Rachael Clearwater was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma in November of 1994 and subsequently underwent a bilateral mastectomy. After reflecting upon the experience, she wrote Dreamwalk, A Survivor’s Journey Through Breast Cancer. Her hope was to help other breast cancer patients and their loved ones to avoid some of the stumbling blocks she encountered during her first year. The author has since devoted much of her time to supporting other women as they work their way through the emotions associated with the ordeal. Rachael attempts to bring a positive message to overcome the fear of recurrence that often accompanies the cancer journey.

"What has really helped me is the knowledge that no condition on earth is really incurable. We can greatly impact our healing process by reading books based on the mind-body connection and listening to guided meditations. Survivors must be willing to make the necessary changes, whether they lie in lifestyle, diet, stress levels or relationships."

"I don’t know whether I’ve been able to change sufficiently, and no one has a guarantee of surviving, but I do feel strongly that nothing is impossible, and I don’t anticipate a recurrence. I have even come to the point after more than six years, where I can view my cancer as somewhat of a gift."

"Granted, I would have preferred a different package, but I have grown by leaps and bounds spiritually because I have been able to meet, and hopefully help, so many other people. Life now is richer and fuller."

Clearwater resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband of 32 years and works in the field of special education. She recently underwent a bilateral TRAM flap breast reconstruction and is very pleased with the results. Her current project is to create a prosthesis exchange to enable women without funding to receive a breast prostheses from those who have had reconstructive surgery and now have a prosthesis available.