Ovacome Summer 2014

postbag
A safe place
Meet Ovacome’s new wellbeing columnist, Samixa Shah, who will be answering
questions from fellow members in the winter newsletter onwards.
Samixa, who has been treated for ovarian cancer herself, worked as a pharmacist for almost 25 years before deciding “to
help people understand how to take responsibility of their own health, rather than just rely on medicines”.
She did a course in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) in 2005 and completed a life coaching diploma in 2009. She
then completed a Diploma in Wellness Coaching Skills in 2013.
Samixa has been working as a wellbeing coach at an NHS health centre in London since January 2012 and is still
registered as a pharmacist, which she says helps her “immensely” as a wellbeing coach, “since I understand a number of
health conditions and their treatments and can therefore coach anybody who is having difficulty in their life either due to
their health condition or their lifestyle”.
She says: “I also feel that my interest in alternative therapies helps me coach people who may have difficulties managing
their health with prescribed medicines and feel that they want to use alternative therapies.”
“I strongly believe that the mind-body
connection is of paramount importance
in any healing process as well as in
maintaining a state of wellbeing.
Looking after your mental health during
investigations and after an ovarian
cancer diagnosis is just as important as
the physical side and I have been doing
this in a number of ways myself before
and since being diagnosed with FIGO
stage 4, grade 3 serous carcinoma of the
ovary, primary peritoneum and tubal in
May 2012, aged 49.
Louise L. Hay states in her book – ‘You
Can Heal Your Life’ – “Every cell within
your body responds to every thought you
think and every word you speak.”
This has also been researched in the
book ‘The Hidden Messages in Water’,
by Masaru Emoto.
I informed all my close friends and family
as soon as I was diagnosed. When I was
undergoing treatment and thereafter I
carefully chose to be around friends and
family members who would be positive
and would not bring me down.
I made sure I told everyone what support
I needed from them and was very clear
about when they could come and visit
me and also who could come with me
when I went for my chemotherapy. My
main priority was to be strong both
mentally and physically so that my
husband - who is registered blind - and
my 23-year-old son and other people
around me did not feel helpless. I also
made sure that if someone called I
would only answer the call if it was
someone I wished to speak to. I decided
I had to be in charge since it was
my body and ME going through this
experience!!
I also made sure that during the seven
months I underwent chemotherapy
and surgery, I surrounded myself with
positive books, television programmes,
podcasts and radio shows. I got a lot of
resources from the Macmillan Cancer
Support Centre and did a course in
Mindfulness as well.
My training as a pharmacist and
wellbeing coach came in very
useful since I understood how the
drugs worked and was able to
coach myself to think positively
and make use of my resources to
achieve my health related goals.
I went back to work as a
wellbeing coach in February
2013 and was still undergoing
treatment every three weeks
as I was having Avastin, which
stopped in October 2013.
During this time and even
today I continue with my
mindfulness practice and
make sure that I live for the present
moment and enjoy each day to the
fullest.
I have learnt to appreciate even the
smallest joys of life like watching a
butterfly fly past me or the birds singing
in the garden. I do not worry about the
future since I do not have control over
that. I can only have control over my
thoughts and the present moment.”
Edgware, Middlesex.
- If you would like to send in
a question to Samixa, write to
ovacome@ovacome.org.uk
it together
Phone Ovacome’s nurse led support line on 0845 371 0554 13