Craig Daily Press

Mary Robison was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 while living in Henderson, Nev. Shortly after, she was treated with a lumpectomy and lymph node dissection.

Mary always had been an active person who loved to golf and travel. Being a fighter and survivor, she possesses a natural abundance of positive thinking, “Keeping your body strong, your mind stays strong, and harvesting both strengths helps you make the most of your life to get through cancer treatment,” she said.

Yet, there were days of complete and utter exhaustion and disappointment. On Sept. 11, 2006 the worst of news was spoken — ovarian cancer. But something was different: Mary had moved to St. George, Utah, and received care from the entire medical team at Intermountain Huntsman Cancer Institute.

She had not previously experienced this level of medical attention, which Mary said “greatly fortified my natural positive thinking.”

The difference in the approach was that her health care team, Dr. Lemmon and colleagues, directed her to a program specifically developed to strengthen and restore cancer patients during and following debilitating cancer therapies.

Mary may not have been in control of her cancer, but she was in control of her physical fitness and decided to team-up with Ron Mendenhall, PT, the Clinic Director of Cancer Rehabilitation in St. George, Utah. Ron guided Mary through a step-by-step prescriptive exercise that strengthened her physically and boosted her emotionally.

Mary teaches us of the vital importance of keeping your mind focused on the positive.

Cancer is a window that you can get through by staying positive. She stresses that even when your mind and body are exhausted from treatment, you simply must push to be positive and learn to rely on your family and friends to get you through the hard times.

Her love of physical activity gives Mary Reynolds everything to smile about. Whether she’s traveling abroad or at home on the golf course, Mary always is caught living life to its fullest.

The above article was submitted by Rehabilitation Services of Craig.