Judith Niedzwiedz can't explain how she went from knocking on death's door in her thirties to being alive and well in her seventies, but she can tell you how she's kept cancer from stifling her life and stealing her joy. And she hasn't just had her own breast cancer to deal with; she's also supported numerous family members through their various cancer battles, as well.
Though she'll be the first to tell you she's not a medical professional, Judith fully understands the ups and downs of the cancer journey and the unexpected ways the disease impacts your life. Her memoir, therefore, is both a motivational story and an invaluable guide. She offers tips on how to be your own best advocate during diagnosis and treatment, embrace humor as a coping tool, and handle body-image issues after a mastectomy.
A carrier of the BRCA1 genetic mutation, which significantly increases the possibility of cancer, Judith also discusses the risks faced by other carriers. She candidly shares her hilarious experiences, her mistakes, and her disappointments. But most importantly, by telling her own remarkable tale, she holds out hope that there is an extraordinary life available to everyone.
About the Author: Judith Niedzwiedz, born in 1940, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in the mid-1970s and told she would live for only six more months. Now, nearly forty years later, she is still alive and thriving as a writer who regularly provides information, resources, and support to other cancer patients and their loved ones. In addition to participating in BRCA1 and BRCA2 studies, she was also inducted into the Wall of Hope, a traveling photographic display honoring breast cancer survivors, and was appointed to the American Oncology Nursing Society Consumer Advisory Panel.
Previously working as an analyst, a special investigator, a public relations officer, and a grant writer, Niedzwiedz is now retired and enjoys traveling and keeping in touch with her friends and fans. Learn more about the author via her website www.JudithN.com.