Breast Cancer’s Silver Linings

October 21st, 2013 • BY Erinn Morgan

Though she was healthy, vegan, and athletic, Hollye Jacobs was diagnosed with breast cancer. But, through the ordeal that she refers to as FBC (read: “f-bomb breast cancer”), she managed to find humor and the silver linings, which she has shared with a fast-growing audience of readers on her wildly funny, emotionally charged, and inspiring must-read blog, The Silver Pen.

This month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month nationwide, so we checked in with Hollye to learn more about her own FBC, her coping mechanisms, her take on prevention and detection, The Silver Pen, and her best silver linings.

WomensMovement: What kind of coping mechanisms were your best ally during the diagnosis period?

Hollye Jacobs: My Number One coping mechanism was being able to find Silver Linings throughout my cancer experience. When you have cancer, Silver Linings come in small and in big packages, from watching a hummingbird outside my window (because I was too sick to stand) to being cancer-free after enduring the longest and most difficult year of my life. Even though Silver Linings don’t take away the pain, nausea, and even constipation that can come with cancer treatment, Silver Linings provide the balance and perspective to help get you through your darkest days. Additionally, the fact that I am a nurse, social worker, and child development specialist enabled me to access effective coping mechanisms that I have prescribed to my patients. 

WM: How has FBC changed your life—and your lifestyle (diet, exercise, etc.)?

Jacobs: As painful as it was, the experience of FBC has truly changed my perspective and outlook on life for the better. Appreciating every day is not a cliché with me. Post treatment, I am much more focused on self-care and maintaining balance. There isn’t a flower that I pass that I don’t smell.  In terms of diet and exercise, I continue to eat a primarily plant-based diet and exercise 4-5 times a week. Because treatment contributed to the beginning of osteoporosis (one of the many potential side effects of treatment), I have now added weight training to my exercise plan. 

WM: What type of preventative measures do you recommend to our readers?

Jacobs: Prior to my diagnosis, I was an extremely healthy eater—vegan, in fact! I worked out and had no history of cancer in my family. All the arrows were pointing in the direction of me never having cancer, so it can clearly affect any and all of us. Unfortunately, there is no “prevention” of breast cancer; however, eating healthily, exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol consumption and annual checkups can help lower the risk of developing cancer. 

WM: Is it important to have testing (i.e. mammogram) even before 40 today?

Jacobs: This is a hotly debated topic, one that would take a book (if not more) to explain. What I will say is that it is important to trust your intuition. If you think that there’s a problem, then pursue it until you get an answer. 

WM: What are the most surprising Silver Linings you’ve discovered along the way?

Jacobs: The most surprising thing about Silver Linings is that they are ALWAYS present. All one has to do is look for them. Truly. That is ALL! Whether you’re sitting in traffic, having a frustrating day, or contending with a cancer diagnosis, the beauty of Silver Linings is that each and every person can find them every single day.

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