A woman in the United States has a higher chance of developing breast cancer than any other cancer. While treatment is fairly standard, recovery is something completely different.

And the best path to recovery might be found right outside your front door.

The garden is breast cancer survivor Emily Meoli’s sweet spot.

“I think it’s a very peaceful activity,” said Meoli.

However, after a breast cancer diagnosis three years ago and 18 months of chemotherapy, Meoli was lost.

“Chemo ended, my hair was growing back, and I was like, 'Okay, I want to be me',” said Meoli.

Oddly, her green thumb gave her the green light to return to normal and now studies are showing that gardens such as those at Baltimore’s Mercy Medical Center pack some special medicine.

“You’re actually feeling well before you’re diagnosed,” said Kathy Helzlsouer, a doctor at Mercy Medical Center. “And then, as part of the treatment, we make you feel pretty poorly.”

Getting a hand in the dirt can help offset the rigors of treatment. A Mercy Medical Center study found that a post-operation gardening program helped boost survivor stamina by 40-percent.

A nationwide study found more than 50-percent of patients use gardening as a form of outdoor therapy. Another pair of studies found female patients who were exposed to nature had less cancer-related anxiety and stress.

“The program is designed to give them tools that they can help themselves get to that point where they are getting better,” said Helzlsouer. “They're getting back to where they should be.”

Helzlsouer used an eight-week program to get Meoli back on track. She is now one of 91-million Americans who garden daily.

“You need to heal the whole person,” said Meoli. “Healing is dealing with the whole person.”

And three years after diagnosis, the benefits are obvious.

A Georgia Tech study also indicates that access to nature in general helps alleviate stress for hospital patients and their families.