Siriluck, a vibrant 66-year-old Thai native residing in the serene hills of Sai Kung, Hong Kong, embodies resilience and a zest for life that belies her long battle with cancer. Having called Hong Kong home for over four decades, Siriluck’s story is not just about her fight against cancer, but also about her deep spiritual journey and commitment to natural healing practices.
Diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer at 50, Siriluck’s life took a turn that many would find daunting. Cancer was not a stranger in her family; she lost her mother to leukemia at a young age and both her siblings had their own battles with the disease. Yet, Siriluck, inspired by her sister’s fearless approach to life and illness, chose to view her diagnosis as a challenge rather than a death sentence.
Her initial response to the cancer diagnosis was unconventional. She refused chemotherapy and radiation, fearing their side effects. Instead, Siriluck turned to her lifelong practices of yoga, meditation, and Buddhism. She strengthened her body and mind through regular exercise, adopting a pescatarian diet, and spending time in nature, particularly enjoying hikes with her dog, Song.
Two years post-diagnosis, despite the growth of her cancer, Siriluck continued with natural treatments, including coffee enemas, a practice rooted in both Gerson Therapy and traditional Asian medicine. However, in 2011, her condition necessitated a lumpectomy, which revealed the spread of cancer to her lymph nodes. This discovery did not dampen her spirit; instead, it reinforced her belief in the power of natural healing.
It wasn’t until 2013, when a PET scan showed metastasis to her bones, lung, and liver, that Siriluck considered conventional treatments. Supported by her husband, she contacted Dr. Alexander Herzog in Germany and underwent hyperthermia combined with low doses of chemotherapy, a treatment that surprisingly resulted in minimal side effects.
As the cancer progressed, Siriluck reluctantly agreed to radiotherapy in 2015, yet she maintained her holistic practices. Yoga, especially Iyengar Yoga, played a critical role in her journey, not only as a physical practice but as a means of understanding the mind-body connection and building immunity. Her practice included poses like Sarvangasana and Sirsasana, which her yoga teacher, George Dovas, noted for their health benefits.
In 2018, Siriluck experimented with traditional herbs – Shefflera leucantha and Artemisia lactiflora – known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Remarkably, a 2019 scan showed significant improvement, baffling her doctors.
Despite a subsequent spread of the cancer in 2020 and the hardships of chemotherapy, her faith in Buddhism and daily meditation continued to be her pillars of strength, helping her to live in the present and maintain a positive outlook.
Reflecting on her journey, Siriluck acknowledges that her initial reluctance towards conventional treatments might have been misguided, yet she chooses to focus on the future rather than dwell on the past. Her story is a testament to the power of attitude, belief in the body’s natural healing ability, and the importance of balancing traditional and modern medical approaches in the face of illness.
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