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In beating the devastating disease, the Oregon Township resident traveled a different path, combining traditional and alternative methods of healing. In the end, she came out with a renewed outlook on life and a written testimony of what she had learned.

Hammerberg, 45, lives with her husband Ken. She was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer in June 2006.

"I started chemotherapy treatment in June 2006 and ended February 2007," said Hammerberg, a former automotive industry middle manager. "The way we found it is a lymph node on my neck appeared. At first we thought it was a lump."

A biopsy revealed it was cancer. "The worst day was the day I found out because everything's an unknown," explained Hammerberg.

It was equally frustrating for Hammerberg's mother, Dolly Arksey, to watch her daughter endure the disease. "It was like a rollercoaster ride," Arksey said. "It was an extraordinary time. We experienced trauma and fear. When you win you're at a point of feeling exhilarated. Happy doesn't cover it. I'm grateful our prayer was answered. We never lost hope and I think that had a lot to do with it."

Hammerberg visited the Cancer Treatment Centers of America facility in Zion, Ill. in August 2006 for consultation and testing. It was there that Hammerberg was introduced to its multi-discipline whole body, mind and spirit treatment program, which included counseling in nutrition and healing foods, naturopathy, massage, and mind-body-spirit therapies.

"I learned that material things aren't important and not to let things bother me," Hammerberg said. "I have a renewed look at life. I show people that I love them. I think I've had many relatives and friends who look at life differently."

After receiving intensive chemotherapy at a Lapeer clinic and making a drastic lifestyle change, tests in March 2007 confirmed Hammerberg's total remission. Despite her remission, Hammerberg continues to follow her strict diet and takes supplements.

"I believe in taking responsibility and changing my eating habits along with a positive attitude and modern medicine and natural (products)," Hammerberg said. "I took an immune-boosting supplement to increase my white blood count. I avoided the killer foods that are processed, pop (diet and regular), margarine, and white bread. Water was my primary beverage and a lot of vegetables and fruits. I avoid fast food. I try to walk as much as I can."

Hammerberg and Arksey wrote about the experience in a self-published a book, "The Garden of Being" through Booksurge, a subsidiary of Amazon.com. The pair published the book under the private company name, Two Voices Publishing LLC. The book is about survival and a family dealing with cancer. It started as a journal and is full of hope, not only for cancer patients, but for anyone coping with a serious illness.

"The primary message in the book is to take responsibility for your treatment," Hammerberg said. "Our bodies are like a garden. You need to give it all the good things to produce. You can as an ordinary person make miracles happen. I tried to find out all the information I could in order to beat the disease."

Arksey explained the title of the book, "The Garden of Being" says it all. "It's how we're connected. I think we learned more (through the book) and our discoveries. We are more than connected to good health nature. It all boils back to nature and that's where it's at."

Hammerberg said the experience and publication of the book has brought the mother and daughter closer together. "Life is fragile, but life is strong," Arksey said. "If this hadn't happened the book wouldn't be."

Lapeer artist Mike Monville provided the cover art and illustrations.

Carol Atwood is another lady who whipped breast cancer with alternative methods. The 69-year-old attends Sunday church services at the Thornville Baptist Church.

Atwood fought breast cancer between 1998 and 2001. A biopsy revealed cancer in her left breast and doctors wanted to perform a mastectomy on her.

Instead, Atwood discovered alternative methods to surgery. She credited what she found to being a survivor and the spunky woman is still able to enjoy life.

"You have to watch your diet," she said. "My cancer thrived on sugar. I went on a diet and eat mostly vegetables and fruit. When I stopped the sugar (it helped). When you have cancer you have to build your immunity up. There's a pill I bought over the Internet called ImmPower that got rid of 50% of my cancer. I drank Essiac tea (and also turned to juicing). I also take shiitake mushrooms and soy isoflavones."

Atwood said she doesn't believe in chemotherapy and said "it slowly kills a person."

Throughout her cancer ordeal, she said her faith in God sustained her and kept her going. "The most supportive person was my son, Terry, knowing that the stress he put in my life the last three years helped contribute to the cancer," Atwood said. "His very words were, 'Mom, go for (the alternative methods) it and we will have faith in God to heal you of this disease.'"

Atwood is now cancer free, but still has bloodwork and an annual ultrasound. She eliminated sugar in her diet, eats lots of vegetables and fruit, a little chicken and fish, and takes herbs.

A retired bookkeeper with Glenn Lamb Electric, Atwood stays busy tending to her two-story homestead in Unionville and volunteers at a local pregnancy center.

She said her main message is it's possible to be a cancer free without modern medicine. "That's what is so good about this alternative way. It not only can get rid of cancer, but almost every disease in the body. You don't have to have mutilating surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy if you have the faith to be healed with alternatives," she said.

For those who would like more information on how Atwood beat cancer, contact her at (989) 674-8644.

"The Garden of Being" is available at The Book Shelf in downtown Lapeer. Hammerberg and Arksey are in the process of scheduling a book signing at Gallery 194. The time and date will be announced.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com