How the Seasons Inspire Hope and Healing Through Cancer

Patti McGee is an author, a massage therapist and breast cancer survivor of 20 years. Catch up on all of Patti's blogs here!

As a Breast Cancer Survivor, the changing of the seasons is a reminder that life has seasons of its own. The seasons have always felt like a gentle nudge, a reminder that life is constantly moving, evolving, and offering us new beginnings. Each season brings its own beauty, its own challenges, and, if we’re open to it, a chance to turn the page and start fresh.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, time seemed to freeze. It was two weeks before Christmas. The world outside my window kept turning, but I felt stuck, holding my breath and waiting for test results and life to return to normal. But the seasons didn’t wait for me. They continued their dance, quietly encouraging me to keep going, to keep hoping.

Each season has a different representation for me. Fall is a time of harvest and gratitude. I found my lump the week of Halloween and had an uncertainty about it. I love doing activities like apple picking with my family, the crispness in the air, and the comfort of warm cider. It’s a reminder to savor the sweetness in life, even when things feel uncertain. Cancer taught me to cherish these simple moments, each apple picked, each laugh shared, each memory made.

The winter, especially in Central, New York, brings its own kind of comfort. The world slows down, inviting us to rest and reflect. I find solace in hearty stews simmering on the stove and cozy blankets wrapped around me. During my surgeries, winter’s quiet permitted me to nurture myself, to honor my body’s need for rest, and to find warmth in the love of those around me. The Christmas season brings out the child in me. It is the season for giving and so many wonderful people gave to me during my journey and I am still able to give today.

Spring is about rebirth and hope, as I pushed through each treatment, reminding me that I was in a difficult season of life. The sight of flowers pushing through the soil reminds me that healing is possible, that beauty can emerge from even the darkest places. Each new bud is a promise: no matter how long the winter, spring always comes. This season gives me the courage to keep moving forward, to celebrate small victories, and to believe in brighter days ahead. There were so many days, I felt like the seed that is planted in the dark soil and just waiting for the end of my treatments. I wasn’t sure I could finish the chemotherapy and at one point, talked about stopping but like the seed, I was nurtured through the season and completed all 8 sessions and I am alive today because of my strength and determination. I pushed through just like the bud does with the seed to blossom into a beautiful soul.

The summer season, for me, is one of pure joy. The sun on my skin, swimming in the pool, the laughter of loved ones, the freedom to be outside and feel alive. After months of treatment, summer felt like a reward—a chance to soak up every moment, to let the warmth wrap around me, and to remind me that life is precious and meant to be lived, joyfully.

The changing of the seasons means more to me now than ever before. It’s a reminder that life is a book, made up of chapters, each with its own joys and struggles. Cancer may have changed the way I navigate the world, but it has also taught me to embrace each season as it comes, to turn the page with hope, gratitude, and an open heart.

This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective as a breast cancer survivor. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.