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"When we launched Answer2Cancer in Portland, Oregon in April, we aimed to provide a heartful and encouraging learning opportunity for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and families to link up with each to learn how to not just survive but thrive with cancer. We provided a multi-disciplinary approach for attendees to get engaged and be empowered in managing their care and treatments. We found that the patient-to-patient approach proved to be the most powerful tool of all. Suleika was invited as a knowledgeable ambassador to tell her story and share her journey. Because she was so open and thoughtful, attendees were deeply touched by her story. What she shared has been experienced by all of us and each of us in remarkable ways. Her story is worth knowing.
-Dianne Danowski Smith, founder of Answer2Cancer, and cancer survivor
"Life Interrupted" Author, Cancer Survivor
Suleika Jaouad (pronounced: su-LAKE-uh ja-WAD) is an Emmy Award-winning writer, advocate and cancer survivor. She is the author of the acclaimed “Life, Interrupted” column and video series in the New York Times. She has also written for Vogue, Glamour, Women’s Health, and the Huffington Post.
Suleika’s career aspirations as a foreign correspondent were cut short when, at age 22, less than a year after graduating from Princeton University with highest honors, she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. After three years of chemotherapy, a life-saving clinical trial and a bone marrow transplant, she is now in remission. She began writing her New York Times column from the bone marrow transplant unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and has since become a fierce advocate for those living with cancer and other chronic illnesses.
Through her column, an accompanying video series, photography and social media, Suleika has become a pioneer in new approaches to health journalism and advocacy. Suleika travels around the country teaching writing and wellness workshops and she regularly speaks at high schools, universities, hospitals, corporations, fundraisers and professional events. Suleika has been featured on NPR’s Talk of The Nation and All Things Considered, NBC’s Weekend Today Show, CBS News, The Paris Review, Into The Gloss, The Los Angeles Times and Darling Magazine, among others.
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Life, Interrupted
Suleika believes we all have life interrupted moments whether dealing with a health crisis, unemployment, or a bad breakup. Suleika’s happened to be cancer. But it’s not the interruption that matters. It’s how we cope with it, learn from it and grow beyond it. Join Suleika on her personal “Life, Interrupted” revolution, journey of self-expression, discovery and growth.
