141: When the Doctor Runs Out of Options, You Find New Ones. Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer | Melissa Rausch

Melissa Rausch of Simi Valley, California, was diagnosed in 2019 with triple-positive breast cancer, one of the more aggressive types, and did everything her doctors told her to do. She endured 16 weeks of hard chemo, hospitalizations, a lumpectomy with unclear margins, and radiation with severe side effects. Then in November 2020, the cancer spread to her bones and her oncologist said the word she wasn't ready to accept: terminal. Instead of giving up, Melissa said "with all due respect" and started knocking on other doors. She dove into books, found holistic practitioners, overhauled her diet overnight, and eventually connected with Chris Wark's Square One program and the Healing Strong community. Through a dual path of faith, integrative care, and persistent self-advocacy, including fighting her own oncologist to return to a treatment that had actually worked. Melissa is now in complete remission. She co-founded and now leads the HealingStrong group in Simi Valley, praying for each member by name daily.HealingStrong's mission is to educate, equip and empower our group leaders and group participants through their journey with cancer or other chronic illnesses, and know there is HOPE. We bring this hope through educational materials, webinars, guest speakers, conferences, community small group support and more.Please take advantage of our FREE resources below to help you along your health and healing journey:Support Group DirectoryHolistic Curriculum - Participant GuideSupport Our Mission - DonateAdditional Health ResourcesListen to Previous EpisodesWebsite: healingstrong.org