From Cancer to Trancer - Finding Purpose Through Comic Relief

By silvia milone-martin

"From humor came healing; from pain came purpose, and from sickness came her story."  Amber Rose Cox.  For those who are skeptical about the role that humor and hypnosis plays in the treatment of cancer, I am a living testimony to its power. I'm not suggesting that hypnosis cures cancer.  I am, however, stating that it played an extremely large role in healing my mind.  I did not realize it then, that chilly Autumn day in early November 2016, when I was first diagnosed with Stage 3C Aggressive Breast Cancer, how humor and hypnosis would be my life- line during the most tumultuous and grimmest times of my life.  However, it happened in mid-February of the following year.  Read about one woman's remarkable journey being diagnosed with Stage 3C Aggressive Breast Cancer and how she used her pain to fuel a passion to fuel inside of her that she never knew existed.   Written in first person, Silvia uses drama and wit to narrate this unique and one of a kind story.  Come and meet a intriguing cast of characters that she encountered in her travels as she made her way from survivor to Comedy Stage Hypnotist to Cancer Support Hypnotherapist to Chronic Pain Eliminator.  Come and join Silvia as she recounts in detail her adventures from finding her purpose through her pain.  Each chapter ends with a section of wealthy tid bits ranging from how to get free drinks at a bar, what to bring to a chemotherapy appointment, the pros/cons of having a port, the myths and misconceptions of hypnosis, how to hustle your first show, and many more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: silvia milone-martin
• Release date: Jun 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9781072793588

Book preview

Copyright 2019 Silvia Milone-Martin

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission from the author.  Printed in the United States.

Milone-Martin, Silvia.

From Cancer to Trancer: Finding Purpose Through

Comic Relief

First Edition

ISBN:  9781072793588

Breast Cancer.   2.  Self-Help  3.  Humor 

4. Hypnosis    5.  Stage Hypnosis    6.  Women

7. Emotional Freedom Tapping - EFT   

8.  NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) 

9. Chronic Pain 

10. Cancer Support   11.  Special Education

12.  Rape  13.  Childhood Trauma

14.  Sexual Abuse 15.  Hypnotherapy

16. PTSD

Testimonials

Silvia is an experienced cancer hypnotherapist and a highly talented individual.  She earned her certification through my course and has begun working with cancer patients at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Her intimate personal experience affords her a depth of understanding of both client and family needs. 

Seth-Deborah Roth RN, CRNA, CCHt, CI Fellow with the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists

If you have ever said the words ‘Why Me, then you need to read this book!  Throughout our lives we are presented with incredible challenges that when accepted, often lead to amazing outcomes.  It is through such a challenge that I had the opportunity to know, work with, and watch Silvia change.  Had she circled up into a ball, and not a fighter, there would be no Trancer!"

Marc Marshall CPH, CHMI

Silvia is an amazing and spiritual woman, deeply connected to her own loving energy source.  It is that connection that has enabled her own remarkable journey of healing and it transmits to others.  At our first training session for Drain That Pain, she enabled a young man to become miraculously clear of body pains and brain fog.  The world is a better place because of Silvia.  She emanates so much loving energy!

Joanna Cameron Chronic Pain Elimination Specialist; Author of

Drain That Pain

From Humor Came Healing.

From Pain Came Purpose.

From Sickness, Came Her Story! -   

Amber Rose Cox; Hypnotherapist; Stage Hypnotist

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the love of my life, my wonderful husband, Peter Martin.  I once read a quote that resonated with how I see ourselves, as we grow old together. Storms make trees take deeper roots. The storms we have experienced together have only brought us closer together, instead of farther apart.  Telling you about my diagnosis was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, and I could not have come through it without you.  I was, and I remain, utterly, completely and totally in love with you.

This book is dedicated to the other love of my life, Molly Francis Martin.  I don’t even know where to begin to let you know how proud your father and I are of the young woman you have grown up to be.  There are so many words to tell you how honored I am to call you daughter.  I could borrow from others, but then, those words would not be mine.  Just know that I love you unconditionally.  I admire your tenacity for life, your commitment to your friends and family, your sense of humor that you share with your father, your zest for life, your profound ability to love, your knowledge to comprehend exactly who you are as a person, and to go after what you believe to be true and just, even in the face of adversity.  I can only say that whenever I look at you, I am in awe of your exquisite beauty, inside and out.  I love you, my little peanut.

