How I Overcame Four Major Health Battles and Built a Life I Love!

From Autoimmune Disease to Cancer: My Real Health Journey & Why Mindset Matters

My Health Journey: From Adversity to Strength

Life has tested me in ways I never expected, leading me through four significant battles with serious illness. Each challenge shaped my resilience, mindset, and unwavering determination to not just survive, but to thrive.

💜 30s: A radical hysterectomy due to adenomyosis.

💜Post-surgery: A long battle with panic attacks and agoraphobia, so I didn’t leave the house for three years.

💜40s: Diagnosed with scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disease. Doctors told me I had about six months to live without aggressive treatments, I proved them all wrong and reversed all my symptoms in just three months, by making big lifestyle and dietary changes!

💜50s: Diagnosed with breast cancer, leading to a mastectomy and reconstruction. I was back to yoga, driving and walking Kita after just 11 days!

These weren’t just health battles, they were defining moments that tested my strength and reshaped my life. Through relentless research, mindset shifts, and radical lifestyle and dietary changes, I took control of my health, my body, and my future.

Now, though my scars remain, cancer is behind me, and my mission is clear: to help others facing life's many challenges and serious ill health to not just survive, but thrive.

I’ve been asked many times about the four bouts of serious ill health I’ve faced, and the question that always follows is:

“How are you still so positive after everything you’ve been through?”

The answer, every single time, comes down to mindset. So, I wanted to share a little more about my personal health journey.

From the age of 15, I experienced ongoing gynaecological problems, which eventually led to a radical hysterectomy when I was just 37. It was a major operation, far more significant than I’d expected. While I physically recovered well, mentally was a very different story.

Not long after, I began suffering from panic attacks and eventually became agoraphobic. For three entire years, I didn’t leave the house, except for medical appointments. I became incredibly isolated. I had my husband and son around me, but inside, I felt completely alone and overwhelmed by fear. I avoided everything that triggered those attacks. My mental health hit rock bottom.

Then one day, I woke up and thought:

“I don’t want this life anymore. This isn’t the future I want.”

That moment changed everything. I applied to university as a mature student and studied English. I went on to graduate with an Honours degree, proof that even after hitting rock bottom, it’s possible to rise again.

But life had more curveballs to throw my way.

In 2016, my health started to decline again. I was constantly unwell for about 18 months. I was at the doctor’s surgery weekly, in and out of hospital for endless blood tests, scans, and appointments. I had recurring kidney infections, unexplained lung issues, a heart murmur, and my skin and soft tissue began to harden.

At one point, they even told me I had breast cancer!

Eventually, after months of tests and confusion, I was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma, a serious autoimmune disease that affects the body from the inside out.

My body was attacking itself, as is typical with autoimmune diseases. My soft tissue was turning to hard tissue. I was under the ‘care’ of six consultants, and when I finally met them all together, the prognosis they gave me was very poor. They told me I had to give up work, start chemotherapy, and take a range of harsh drugs to suppress my immune system.

And I said: “Umm, yeah, no! I’m not having that.”

I told them exactly what they could do with their drugs. I wasn’t interested.

You see, I’ve always loved learning so I’d already done my research. And what I discovered was this: if I could find what had triggered my autoimmune disease, I might have a chance of reversing it, or at least pushing it into remission. So, I took matters into my own hands.

I changed my job, because I was on the verge of burnout, being self-employed and working 60+ hours a week. I started with intentional lifestyle changes: 10 minutes of yoga and meditation each day, but the biggest transformation came from changing my diet!

For three months, I ate only what was fresh: fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and drank only water.  No packets. No tins. Nothing processed. Nothing artificial. 

People say, “That sounds so hard.”  And it was. But do you know what was harder? Being ill.

Here’s the truth as I see it: if you've lived 30, 40, even 50 years in a reasonably healthy body, your immune system doesn’t suddenly turn on you for no reason. There’s always a reason. Something tips the scales. Something triggers the storm.

And for me? Changing my job, my lifestyle, and my diet flipped the script.

After just three months of those changes... All of my symptoms went!

I felt fitter, healthier, and stronger than I had in years.  And I know some people say: “That would never happen.” But it did. It happened to me.

Now, here’s the thing, everyone is different. Every autoimmune disease affects people in different ways. The symptoms vary, the severity varies, and people hold different beliefs about their condition and the medical advice they receive.

But if you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, I urge you to take a step back and ask: What could have triggered it? There’s nearly always a trigger.  And once you identify it, you can begin to make powerful changes. That was serious health challenge number three!

Now for number four… In October 2020, I had my first mammogram. I had no signs, no symptoms, no lumps, no bumps, absolutely nothing.  But within two weeks, I was called back for more scans and biopsies.  Another two weeks later, I was sitting in front of my consultant who said the words no one wants to hear: “You have the early stages of breast cancer.”

Goddamn it, what next?

After carefully considering my options, I decided on a mastectomy with reconstruction. That felt like the right choice for me. But because it was during the peak of COVID, I had to wait three months for the surgery.

Now, you’ve probably gathered by now that I take most things in my stride. Yes, I was sad. Yes, I was scared. I cried. But I made a very clear decision: Cancer was not going to rule my future. I refused to spend my days worrying: “Will it come back?”

Truth is, we all live with uncertainty every single day. And I wasn’t going to let fear take over. The surgery went ahead. It was major, but it went very well. The consultant was amazing. They also removed some lymph glands for testing, and two weeks later, they confirmed that they had removed all traces of cancer. I was given the all-clear.

And me? I was back at work just one week after surgery, drains still in, sitting at my laptop, getting on with life.  By day ten, I was pretty much back to normal. Because that’s who I am.  I don’t let anything stop me.

I’ve never let illness define me and I never will.  Yes, it changed me physically.  But I’m still me on the inside. In fact, I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been.

I’ve been through some seriously tough times, yes, even breast cancer, but I’m still standing. I’m still positive, still motivated, still healthy, and yes… still happy.

So that’s a little more insight into my four major health challenges. As I always say:  I’m not some kind of superhero.  I’m just a woman with a big heart, a strong mind, and a refusal to give up.

"Hello, I’m just Janice."

And if I can make it through all of this, you can too.  The most important thing?  Get your mindset in the right place.  Once you do that, you can face anything.

What have I learned on my health journey?

• Don’t accept the first opinion or piece of advice you're given.

• Do your research, read, question, and learn so you can make informed choices.

• Trust your gut and listen to what your body is telling you.

• Mindset is everything.

• Find others who’ve been where you are, as they can light the path ahead.

If you want someone who’s been there, walked that same rocky path, and come out stronger on the other side,  I’m here. If you need support, guidance, or just a kind voice that gets it, please reach out.  Visit the website, send me a message, and let’s talk.  Because I’d love to pass some positivity on to you too.

Take care of yourself my friend.

Janice Salter X

What's Next?

If this has resonated with you, and you’d like to know more about how I can help you thrive while navigating serious ill health, you can find full details about me, my journey, and all of my support options at:

🌐 www.saltersbusinesssupport.com 🌐

If you’re not sure what’s right for you, or if you simply have a question, I’m always happy to help.

📧 janice@saltersbusinesssupport.com 📧

Let’s chat and explore how I can support you in building the strength, stamina, structure, and success you deserve.