Not long ago, liver cancer was among the most dreaded and hopeless of diagnosis. The first annual, Global Liver Cancer Symposium brought hope and state-of-the-art treatments to the forefront. Physicians, healthcare workers, patients, advocates and caregivers came together to exchange this life-giving information and those thinking about the treatment options got to meet with thrivers who have had some of these amazing procedures. Coordinator, Suzanne Lindley (www.beatlivertumors.org), a ten year, stage 4 colon cancer warrior had a single mission: to bring hope. Suzanne benefited from liver cancer treatment and fought her insurance company to seek treatment. Now she devotes herself to others, battling for time and quality of life. Drawing together
some of the most talented doctors, researchers, and patient advocates, this symposium offered a new paradigm of medical intervention. To round out the theme of alternatives, yoga breaks were offered in a quiet suite, outfitted by the hotel with leather chairs, feather pillows and fuzzy blankets. During the conference, attendees wandered into the yoga room, took deep breaths, snuggled in the pillows and many had their first taste of yoga, geared for their bodies' need. Teaching yoga at a Liver Cancer Symposium seemed like the most natural extension of my mission to bring yoga to cancer survivors. Being in body means that we will all perish, but in the meantime, breathing consciously, moving lovingly, releasing tension and visualizing healing: this is available to all of us. Healing is a state of mind and heart. I'm blessed to have Suzanne as my mentor in how to survive
cancer, and how to turn misfortune into opportunity and then, how to hold the light of hope up for others. Take a look at the