––––––––

I would like to dedicate this book to my three closest female friends; all of whom have been inducted into the prestigious Shu-Shu Club!

Egmar (Eggy) Alper - Reigning Lead Laotong and Head Shu Shu CEO

Elaine Doroff - Health and Wellness Shu Shu Ambassador

Fallon Jane Carrington - United Kingdom Shu Shu Ambassador

Lastly, I want to dedicate this book to my godfather, Francis ‘Chuck’ Mitchell for being with me, in spirit, through it all.  Every time I needed you all I had to do was put on the infamous black Fedora hat of yours. 

Table of Contents

Testimonials    

Dedication     

Prologue             

Chapter 1  What Does One Pack     

When Traveling to Hell?

Chapter 2 Tits’ Machine – Equivalent  

of a Rectal Exam

Chapter 3 Lab Rat     

Chapter 4 My Very Own Cheering Squad 

Chapter 5 Round and Round We Go   

Chapter 6 Resemblance of a Space Alien 

Chapter 7 Not You’re Garden Variety Freak 

Chapter 8 To Gain, or not to Gain,   

that is the Question!

Chapter 9 Clawing Your Way Out   

Chapter 10 The Hardest Fight    

Chapter 11 It’s All About Perspective  

Chapter 12 Connecting       

Chapter 13 Neuro-Linguistic Programming 

(NLP)

Chapter 14 Prelude     

Chapter 15 Let’s Celebrate Vegas Style  

Chapter 16 Because I Refuse to Beg  

Chapter 17 Metamorphizing    

Chapter 18 You’ve Seen My Decent,  

Now Watch My Rising!

Chapter 19  Every Day She’s Hustling  

Chapter 20  Gratitude     

Chapter 21  Building Connections   

Chapter 22  One Day This Pain Will  

Make Sense to You

Acknowledgments   

References     

Prologue

For those who are skeptical about the role that humor and hypnosis plays in the treatment of cancer, I am a living testimony to its power. I'm not suggesting that hypnosis cures cancer.  I am, however, stating that it played an extremely large role in healing my mind.  I did not realize it then, on that chilly Autumn day in early November 2016, when I was first diagnosed with Stage 3C Aggressive Breast Cancer, how humor and hypnosis would be my life-line during the most tumultuous and grimmest times of my life.  However, it happened in mid-February of the following year.

It was during this time period that I had been admitted into the hospital and placed in ICU with a severe condition known as Neutropenia; basically, my white blood cells were dangerously low. Since everyone who entered the room had to be dressed head to toe in hazmat outfits, in order to not spread any germs whatsoever, I could only visit with company for brief periods of time. Needless to say, I was scared, lonely, and depressed.

Since I had my iPad, I went on the internet in search of something to occupy my mind.  I came across comedy stage hypnosis shows while surfing through YouTube.  Since this point, I had never really watched comedy stage hypnosis shows before so I decided to view a few of them to help pass the time. Without even noticing, I had spent nearly all my time alone watching, what I thought were, some of the most hilarious footage of my life.  That was it, I was hooked.

During my time in ICU, I learned about the term Gelotology, which is the scientific field of examining how laughter affects our immune system.  I began to devour everything I could get my hands on about Gelotology and Stage Hypnosis.

Though there was much laughter, there was also an equal amount of pain and fatigue. Chemotherapy wreaked havoc on body and my mind.  During my second cycle of chemo, I remembered something very important.  Several years ago, I had experienced firsthand the incredible power of hypnotherapy.   As a child, I was molested and raped and for years suffered debilitating anxiety.  Hypnotherapy saved my life by teaching me how to live without constant worry and fear.  It also stopped the nightmares and my migraines lessened as time passed.  It crossed my mind, that if hypnotherapy played such a significant role in my recovery then, perhaps it could do the same for me now.

It was during my chemotherapy appointments that I started to listen to MP3 recordings.  For the rest of my chemotherapy treatments, I brought along my tablet.  I had a routine.  My husband would always accompany me to treatment.  He would put on his headphones and read his books and I would listen to self-hypnosis recordings.

Over time, I started to become aware that some of my side effects from the chemotherapy began to lessen.   I am not suggesting that hypnosis cures cancer.  I am, however, stating that it played a large role in healing my mind.  When your

mind is in a positive state; the body follows suit.

