came across Okada’s philosophy 21 years ago, and was particularly impressed with the idea of interacting with flowers, enjoying beauty, making life more beautiful and enriching, inviting happiness through beauty, and living an artistic life. In response, I was working on activities to arrange flowers at home and in the community. However, at that time, my husband did not show much interest in those activities. He did not even look at the flowers I arranged. However, my husband’s attitude changed after the experience of this seminar. Today, we enjoy arranging flowers together.
　I spend more than two hours going back and forth from my home to the cancer center and wellness center. This experience painfully gave me an idea of how difficult my husband’s commuting situation has been. Until now, my husband, who was tired from his work, would have to listen to my complaints when he comes home. I was not thinking of his situation. Now that I realize that I haven’t been thankful enough, and I’m full of regrets.
　My husband’s salary was barely enough to support four family members. In order to pay for my high medical expenses and transportation fees, we had to cut down our living expenses to its limit. However, my mother, siblings, and relatives helped me financially and in other ways. I realized once again how important my family is.

[For those who suffer from the same illness]

　I was able to overcome the harsh reality I faced, and now I honestly think that I am “happy.” Looking back, this feeling of happiness is the result of continuous Purifying Therapy. I feel that I have received a “new life.” I cherish the life I received. I am diligently working on the Okada Health and Wellness Program at home, including Purifying Therapy, Arts and Culture Program and Dietary Program.
　My husband continues to grow vegetables in the garden. In order to learn more about the Nature Farming method, he and our third daughter participated in the “Training for Home Gardeners” held at Derqui Zuisenkyô on November 8, 2008. In addition, our second daughter was interested in the MOA trainee program and has applied as a trainee. Hoping that people suffering from the same illness would also improve through Purifying Therapy, I took the Purifying Therapy certification test on December 27, 2007. Currently, I am volunteering as a therapist at the center once a week.

[Comments from Dr. S, Buenos Aires Wellness Center]

　Mrs. M was examined by me at the Buenos Aires Wellness Center on October 18, 2006. The skin around the breast was rugged, hard, red and swollen, with a depression in the right areola. Another 2cm lump was found on her right jaw, so I recommended that she get a test at the cancer center.
　Mrs. M was diagnosed with right breast cancer based on the test results (mammography, etc.) at the cancer center. She received anti-cancer drug treatment once a week from January to March 2007, and underwent mastectomy of her right breast. The results of the cell test showed invasive breast cancer, Paget’s disease, and negative hormone receptor. Her cancer was a high-risk.
In response to this result, at the second medical examination on April 25, 2007, I urged her to improve her eating habits by avoiding meat and focusing on vegetables. I also advised her to receive Purifying Therapy for three hours or more a day. I told her to receive mainly on the right shoulder, kidneys, interscapular region, and surgical site. Since then, with the encouragement of her husband and daughters, she has been continuing Purifying Therapy at the center three times a week.
　After that, I did a medical examination for her on May 8, 2007, October 27, and October 26, 2008, and found physical and mental changes. Notably, her pain and dullness in her arms after surgery has disappeared. However, on the days when she cannot receive Purifying Therapy, she feels pain and dullness in her arms. Clearly, she notices the difference in days she has Purifying Therapy or not.