Gallery

Diagnosis

These are images from the day before I got diagnosed through the early days and months...they capture the sense of shock, denial, pain, and fear I felt while still trying to put on a brave face and get ready for the fight. Diagnosis blends into treatment, because there is rarely a straight path through the Big C.

Treatment

These images and videos capture more of the nitty gritty of treatment: chemo, surgeries, and radiation. They show the "breaks" from treatment, the travel, the life that kept on while still illustrating the pain, fear, and joy that I felt throughout.

The red cooler on our front porch, where people dropped meals off. It became a member of the family.

A fellow baldie and smiles on a LA chemo trip, staying at my friend's house, Spring 2013

Sing the blues away...my stellar karaoke performance, fresh from chemo, on Christmas Day 2012.

Beach break with the kids, January 2013, Cronkite Beach.

I looked at this sign every week for six months when I walked in the front doors of City of Hope. February 2013.

A photo shoot in spring 2013 by the talented Lisa Leigh. I wanted memories of me and the kids. Marin County, CA.

Unforgettable photo shoot in the middle of treatment from my talented friend Lisa Leigh.

A little story time in between chemo treatments, 2013

My one and only chance to rule the world; on the set of "The Last Ship" TV show in LA, Spring 2013

A getaway brunch with my hubby, happy to be doing something normal; July 2013

Taking Penelope to the city for a special cotton candy treat, something I could manage during treatment. San Francisco, Fall 2013.

Capturing the moment on a chemo trip to City of Hope, March 2013.

My last day of chemo infusion at City of Hope! June 2013

A date night with my hubby, 2013. It must have been a "white shirt" theme or else we just dressed alike.

Getting gussied up before major surgery. The smile is thanks to anti-anxiety medication. I was terrified. August 5, 2013, UCSF.

A video clip of me on August 5, 2013, in the pre-op room with my dad and my husband. Pre-op drugs have kicked in slightly.

In my hospital room, recovering from double-mastectomy & salpingo-oophorectomy, August 2013. Smiling because I'm so happy to be alive.

Day 3, recovering from the big surgery at my sister's house, August 2013

My new, post-radiation look of large hat, scarf, and sunglasses.

A happy smile on Day 1 of radiation therapy at Marin Cancer Care in Greenbrae, CA; September 2013

My first Thanksgiving since diagnosis, after completing radiation. I was ecstatic! Napa, November 2013.

Me, Penelope, and cooking goddess Giada de Laurentiis when she was in town on her book tour! Penelope was in awe. I was in insane pain from radiation but so thrilled to be there, and Giada could not have been kinder.

Blissful moment in Stinson Beach, Christmas Day 2013.

Celebrating my newly dyed hair, Spring 2014

Me and Penelope on her first day of kindergarten! I shuffled slowly, less than one month from the big surgery, but I made it! My heart was bursting. August 2013.

Three weeks after surgery, celebrating Roman's 2nd bday! Relief is on my face! September 2013

Taking the kids to Tahoe to see snow when I was able to travel for fun; snowmen and hot cocoa for all. February 2014.

Picking up our puppy, Tango, in April 2014 to surprise Penelope! You really can't go wrong with a puppy.

Amazed and exhausted but paddleboarding on Christmas Day in Stinson Beach, December 2013

Teatime with Penelope at the Plaza Hotel, New York City, Fall 2014. Our first special girl trip since my diagnosis.

Me and Penelope at the pumpkin patch. Bliss. October 2014.

Standing in front of a sign with my name on it, part of a Blue Shield marketing campaign. Surreal and amazing. Fall 2014.

Tango, Me, and P at Ft Cronkite. Puppy love! June 2014

My stint as a model with fellow breast cancer survivors at To Celebrate Life's "Stepping Out" Fundraiser; September 2014; photo credit Patty Spinks

A magical, surreal evening at the Palace of Fine Arts, September 2015, shooting the commercial for UCSF. Photo credit Alex Tehran

Introducing my oncologist Dr. Mark Moasser at the UCSF Redefining Possible awards, October 2015

Happy, glorious day of horses in Bolinas, Spring 2014

30 second TV spot/UCSF Redefining Possible campaign/November 2015; video produced by Novio

Me and SF Giants pitcher Sergio Romo; I threw out the first pitch in July 2015! A life moment that still seems like a dream. Thanks, Blue Shield of California!

My 40th Bday! Sweetest birthday ever. Off chemo, ready for 40. July 18, 2015

Surrounded by the bounty of the French Laundry Garden in Yountville, CA; I wrote a story for YahooFood and spent the day there. Heaven. Spring 2015.

Standing with U.S Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell at UCSF as she discusses precision medicine; photo credit Cindy Chew

My dream moment: with Vice President and Mrs. Biden and my oncologist Dr. Mark Moasser at UCSF to discuss the "Cancer Moonshot" Initiative, Spring 2016

LHH Survivor Speech at Intersections AYA Gala, May 2016

Survivorship

The high moments of living with clear margins! The life I started after I had completed chemo infusions, surgery, and radiation while still remaining on oral chemo. I had moments where I could pretend I was my "old" self, even for a day. And then experienced things I couldn't have imagined: wearing a gorgeous red dress on a San Francisco evening; throwing out the ceremonial pitch at a SF Giants game; running on the beach with the kids; living.

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”

Audrey Hepburn