Between the laughter and love that I surrounded myself with on a daily basis, along with the learning and practicing of hypnosis, I had started to feel alive again for the first time in a long time. A positive mindset can be extremely beneficial in the day to day quality of life.   Hypnosis is such an amazing tool and the mind is such an extraordinary piece of equipment.  When these two forces come together remarkable things happen.

When chemotherapy was over, radiation started.  During this time, I continued to take online classes in the area of hypnosis. I was finding that I didn’t just want to learn about the topic, but I wanted to become certified in some area of it.  This is

the time I became interested in becoming certified as an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Practitioner and worked towards certification as an NLP Practitioner.  It was during my illness that I spend ALL my time focused on educating myself about the mind.

Soon after I was declared cancer-free, I immediately signed up to become a certified Comedy Stage Hypnotist.  Laugher played such a large part of my recovery that I got an idea.  In March of 2017, I earned my Stage Hypnotist certification and started to perform shows.  Every show I perform, a large part of the proceeds, and sometimes ALL the proceeds, go to Dana Farber Cancer Center to fund Breast Cancer Research.

I also became certified as a Cancer Support Hypnotherapist with the help of Seth-Deborah Roth from Hypnotherapyforhealth.com and now work with cancer patients in order to help them as hypnosis helped me during my difficult time. I also am a certified Chronic Pain Eliminator with the help of Joanna Cameron using Drain That Pain technique.

From my pain, came my purpose.  I am not sure how I feel about saying there are reasons why all things happen.  However, I do firmly believe that it is our circumstances, and how we react to them, that will determine what we end up learning from them. Whatever is your pain, whether inflicted on you, on someone you care about, whether physical or emotional, you are affected by it on such a deep and personal level.   My message in writing my story is for others to think about the pain that they may have or are enduring and what you can learn from it, no matter the severity.

C.S. Lewis once wrote, Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing the monkey bars.  You have to let go at some point in order to continue to move forward.

Respectfully,

Silvia Milone-Martin

Tiny Trancer

Chapter 1

What Does One Pack When Traveling to Hell?

Instinct

The soft water against my skin felt intoxicating.  There is something to be said about stepping into a hot bubble bath at the end of a long day to help erase the trouble that may have preceded earlier.  Baths to me are almost meditative.  I forget my concerns for a brief moment and lose myself in the steam, almost like entering a dream-like state.  When I was at the point of resembling a raisin, I got out and wrapped myself up in my white plush bathrobe and made my way upstairs to the bedroom.

I laid on the bed for what felt like an eternity, enjoying the warmth of my skin from the bath.  I drifted off for a bit and when I awoke, I had this insatiable itch so deep within my right breast that I simply just could not scratch.  It was not just any type of itch; it was almost like a burning sensation.  As I pushed on the skin trying to relieve myself of this undesirable feeling, I noticed here was a lump under my right breast.  Along with this itch, there was a bizarre sensation that my skin was being tugged at on the right side of the breast as well.  A tug like a mother pulling on her toddler’s arm that it was time to leave the toy store; a pull, but not to cause harm. 

Seven years ago, I underwent surgery for a breast reduction. Prior to surgery, I was a very large endowed woman, standing at four feet eleven- and one-half inches with a bra size of a triple D.  All my life, I hated my breasts for many reasons, too many to write.  And for years, I wanted them gone or just to be small enough that I did not need to wear a bra.  Around the age of forty, I decided to opt for surgery.

Not long after surgery, I began to feel sharp shooting pains in both breasts.  I was told that this is normal after surgery, as some nerve endings may have been cut in the process. I was educated by the doctors that losing and/or even gaining sensation was perfectly normal as these nerve endings continued to heal overtime.  So, when I experienced these sensations, I chalked it up to the idea that my body was continuing to heal, even after months to years after surgery.  I thought nothing of it and went about my usual routines of the day.

Every year thereafter, I was vigilant about making sure my annual mammograms were scheduled and completed on time.  I also made a habit out of giving myself my own breast exams.  After the surgery and healing were completed, I had accumulated an abundance of scar tissue.  As a result, I had experienced many ‘scary results’ from mammograms conducted. The scar tissue often resembled unexplainable lumps that needed further examination. 

So, it was not any surprise that when I received my results in the mail, there was mention that they needed further information before making a decision.  I was used to these types of results, and therefore, always remained calm.  I just assumed that what felt like lumps inside the breasts were just left-over scar tissue from breast reduction surgery.

