KATIE J
From: Bay Area, San Francisco, USA
Member since: May 2007
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I am a: Survivor
Coping with...Breast Cancer
Date of Birth: 01/17/1975 Date diagnosed: 10/2006 Sex: Male

Prepare to Live Buddy: Yes
Contactable by Prepare to Live members: Yes
Email: kJ@yahoo.com

01: How has cancer positively affected you:
-I am better about letting go the small stuff.
-I do far less procrastination.
-I love my friends deeper.
-I have realized what true friendship really means.
-I am more willing to take risks.

02: What does "cancer" mean to you as a Young Adult: Cancer means I still have my life. Cancer does not control my life, I do. I can go out with friends, I can spend time alone. Cancer does get in the way of dating, especially as a bald girl. But I love the shock factor. Cancer has scared all my friends, but the real ones have become even closer to me.

03: What’s the one thing you’d say to someone who has just been diagnosed: Breathe...make sure that things are done on your terms. Everyone has advice for you, but you get to make your decisions and dont let anyone tell you otherwise. It is your life.

04: What things won’t a Doctor tell you: Nuelasta is REALLY expensive. Until you ask them they will say it needs to be given the day after chemo. I wish I had known ahead of time that it could be delayed until Monday...because it costs more at the hospital than at the doctors office.

05: What advice do you have for a caregiver, doctor, or nurse who is treating a Young Adult with cancer: We welcome advice, but please don't smother us with "you shoulds", please accept that we need to make these decisions for ourselves. My parents were amazing at this...thanks mom and dad!

06: To me, cancer is: expensive.

07: What is the best kind of support to give/receive: hugs and back massages.

08: Who or what were your best resources for information: Other local survivors.

09: What has helped you the most: Seeing my friends new and old swarm to me from out of the woodwork. It is really unbelievable when you feel so alone to have people there for you.

10: What’s your favorite tip or trick for dealing: Get up out of bed! Chemo was awful but I never let a week go by without going to the gym at least once, or at least taking a walk outside.

11: The thing that keeps you going is: there are so many places I want to see, from Patagonia to Alaska to Siberia. Cancer can't take that from me. I may not have been able to study in Switzerland for the semester but I did get to China for two weeks.

12: What are you doing to Prepare to Live: I am moving to California, starting a new job and last month I climbed the Great Wall of China in between chemo sessions!

What additional comments, experiences or ideas would you like to share: I would really like to meet more cancer survivors in their late 20s and 30s in the Bay Area.