Helping women find life at the end of the tunnel.
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About Me |
About Me
Utilizing my love of learning, my ability to conduct research, my passion for thoroughness and my complete dedication to doing everything possible to maximize my chances for survival, I set out to learn everything I could about breast cancer. I became an informed consumer and took charge of the choices over which I had control. I could not change the fact that I had breast cancer, but I could control how I dealt with it. Since the day of diagnosis, I have undergone a modified radical mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and chemotherapy. I dealt with my changed body, hair loss, nausea, pain, and exhaustion. I faced issues of my mortality and femininity, and my children's fear that I would die. I nearly lost my relationship with my significant other. I survived, all of it. Before my illness, I worked in the Health Information Management profession in an acute care hospital. My education and experience in that field positions me as an expert in navigating the confusing and complicated maze of managing one's health information. My knowledge of medical terminology, the contents of medical records, what information is documented and where it is retained for safe-keeping, and how to access that information enabled me to gather everything together so that I could present a clear and comprehensive picture of my health to my new health care team. I will utilize this knowledge and experience to assist you to do the same. All of my life I have been an astute and compassionate listener. Friends and family are comfortable talking with me, knowing that I care about them and can separate my needs from theirs. Several years of psychotherapy taught me how to set and maintain healthy emotional boundaries. I have served dying patients and their families as a hospice volunteer. I provided crucial emotional support to people facing the end of life. I comforted and provided respite for the families of those who were dying. When my father was dying of metastatic prostate cancer, I became his caregiver, assisting him with gathering and understanding often confusing medical information about his diagnosis and treatment options. I consulted with his physicians, translated highly technical medical information into words he could understand, and acted as his advocate with his health care providers. I also listened when he needed to talk and rage, and held him when he was afraid or crying. I stayed with him, by his side, until he took his last breath. Since breast cancer entered my life, I have participated in numerous breast cancer support groups and participated in events for cancer survivors. I created an online journal that documents my journey through breast cancer. I have been trained as a Reach to Recovery volunteer for the American Cancer Society. I have listened, comforted, and encouraged other women who heard the words, "You have a mass. It's malignant." Breast cancer changed my life. I have a strong commitment to helping other women facing a diagnosis of breast cancer. I have realized that this is my purpose in life. Now that you know about me and my commitment to
women with breast cancer, contact me today
so we can begin working together to help you restore your life. |
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Hello,
my name is Kathy. At the age of forty-nine I was diagnosed with
invasive ductal carcinoma. Breast cancer. There is no history of breast
cancer in my family. I had none of the known risk factors. Yet, in 2003 I
became one of the over 200,000 women in the United States diagnosed with
invasive breast cancer.