Cindy's past included mental and, to some extent, physical abuse. Little Cindy was shuffled back and forth between parents who seemed unable to care for her. Her only real refuge was a loving grandmother who cared for Cindy in her parent's absence. Cindy told me that she had had a childhood fantasy that someday she would become dreadfully ill with a disease like cancer and then her mother would feel sorry for her and come and give her the loving care she wanted. Most oncologists believe that cancer is a condition that develops over many years.
Some experts believe that certain cancers have more to do with psychological causes than others.
It is my opinion that Cindy's childhood set the stage for Cindy's cancer. Cindy had a large capacity for love, but she had not learned to love herself. I believe her experience as a little girl wondering who, if anyone, was going to take care of her, and learning how to avoid the physical wrath of a drunken father, caused her to doubt she was worthy of being loved. Cindy's job had also taken a stressful turn. Cindy had been employed for seven years booking airline reservations.