New Persepctives as a Hospice Therapist

New Perspectives as a Hospice Therapist

I have been a practicing PT since 1996. I turned 40 in April 2011 and made my mammogram appointment. After much testing, I found out that I had breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy, four months of chemotherapy, multiple reconstructive surgeries due to infection, am taking Tamoxifen, and am monitored closely by my team of doctors. I am scheduled to have an oophorectomy next month as part of my ongoing treatment plan.

I learned so much during my journey and blogged about it on the following website: www.mylifeline.org/ebjork. I have become the unofficial breast cancer resource among friends. I frequently help newly diagnosed women who are sent my way. I assemble chemotherapy care packages for friends or those in need, which has been very rewarding.

I returned to work one year ago and am currently working in the Home Care and Hospice Program at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Calif. I feel that my cancer experience has helped me tremendously as I work with many cancer patients in the hospice program. I will be trained next month with the UC Davis Medical Center's "We Care!" Peer Navigator program. The program matches peer navigators (who are cancer survivors) with newly diagnosed cancer patients within the UC Davis system to provide support throughout their journeys.

I feel great and am so happy to have my life back with my husband and two young daughters. I am lucky to be back to practicing physical therapy as well.

--Erin Bjork, PT
Sacramento, Calif.

Originally publised in Advance Healthcare Network for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine (October 2013). Original link.