You have used your experience with breast cancer to spread positivity and humor. How has this journey affected your personal outlook on life, and what key messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
In the book Jules Malone, the central character discovers her lump while doing a self-examination — as did I. So, first and foremost, my message is that women should do monthly self-exams since it saved my life and Jules’s. The humor for her and again for me came when Dr. Zello, her breast cancer doctor, shared that he was going to remove the lump in her left breast and then lift her other breast to make it even. Jules, as did I, at first could care less about that, but a few days later found humor and announced to her best friend Tess that she’s getting a GWP — a gift with protocol — her sagging menopausal breast was getting a lift and she could now rock t-shirts braless. So Jules and I found the light in the dark, and then she decides to embrace her life and move forward with it… which includes how she decides to move forward with Sean. You’ll have to read it to learn more! One more message: when you go through breast cancer, the surgeries and the treatments test your sense of self and sexuality — give yourself time to heal emotionally but then open yourself up again to feeling good about the ‘new’ you both physically and sensually — you’ll find you can still feel whole and still feel like a woman.
We heard that you are an advocate for the Moffitt Cancer Center. Can you tell us more about this organization?
Moffitt Cancer Center is one of the nation’s comprehensive cancer treatment centers. The team there, from the woman who hugged me day one when she brought my car to me, to the people who checked me into the radiation team and the master of the helm, Dr. Brian Czerniecki, who helped me be cancer-free — I tell I love him every time I see him — became my family, and their care, passion, commitment and personalized attention is tattooed on my heart. I will do all I can to help others learn why Moffitt is the place to go for breast cancer treatment or treatment for ANY cancer diagnosis.
What advice would you give to someone who is facing a difficult diagnosis or challenging life circumstances?
Give yourself time and permission to feel and experience the rollercoaster of emotions that it presents. Eventually, if you’re going to survive it, you need to find the strength and belief in yourself to move forward. It’s up to you.
Looking back on your journey from diagnosis, what are some of the most surprising or unexpected lessons you have learned along the way?
That breast cancer was a gift! I know that’s not how one would typically think about it, nor did I when I was first diagnosed, but my diagnosis and journey gave me the impetus to act and not put off a dream. That, and to live fully in the moment both individually, which is all we are sure of, and those nearest and dearest to us.
