About Debbie

If you're looking for a supportive and sharing community of cancer survivors, this is the place for you. Join us to talk about cancer loneliness, anger, stress, mindfulness, gratitude, cancer warriors, giving back and so much more. It's all on the table. It's not easy getting used to a life that involves cancer, but the new normal is the life we're living right now, and we're grateful to be here.     

A little about me:

I'm a wife and mother of two teenage children. I'm also a retired attorney and manage my interior decoration business, Emmi Interiors, LLC. On February 20, 2009, I was diagnosed with cancer.

My yearly mammogram, done in September of 2008, revealed microcalcifications. The nurse from my doctor’s office told me not to worry; 85% of women my age with microcalcifications have them due to age. She didn’t mention what the other 15% was caused by. I went back to the breast center for what seemed like fifty more mammograms. At that point, the radiologist told me I needed a stereotactic biopsy to look further. That procedure was done in November, and revealed atypical hyperplasia, another pre-cancerous condition. 

In February of 2009, I had a surgical biopsy, and heard those three little words, "You have cancer."  Diagnosed with Stage 0 - DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), I had a hard time understanding why I had no lump and yet was losing my breast. On April 15, 2009, I had a right breast mastectomy with a TRAM flap reconstruction. The pathology further revealed LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) which is an indicator of a higher risk of future breast cancer. As a result, I’m now on tamoxifen for five years.

During my acute treatment, I took advantage of many different types of support, from oncology therapy to support groups to rehabilitative exercise. It all saved me. 

Now that part of the journey is over. Because of all the support I received from my family, friends and the professionals who took care of me, I am inspired to give back. I am presently a member of the Oncology Community Advisory Board of the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Hospital. I work with The Connection's Pathways Women's Cancer Teaching Project as a patient educator. I also volunteer with Cancer Hope Network, which offers one-on-one support to cancer patients and their families.

I’ve realized that there are a lot of surprises about life after a cancer diagnosis. Perhaps the biggest surprise, however, is the number of positive changes cancer brought into my life. I certainly took many losses, but I would be remiss if I didn’t also recognize and appreciate all of the gifts.

I'm glad you're here to explore life beyond cancer with me here at WWGN. You can also join me at Facebook and Twitter.

Survival > existence,

Debbie