REMARKABLE young mum Kelli O'Brien does not see herself as a victim to cancer, but a cancer champion.
Kelli is today beating a brain tumour and a supposed 'death sentence' handed to her two-and-a-half years ago.
The Ulladulla resident said the key factors to her wonderful health and positive mental state were exercise, rest, eating well and eliminating sugar and toxins from her diet.
The 35-year-old single mother was operated on in February 2006 when it was discovered she had a tumour on her brain the size of a grapefruit.
She was rushed to Melbourne for emergency surgery to relieve pressure to prevent it from popping.
There was no more room behind her left eye and the tumour had pushed her brain's centre line across to the right.
Doctors gave her only a few months to live.
Kelli had known of people undergoing chemo and radiotherapy and really didn't want that type of treatment for herself.
"I was told the tumour would grow rapidly if I didn't undertake chemotherapy," Kelli explained.
"There was opposition to my choice from the medical establishment, but I knew it was my body and I didn't need to follow the 'herd mentality' and just do what everyone else was doing.
"I began questioning things and really didn't like what I discovered about these harmful 'treatments'.
"The 'treatments' were so lethal they could cause secondary cancers within my body.
"They might as well go and tell people to drink the Round-Up in their shed!"
Kelli began regular exercise, eating healthily, having regular massages, gave up drinking and smoking and, what she calls the 'big one' gave up sugar.
"It is a horrible journey once you discover you have cancer, and many people don't know where to start.
"They just go along with what everyone else is doing.
"My advice is not to panic.
"I have to say it has been a positive change to my life and lifestyle not a negative.
"Cancer doesn't have to be negative, simply a challenge.
"I began the Canhelp program in February this year and my tumour has reduced by more than a third since then.
"I have a wonderful lifestyle now.
"I am fit and healthy and feel like a champion!
"I had a brain scan last week and received my results yesterday - the tumour has not grown.
"It is dormant - dying!
"Against the predictions of doctors who told me it would grow rapidly and I only had months to live, I am fitter, happier and feel better than I ever did.
"I am also far more educated on health and have even started my own website to help others," she said.
Canhelp Australia Wide founder Darryl Jones said amongst participants in the workshops Kelli attends are people with brain tumours, breast, bowel, liver and prostate cancers.
"Some of these people have had surgery, chemo and radiation therapy and given only weeks or months to live with conventional treatment," Mr Jones said.
"They now expect to rid themselves of cancer and live to old age.
"The Australian Medical Association now says one in three Australians has some form of cancer and this figure will be half the population by 2010.
"The people who will survive this onslaught of cancer are the ones who have the knowledge and ability to knock it over - who realise that 'Cancer is not a death sentence'," he said.
Those wishing to check out Kelli's website can do so at www.apricotkerneloilaustralia.com.au or contact her on support@apricotkerneloilaustralia.com.au - she is more than willing to help all she can.