When author Karen McMillan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, she turned to one of the books she had written, Unbreakable Spirit, to help her through the treatments.
“This book has personal stories about cancer from a range of people, and I took a lot from the experiences of Ainslie, who was so positive when facing cancer,” says Karen. “I employed many of her strategies when going through my treatments. It was an eye- opener; the book was so helpful in my own cancer battle.”
Since recovering from cancer, Karen has had success with her writing career, with 15 books now published in nine countries. Her cancer battle alsoinspired the book, Everyday Strength: Recipes and Wellbeing Tips for Cancer Patients, co-authored with chef Sam Mannering.
“I had an idea about a book with nourishing recipes and wellbeing tips that are suitable for when going through cancer treatments,” says Karen. “From that idea, I got medical experts on board, and the book became a reality. It won’t cure cancer, but it’s packed with practical, everyday things you can do to make each day a little brighter during this difficult time.”
Karen has written several bestselling novels, and her latest is Brushstrokes of Memory. It’s a love storyabout a woman who has lost almost ten years of her memory, and one of the first things she discovers is that she has had breast cancer.
“I drew on the occasional diary I kept through my treatments and created a thread about her cancer treatments that runs through the novel,” says Karen. “Using fiction in this way allowed me to explore the dynamics of cancer in a different way.”
Surprisingly, Karen views having had cancer as a positive turning point in her life.
“It is terrible discovering you have cancer, but I caught my cancer early, and all the treatments went well, and I’m now eight years clear. I feel very blessed. While I was going through my treatments, I felt cocooned by love, and I can testify that life post-treatment is sweeter than before. I’m more creative too, and I’ve been fortunate that my books have been so well received,and life has been such a wonderful adventure since my recovery.”