From Cancer to Cooking: A Survivor Story

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to recognize a courageous survivor and tell her story so that she may be hope and inspiration for others battling breast cancer. 

Kathy Gori was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly two decades ago. She was in the middle of a pre-pregnancy screening, had a mammogram and was issued a clean bill of health. It was only three months later during self-examination that Kathy discovered a lump in one of her breasts. She was young and healthy, and her doctor did not think it was any thing serious. Turns out, it was aggressive cancer. She received a poor prognosis and went through chemo, surgery and other types of western medicine treatments. Realizing she needed to be strong for treatments, she decided to add a macrobiotic regimen—a natural, plant-based diet—into her normal vegetarian diet. She recalls quickly becoming bored with her new diet and source of strength.

After wondering just how burdock root can a person, she realized needed a change. It was then her doctor suggested an Ayurvedic-style diet, which is widely practiced in India and high in antioxidants. Kathy’s sister-in-law, an Indologist who had previously lived and worked in India, stepped in with books and information that helped set Kathy in the right direction. 

A combination of treatments and newfound passion later, Kathy was able to win her battle against breast cancer. She credits her recovery to western medicine and her strength and functionality through treatments to the Indian food. She believes there is no substitute for western treatments against cancer and a proper diet can boost immune systems, making treatments easier. 

Today, 21 years later, she is healthy and still cooking Indian cuisine. She started cooking for her fellow cancer survivors and two years ago started her own blog. She acknowledges her love for Indian cooking stemmed from her doctor’s suggestion during her battle against cancer and doesn’t think she would have turned to it otherwise. She has spoken about her own journey and enjoys sharing her recovery story with other cancer survivors. You can learn more about her and her creative dishes by visiting her blog at http://www.thecolorsofindiancooking.com or following her on Twitter @kathygori.

We thank Kathy for sharing her story with us and encourage others to promote breast cancer awareness throughout their communities this month and every month.