For most of us, just hearing the word "cancer" sends a chill up our spine. The thought of receiving such a diagnosis for ourselves, or a loved one is enough to cause spiraling thoughts of funeral plans and decisions about who will raise our children.

"I don't think of it like that. I see it as a big, hard journey," says Debra Jarvis, a chaplain at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and a speaker at this year's Healing Journeys Conference. The conference, entitled Cancer as a Turning Point: From Surviving to Thriving, coming July 10 and 11 to Meany Hall on the University of Washington campus, is designed to offer a new and different perspective to cancer survivors and their loved ones. It is a free event that brings together speakers, musicians, professionals and most importantly those affected by cancer, for two days of community and healing.

The sense of community with others is among the most valuable aspects of the conference. Attendees are given a color code on their name tag when they arrive that indicates what type of cancer they have, making it easy to identify others with the same type.

"You can talk about things like what it's like for you to tell your family. It's not just that you get tools from the speakers, but you can learn from one another," says Jarvis.

The other aspect she appreciates about this particular conference is its focus on the whole person. "There are a lot of medical conferences out there," she said.

But this one is different.

"From surviving to thriving - that's the part that really turns me on," says Jarvis of the title. "I've seen people who aren't thriving who are disease free. (At the conference) you see people leaving going 'wow, not only could I survive this, but I could actually be better than I was.' That's why this title is so huge."

Seeing people's lives change for the good is one of the things that keeps Jarvis inspired while working in a field where some patients don't survive. She says cancer is a turning point, and often eventually seen as a gift, for the majority of people she works with.

For most, she says, it's a wake up call to begin living differently. Whether that means finding spirituality for the first time, or working toward healthier ways of living, many discover their lives are better than before.

"I think it makes life really rich when you get that the party is going to be over at some point. It doesn't go on and on...it gives you such appreciation that you've been given another day."

But not everyone finds the gift in cancer. Some, she says, remain bitter. "I had one woman say to me, 'I don't know what the gift is in cancer. I don't find anything good in this."

Many struggle with identity issues when they're diagnosed. "The question becomes, who are you when you can't do what you do? When you get cancer, you can't go into work everyday. You can't be the mom you were, you can't go to all the soccer games, you can't even pick up the baby because you had a mastectomy. You can't cook because you're too tired. So who are you now?"

Jarvis works with cancer patients to find value in who they are. "You're valued in life, not because of what you do, but simply because you exist," she said.

In talking with hospice patients over the years and through an intensive training program Jarvis designed for oncology nurses, she has found that many people also come to see a gift in dying of cancer.

"We all have to die. I'd routinely ask hospice patients who'd say 'I can't believe I'm dying of cancer' I'd ask, 'well, how did you want to die?' and it would stop them in their tracks."

When she asked oncology nurses the same question, after much reflection on other ways to die, 80 percent of them decided they'd want to die of cancer. Having time to say goodbye, the ability to manage their pain with medication and being with family and friends were among the reasons nurses thought cancer wouldn't be such a bad way to go.

The conference also provides a place for people to grieve, Jarvis said. And then, they can begin healing.

She hopes those attending the two day event will leave with some different scenarios of how to cope with cancer, and find hope, not just for a cure, but to thrive.

Rosemary Stark has had breast cancer twice. She's also faced dealing with breast cancer in her mother, sister and sister-in-law. She attended a Healing Journeys conference in California in 2001 on a professional basis, having worked with the American Cancer Society as a Reach to Recovery volunteer for years.

"I went thinking I was 8 years out from having cancer, believing I was 'all better,'" she said. "It stirred up much for me."

"There is nothing more powerful that being in a group of 1,000 people focused on wholeness and healing. It was a tremendous feeling of not being alone."

Stark participated in the drumming aspect of the conference. At this year's Seattle conference, One World Taiko will perform Japan's ancient tradition of spiritual festival drumming, inviting participants to join in the process.

"I went (on stage) reluctantly," said Stark, who found the drumming a very powerful experience. "It felt releasing."

So impressed with the conference as a whole, Stark set out to bring it to Seattle. "I knew there were so many people who could benefit from this. Since it was free, I knew many would go who otherwise couldn't."

Stark contacted Healing Journeys founder Jan Adrian. After some serious fundraising that included a $25,000 donation from the American Cancer Society, the first Seattle Conference was scheduled for 2003.

Stark invited her brother to speak at the conference, knowing he'd been touched by cancer in so many of his family members. "It was very emotional," she said. "Many spoke about that aspect of the conference for caregivers."

Jan Adrian created the conference after experiencing cancer herself. Following her diagnosis in 1989, she visited a doctor who told her bluntly, "emotions have nothing to do with this."

Having worked in the health field herself, Adrian knew this wasn't true.

"I was concerned about all the women out there who didn't have my background, and I wanted to do something," she recalls.

The first Healing Journeys conference was held in 1994. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Healing Journeys has helped thousands of people touched by cancer find hope and healing.

In addition to professional speakers, three local cancer survivors and one spouse will share their stories of healing with audience members.

Author Lawrence Leshan, PhD, will talk about his 50-year experience in researching psychology and cancer patients. Through his research, Leshan discovered that by providing therapy to terminal patients that focused on what's right in their life, what their dreams were and what gave them zest for life, fifty percent of those terminal patients went into remission, Adrian said.

For Adrian, she found that zest for life in Healing Journeys. "Doing something to make a difference in people's lives is what makes me excited to get up in the morning."

Cancer as a Turning Point, From Surviving to Thriving will be held July 10 and 11 at Meany Hall, with check in beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The conference is free to the public. To register go to www.healingjourneys.org or call 1-800-423-9882. Registration is available on site the day of the conference, however, if registering after July 6, you will need to provide your own lunch.

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