However, on this particular day, as I lay there with this burning itching sensation in my right breast, I had realized that it had been nearly six months since the date of my annual scheduled mammogram.  Why didn’t I go, I thought to myself as I lay there feeling anxious.  I also started to panic because I could not recall the last time I conducted a self-breast exam.  After surgery, anytime I conducted my own self breast exam, I was always aware of how the surrounding tissue felt under my fingers.  Also, after surgery, a lump of scar tissue can develop in the hole where the breast tissue was removed, which is what occurred in my case.  Scar tissue is known to be dense and can feel like a lump when examined by hand.  But this, this lump, this hard thing under my fingers, I knew right then and there, this was no scar tissue!

I immediately ran over, let the towel fall to the ground, and stared at my breasts through the full-length mirror in our bedroom.  Suddenly, I noticed that there was an unusual puckering of my skin right next to the nipple.  For those of you who may not know, it is very common to have something called ‘dog ears’ on and around your breasts after reduction surgery.  The skin hangs over a little bit, thus giving the term ‘dog ears’.  It can also seem to be legitimate puckering in places.  I thought that this newly discovered puckering of my skin was probably a result of breast reduction.

Quickly, I called my husband Peter up to the bedroom and had him examine the lump I felt.  At first, he could not feel anything.  After guiding his hand to the exact location, I knew he felt it just by the look on his face.  I immediately called my doctor and made an appointment for the following morning at the Women’s Health Center.  It was going to be the longest wait of my life.  That night, I went to bed earlier than usual.  I don’t remember much that night, except crying myself to sleep.  I knew the prognosis, just didn’t know the extent.

The First Realm of Hell

The following afternoon was when I was scheduled to see my OBGYN.  It was a Friday afternoon, and as soon as the clock reached 2:15pm, I was out the door, walking so fast to my car I almost willed myself to fly. I headed to the Women’s Health Center and anxiously sat in the waiting room with the others.  It felt as if we were all audience members waiting to be called as contestants for a game show. Silvia Milone-Martin, come on down!  You are the next contestant on The Price is Right!  Place your bid on this new Apple iWatch.  Bid correctly and you won’t be diagnosed with Breast Cancer!

We all sat there together, each woman stealing glances at each other, wondering what particular reason they were here.  Silvia, the doctor will see you now.  Lucky me, I thought.  What did I win behind curtain door number 1?  A pap smear? A colonoscopy?  A new microwave?

I obediently stood up and followed the nurse to room number 3, stripped down to the bare essentials, put on the johnny and waited for the doctor. 

Hello, Silvia.  How are you?  ‘How do you think I’m doing fool,’ I thought to myself.  So, let me make sure I understand.  You were at home and found the lump yourself.  Is this correct?  Yeah, I thought.  I was playing lost and found, and there it was, the lump I was looking for right behind the trash next to the moldy egg shells!  Yes, I found it yesterday after my bath.

I showed her where on my breast I felt the lump and watched her face for signs of good news.  However, this was not the case.  Then the interrogation started.  When did you have your last mammogram, how often do you examine your own breasts, when did you have breast reduction surgery, and on, and on, and on, round and round on the Merry Go Round we go. 

I was compliant and answered her myriad of questions to the best of my ability.  Then, the confirmation came that something was indeed wrong.  I am going to send you to the Breast Center so you can have a mammogram and an ultrasound straight away.  When are you available?  Did I just hear her ask when I was available?  Now!!!! Right this very minute, I screamed in my head.  As soon as possible, I managed to speak in a low whimper.  The doctor examined me and told me that she, indeed, did feel a lump as well.  She inquired as to whether the puckering of my skin is a result if my breast reduction surgery.  Unfortunately, I informed her that it was not.

She quickly summoned another woman, young in age, to call the Women’s Health Center to schedule a mammogram with an ultrasound as soon as possible.  My appointment was scheduled for the following Monday, a three day wait.  How could I wait this long??? What would I do until then?  I felt so depleted by the time I made my way to the car.

That night, I cried into my husband’s chest.  Emotions seized through my nerves like shards of broken glass.  I tried to focus on my breathing to slow down my muffled cries and slowly I fell asleep, waiting for the next seventy-two hours to arrive.

My exam was scheduled for Monday of the following week.  Today was Friday and it was one of the longest waiting periods I will ever remember in recorded history.  After a tormenting seventy-two hours, the day finally arrived.  Despite what happened in the next few hours ahead, I was ready for whatever lay ahead.

See, I am the type of individual