In July of 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and learned, as those of you who are fighting this disease know, that this diagnosis changes your life forever. Now, with my perspective from the “other side,” as a survivor, I can honestly say having cancer gave me back my life. To many people, that’s an odd way to look at the situation! It doesn’t mean that everything is perfect now, or that I experienced some sort of “divine miracle” during the course of my treatment. Far from it. There are physical issues from the cancer that will be with me forever, and changes had to be made in my lifestyle that were very disappointing. But I also discovered an inner strength and sense of gratitude that I wasn’t in touch with before cancer, and those are the things I try to hold onto now.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been a legal secretary and paralegal for several years. Prior to my diagnosis I knew that I wanted to make a career change, and spending much of this past year as a patient rekindled my passion in holistic and preventative health care. These events have inspired me to pursue my master’s degree in health education so that I may devote my career to helping others achieve their goals of health and wellness.
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