Since my terminal diagnosis of breast cancer and an aggressive form of lymphatic cancer, over 23 years ago, I am now an international bestselling author, I have become the grandmother of life coach training, I have built a successful coaching business, I am married to a loving husband and we live in a fabulous house in the country. In 1992 I was told I had nine months left to live. Cancer Free For 20 Years is the story of my journey. Within the book and my cancer recovery coaching programmes I give you some of the strategies I used to overcome cancer and how I created an outstanding,healthy, vibrant and happy life. This life would never have happened had I not been diagnosed with cancer. I am not saying this to impress you; I am saying this to impress upon you, that cancer can be the most powerful catalyst of change.
Throughout the book I tell you my story at each stage of my journey. What happened, how I handled it, the outcome (if applicable, or if it adds more information for you), what I was offered in the way of medical support, what I did, what extra things happened and any other titbits to inform and amuse you because as you will read or experience, I believe humour is a great healer.
The book and the coaching programmes are designed with a combination of storytelling and facts purposely mingled together to entertain, educate and support you during your recovery. I have been told that mingling of fact and fiction is now often known as a portmanteau edutainment. Whatever next? It makes the process sound like some syndrome, not the fun and excitement I like to combine.
If you are in the early stages of your cancer journey, you might find that the many things that happened to me, cause you alarm. Please do not be alarmed; not all the things that happened to me will happen to you. Probably not half of the things will happen to you, especially when you take into account the advances in cancer treatment which have been developed in the interim 20 year period. I have written the book and designed the programmes to reassure you that there can be a future beyond cancer and I hope that I also inspire you to live a full and varied life.
Although the book title suggests that my body is cancer free I realise that this statement is strictly scientifically speaking not possible for a living body. What I mean by the title is that I am free of the cancer with which I was diagnosed.
During my recovery I became the trail blazing author of the International ground-breaking bestseller ‘The Life Coaching Handbook’ a World First, life coaching book written specifically for life coaches on how to build a life coaching business. This means that I am the pioneer for Life Coach Training. I have written ‘The Business Coaching Handbook’ and ‘The Personal Success Handbook’ which complete this handbook series.
When working with clients I intuitively combine accepted methodology with cutting edge innovations, to create exciting, entertaining and effective approaches to individual potential at the pace adapted to be suitable for your recovery.
I use the techniques described in Cancer Free For 20 Years to alter the course of my life forever. I am passionate and inspired about the transforming effects of cancer recovery coaching. Gold medal Olympic achievers have coaches to support, encourage, motivate and raise the bar just when it has been reached. Curly believes every life has gold medal potential and especially lives touched by cancer.
Since the cancer I have also written or co-written over 30 books and articles on coaching. I am a Fellow member of The International Institute of Coaching & Mentoring, which means she has met their highest robust criteria. ‘Curly Martin… an inspirational trainer, an un-equalled coach and one of the most impressive human beings I’ve ever met.’ Simon Cheung LCH Dip. It has been said ‘Curly is the forerunner of life coach training, a pioneer and groundbreaking author, top ten life coach (Observer Magazine) and one of the top 5% most viewed LinkedIn profiles.’