My Journey

In a strange way, without my breast cancer diagnosis, I may never have launched my journalism career. While I had gone to Medill School of Journalism at night when my girls were little, a divorce forced me back to work in the world I always knew – retail. I was a personal shopper at the

Fifth Ave Club at Saks Fifth Ave. dressing many high-profile personalities including Oprah Winfrey. But in 1997, when diagnosed with breast cancer, I left my job for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. In the year I went through treatment, I saw an ad in the Chicago Tribune for a stringer (a freelancer) and with one published clip to my name, I applied and was accepted.

That year, while going through treatment, I had 25 pieces published in the Chicago Tribune. I remember not being able to sleep and waiting in the dark for my newspaper with my first Chicago Tribune byline to arrive.

In the years since, I have written about my personal experience and again for Breast Cancer Awareness month for Better Magazine.
Bout with breast cancer inspires a new career - Pioneer Press

I went searching for answers when told after my lumpectomy and the removal of all my lymph nodes in one arm I should never work out with weights or get manicures again because both would put me at risk for lymphedema. I found a researcher who in fact said low weights are fine and wrote about it for the NY Times in 2006. Balancing Painful Swelling With a Desire to Exercise - The New York Times

I have worked out with weights ever since, and my oncologist passed along this article to his patients. In 2019, I revisited the old restrictions for the Washington Post : Yes, breast cancer survivors, you can lift weights, get manicures and garden

In 2021, after learning I had Palb2, a genetic mutation that is much like BRCA (and leaves one at higher risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer) but few know about, again, I went into reporter mode to do my research. The result: another NY Times article : This Breast Cancer Gene Is Less Well Known, but Nearly as Dangerous - The New York Times

And that article was far-reaching and led to my appearance on the Today Show What to know about newly discovered breast cancer gene - The Today Show for breast cancer awareness month, WGN TV and MSNBC. And to my surprise, the night of my Today Show appearance, I was featured on Nightly News with Lester Holt as “someone you should know.” Breast cancer survivor urges testing for lesser-known genetic mutation - NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt

I also wrote about my experience undergoing a preventative mastectomy and the miracle of nerve blocks for the Washington Post: Nerve blocks may help counter the opioid crisis and the overall experience for the Washington Post in A dangerous breast cancer gene mutation changed my life. As a health reporter, I want you to know about it.

I have continued to write about breast and ovarian cancer for Better Magazine, and I am active in support groups for survivors of breast cancer and Palb2.

Links to my content: