Cancer Advocate Spotlight: Jasan Zimmerman
Jasan Zimmerman
Neuroblastoma and Thyroid Cancer Survivor
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As a three-time survivor (neuroblastoma at six months old in 1976, thyroid cancer in 1991, and a thyroid cancer recurrence in 1997), I never in my wildest dreams thought I would enter the advocacy world.
After the last thyroid cancer bout, I pushed cancer into the basement of my mind. I never thought it would come out. I went to graduate school and got a job. A few years into my career, something was missing. I read an article in the local newspaper about a young-adult cancer patient and survivor support group in my area. I felt compelled to attend the meetings, but, for the first year, I didn’t really speak about anything except a very brief description of my diagnoses. Slowly, I began to speak more about my experiences, and I started thinking about becoming more involved with advocacy. I was trying to make up for over twenty-five years of repressed feelings and memories about having cancer. The inaugural LIVESTRONG Summit in 2006 was my introduction into the advocacy world. I saw that there were many opportunities in the advocacy world and I wanted to participate.
I joined the Board of Directors of The Wellness Community Silicon Valley (TWCSV) about a year later. As a Wellness Community in development, I’ve learned about many aspects of non-profits, from fundraising to sharing my story to demonstrate the importance of psychosocial support and to give a face to survivorship.
My relationship with NCCS began at a Breakaway from Cancer event in early 2008 where I was volunteering on behalf of TWCSV. My friends at NCCS have guided me into the advocacy world and encouraged my efforts. They have also provided me with some incredible opportunities to share my story and volunteer on their behalf.
While attending the LIVESTRONG Summit in 2008, I met the founder of Yoga Bear, a non-profit that matches up cancer survivors with free yoga in their communities. I joined the Board of Advisors, not only for my cancer history but also for my interest in yoga. I share my story at events and online to demonstrate the importance of whole body healing and staying active as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Writing has been a great outlet for me to explore many of the repressed feelings that I have accumulated in my lifelong battle with cancer and its aftermath. Having essays published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book and CURE magazine has provided me a large audience with which to share my story.
I’m looking forward to furthering my advocacy efforts. I’ve been selected for the Scientist-Survivor Program at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in April 2010. The program is designed to connect the research community with the survivor and advocacy communities so that we can understand cancer research and educate other survivors and advocates. It will also give the researchers a better understanding of the toll that cancer takes on patients, survivors and their support systems. I’ve also been asked to speak at the opening ceremonies of the Relay for Life in Mountain View, California, in May 2010 – an opportunity for which I’m grateful.
Every time I share my story, it gets easier, but I’ll probably never be completely comfortable with it. The more I speak out about what I’ve been through and advocate for patients and survivors, the more I feel like I’ve turned the negatives of being sick into positives. I'm making up for many years of lost time by trying to get involved as much as I possibly can. By doing that, it helps other patients and survivors, but also helps me to further come to terms with my cancer experiences. The more I do, the more I want to do. There’s always more work to be done, and I don’t want to miss out on anything.
Submitted by: Val
August 3, 2010
Submitted by: Linah Lubin
January 12, 2010
Submitted by: Suzanne Lindley
January 8, 2010
Submitted by: Carolyn Zimmerman
January 7, 2010
Submitted by: Jo-Ellen
January 7, 2010