The Next Step in the Journey

When I first started writing my book, Reconstructing Hope, I was most focused on the intrusion part, the unexpected turns of the diagnosis and treatment stage of the breast cancer journey. There was so much I didn’t know, so much to learn. I wanted to help others along that part of the journey. Through the process of interviewing and writing, I learned more about the “after” part. I learned that the journey is not over after treatment. This is when the oxymorons became apparent. Good can come from our struggles.

Now, years later, I am in the transformation stage. As I become more involved in the breast cancer community, I am focusing more on disparity. I was very lucky to have a job, health insurance, and support through both rounds of breast cancer. Many are not. I had a message from a woman the other day. She has metastatic breast cancer and has no job. All I could do was help her find local resources and offer prayers.

Disparity has many faces and many causes. My work going forward is to continue to learn and to teach, to do my small part to help. In order to decrease disparity, we need to understand the roots of the problems that create it. We need to find ways to build on the past in a positive way, to chip away at barriers. I am looking forward to this next step in the journey.