Francine Brokaw, a breast cancer survivor and author of today’s guest post, has had articles printed in national and international magazines and newspapers as well as several websites. She was a contributor to the 1993 book RFK: Collected Speeches. In her writing repertoire, she has focused on politics, technology, travel, and entertainment. She has interviewed countless politicians and celebrities, including Johnny Depp, Julie Andrews, Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Lindsay Lohan, Ashley Judd and many more. Her articles can be found in a variety of locations, both in print and online. Francine is accredited by the MPAA and is a long-standing member or the Television Critics Association.
When I had my bilateral mastectomy at the age of 38, I had no idea how it would change my life. I thought that once the cancer was out of my body, everything would get back to normal. After all, it was caught at a very early stage. I required no chemo or radiation. I was lucky. Yes, even though I had no breasts, I was lucky.
But soon after the surgery, I developed lymphedema in my right arm. I had swelling and pain. For a long time, I had regular treatments for this problem and purchased an arm pump to use at home, along with a compression sleeve and glove to wear as needed. I had no idea that this meant I could no longer participate in my favorite activity: tennis. I had been an avid tennis player and often a substitute teacher at the local club. I loved tennis. It was an outlet from the daily stresses of life. Having worked in various aspects of politics, I always used tennis as my escape. Knowing that I could no longer play this game that meant so much to me was as devastating, if not more, than the diagnosis of cancer.
Around the same time, my husband and I purchased our first computer and discovered the Internet. Because I love to write, I immersed myself in in it. The computer made it easy, and I started writing for MSN and even the local newspapers. At last, I had something that fulfilled me as much as tennis had. From there, I became the assistant forum manager for the safe computing forum. That was quite an achievement for someone who had no knowledge of computers just a couple years earlier. But this job was way too stressful. I would test software, and more often than not, it would cause havoc on the computer, so I would have to reformat the darn machine and start over. One day, I was looking out my window at the blue sky, just like I am doing today, and I had an epiphany. I was living in L.A., the entertainment capital of the world; why not focus on writing about something right in my own backyard? So, instead of writing about computers, I threw myself into the entertainment industry and learned everything possible about the business.
After all, so many of us use entertainment as an escape from reality and a way to enjoy life, even if it’s just for two hours in a dark theater. I use entertainment writing that same way. It is not something that can change the world. I am not writing about people who have found a cure for cancer or Alzheimer’s. My words do not bring peace to the world. But what I am doing is bringing some fun to people’s lives. At least, I hope I am. In fact, most recently I decided to push myself to a new level and authored a book about the entertainment industry called, Beyond the Red Carpet: The World of Entertainment Journalists. It’s an up-close-and-personal as well as unprecedented account of experienced columnists, writers, and television and radio reporters who work in the industry.
I live with pain every day. Many times, I cannot lift my arm. My husband or a friend usually does the driving either because the pain is too much or I have taken a pain pill. But I am still productive. I have forged out a career that I’ve designed to fit my life. I work at home, often times in my PJs.
Living as a breast cancer survivor has definitely presented some challenges. But even with these challenges, I have become a highly respected entertainment journalist. I try not to focus on the negative. It’s what we do with our life that matters, not what our body looks like or what our limitations are.
My goal is to inspire others with my story.
If you are interested in learning more, please visit me at my website, www.francinebrokaw.com.
And, as they say in Star Trek: live long and prosper!
