I am a two-time breast cancer survivor who found myself in a very difficult situation after I was given a course of treatment by my oncologist that was determined by a set of statistics based upon other patients of the same age who had the same type and stage of cancer.
Our consultation consisted of his reading and then handing me the information as printed out from a generic website. As I could not imagine myself being set on a course of chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy solely based upon statistical data of others, I sought to conduct my own research but since this was more than a decade ago, I couldn’t find anything other than what he had given me. So, I asked for a referral to a second oncologist who tested my actual cancer and we jointly determined my treatment course together.
From my experience, I chose to become a cancer patient advocate by providing information and inspiration to others by way of my letlifehappen.com blog site. This has consisted of a weekly blog post for more than 13 years, enhanced for the last 8 years with a daily posting of an “In the News” item researched from various sources. Then, as a result of my efforts to help a patient find information about a clinical trial, I found it necessary to start a second daily feature titled “Clinical Research News” just 3 years ago to bring a new layer of information to the forefront.
Two additional features have now been added to support patients on different levels. As a result of your experiences in the cancer community, you can now get paid for sharing your experiences. About a year and a half ago, “Paid Opportunities for the Cancer Community” was added and opportunities are added and shared out on social media as soon as they are received. And most recently, a new icon was added on the site where anyone can click on it from any device to immediately access “Let Life Happen: THE MUSiC”, our 15-song CD created in 2002, that became the inspiration behind the name for the letlifehappen.com website.
My goal is to empower patients and their caregivers and families and friends with knowledge about all aspects of care and treatment from diagnosis to forever. This allows for selecting the best course of action for everyone involved and to empower patients to take control of their lives so that they feel a sense of confidence in what they are undertaking. Additionally, since the medical community does not understand that they need to treat the patient and not just the disease, everyone here is providing information about support programs available to help a patient and their helpers and supporters at all levels to let them know that they are not alone and that there is a whole network here for them, when and if they choose to seek such help.
Awards and Honors
- WEGO Health Awards: Finalist -Best in Show: Blog- 2019
- Pharmaceutical Technology: Oncology: Top Ten Leading Influencers – 2019
- DiepCfoundation: Advisory Board – 2019
- Breast AdvocateApp: Patient Advocacy Partner – 2019
- Healthline.com Top Breast Cancer Blog – 2019
- WhatNext.com Patient Support Community: Super Contributor – 2019
- Savvybassador: – Savvy Cooperative patient engagement platform – 2019
- CureClick: Ambassador – medical research advocacy – 2019
- WEGO Health: Top 10 Lifetime Achievement Patient Leaders – 2018
- WEGO Health Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award Finalist – 2018
- Breast AdvocateApp: Advisory Board – 2018
- Healthline.com Top Breast Cancer Blog – 2018
- WEGO Health: Patient Expert – 2018
- DiepCfoundation: Advisory Board – 2018
- Savvybassador: – Savvy Cooperative patient engagement platform – 2018
- CureClick: Ambassador – medical research advocacy – 2018
- National Cancer Institute: Promotional Partner – Patient Summits – 2018
- Breast AdvocateApp: Advisory Board – 2017
- MedicalNewsToday.com:- Top Breast Cancer Blog – 2017
- Healthline.com Top Breast Cancer Blog – 2017
- WEGO Health: Patient Expert – 2017
- Healthline.com Top Breast Cancer Blog – 2017
- DiepCfoundation: Advisory Board – 2017
- National Cancer Institute: Promotional Partner – Patient Summits – 2017
- Feedspot: Top 50 Breast Cancer Blogs – 2017
- DiepCfoundation: Advisory Board – 2016
- Novartis: Advanced Breast Cancer Patient Blogger and Online Expert – 2016
- Healthline.com Top Breast Cancer Blog – 2016
- LiveBetterWith.com: A Top U.S. Cancer Blog – 2016
- Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine: Breast Cancer Blogger Of The Year – 2015
- Novartis: Advanced Breast Cancer Patient Blogger Advisory Board – 2015
- Susan G. Komen: Premier VIP Blogger – 2015
- Project Fit America: Special Consultant – 2015
- Healthline.com Top Breast Cancer Blog – 2015
- Novartis: Advanced Breast Cancer Patient Blogger Advisory Board – 2014
- The Breast Cancer Site: Top Breast Cancer Blog – 2014
- Susan G. Komen: Premier VIP Blogger – 2014
- Healthline.com top Breast Cancer Blog – 2014
- Project Fit America special Social Media Ambassador – 2014
- Healthline.com top Breast Cancer Blog – 2013
- Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine Inaugural Top 10 Blogger – 2013
- Genentech Patient Opinion Leader Advisory Board Member – 2012
- Healthline.com top Breast Cancer Blog – 2012
- Freshetta Pizza’s “Strength Of One” fight Breast Cancer campaign grant winner – 2012
- DrTanyaDouglasHolland.com Recognition – 2012
- Disney VoluntEARS grant winner – annually 2004 thru 2012
- Scarves.net: Inaugural honoree for their SDN Spotlight Series which recognizes the most inspiring men and women on the web – 2012
Contributing Writer
- Huff Post – Syndicated Columnist
- About.com
- Let Life Happen
- Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine
- Burbank Leader
- What Next Cancer
ACCEPTS VIRTUAL CLIENTS
cancer.livebetterwith.com
[email protected]
Silver Spring, Maryland
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