Faced with a rare cancer in her leg, Serena Burla, a mother and professional runner, regroups and attacks the challenge with a positive attitude. By focusing on what she can control and on the cans in her life, her body rewires itself to run again. Serena shares how we all face cancer like moments and equips us with tools to respond. Serena Burla is the 2014 half-marathon U.S. National Champion, a professional marathon runner, two-time cancer survivor, wife, mother, and friend who believes in the power of a positive attitude. In 2010, Serena was diagnosed with and underwent surgery for a cancerous tumor (Synovial Sarcoma) in her right leg. With the mentality, “save my life, save my leg, and anything else is bonus,” Serena was able to return to competitive running and went on to represent the United States at the 2015 and 2017 IAAF World Championships in the marathon. A month prior to her 2017 race, she noticed a new lump where the old tumor had been. Not letting this finding deter her, she successfully competed in the marathon finishing 11th. Since the race, Serena has undergone another surgery to remove the recurrence. Serena is committed to focusing on the good and keeping a smile on her face through everything life throws at her. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx