Turning Pain into Purpose: My Holistic Breast Cancer Journey and the Birth of House of Paz
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
By Sahar Paz
One in 8 Women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime—and rates among women under 50 are rising. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer incidences in women under 50 have increased by about 1.4% per year between 2012 and 2021, compared with roughly 1% annually among women over 50 (source: Breast Cancer Research Foundation). I am one of them,diagnosed at 41—and I know all too well the shock and fear that accompany that statistic.
At the time of my diagnosis, I was serving as a communications executive in healthcare innovation. My daily role was to ask doctors, researchers, and innovators the hard questions: How does this new drug actually work? What’s the mechanism behind this device or software that promises better patient outcomes? I brought that same analytical, curious mindset to my own doctor’s appointments when I learned I had breast cancer. Even amid the overwhelming swirl of fight-flight-freeze-fawn emotional states, I rewrote myself back into communications mode—drafting questions to understand my treatment plan. The sharper focus this role gave me, combined with growing up in a family immersed in healthcare, turned those appointments into opportunities to advocate for myself–and eventually, for others.
In my second year of treatment, I followed the gold-standard protocols: traditional chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries. And when that phase ended, everything changed. My visits faded from several times a week to once a month—or even less—and suddenly I was sent back into life that hadn’t paused for cancer. But life doesn’t snap back to normal after a diagnosis like this. It reconfigures itself, demanding new intentions, new structures, new ways of healing.
It was in that transitional space, post-treatment but pre-recovery, that an idea took root. I realized that patients need more than just stop-gap medical care—they need ongoing support that protects and nurtures whole-health wellness. The spark for House of Paz was born.
But the journey wasn't linear.
Nine months after finishing traditional treatment, my cancer returned—in multiple areas—and I had progressed from stage 3B to stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. My care team convened my case at the tumor board multiple times. The recommended path was more radiation—but that felt misaligned with my intuition, which craved something different. I didn’t want to keep treating disease—I wanted to create an environment inside me where disease wasn’t welcome.
So I reframed my healing in three dimensions: emotional, physical, and spiritual. It was a leap into the unknown, and it was a step guided by inner conviction. Making that choice was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made.
I began slowly, partnering with an integrative oncologist and a naturopath. The journey eventually led me to Hope for Cancer in Mexico, where I learned to truly shift my body’s chemistry—to transform it into a place where disease doesn’t thrive. There, I began living a lifestyle designed to nurture emotional resilience, support physical well-being, and open spiritual nourishment.
I want high-achievers—especially women—to understand something important: health is not a reward for success—it’s the foundation of success. That is why I built House of Paz, which is more than a wellness hub—it’s a model for a new lifestyle, where self-care isn’t a checkbox, but the central pillar.
And here’s the hopeful part: through this holistic approach, I have cleared 90% of disease from my body. Now, I’m eagerly awaiting scans that will hopefully show no evidence of disease in the very near future.
My hope in sharing my story is that it will light the way for others—especially women in high-pressure roles—to prioritize their health before a crisis strikes. I invite you to follow my journey online and read my upcoming books to find inspiration, and to gather practical insights so you don’t have to go through exactly what I did.
You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to begin your path toward emotional strength, physical vitality, and spiritual grounding. Let House of Paz—and my story—be a starting point.
About Sahar Paz
Sahar Paz is an author, speaker, patient advocate, and communications strategist dedicated to helping people reclaim their voice in healing and healthcare. As a communications executive, she has spent over a decade working with healthcare companies, translating complex science into stories people can understand. Her mission became personal when she faced a Stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, an experience that deepened her commitment to empowering others to advocate for their well-being.
Sahar is a certified somatic practitioner, yoga instructor, and Harvard-certified emotional intelligence coach. She is the founder of House of Paz, a platform guiding individuals toward emotional healing, preventative care, and everyday wellness through education, community, and accessible tools. Learn more at www.houseofpaz.org and follow on Instagram at @saharpaz.
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