| Written by Amy Storer-Scalia, on 08-10-2007 14:41 |
Chic Spotlight: Jamie Hoffpauir
Jamie Hoffpauir's breast cancer was discovered when she was six months pregnant. Find out how she made it through this difficult time and how she uses those techniques today as a physical trainer.
Cincy Chic: When were you were diagnosed?
Jamie Hoffpauir: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2001. I was mother of one child, Madison, who was age 4 at the time, and six months pregnant with my second child, Jack, who is now 6. I was working as a personal trainer, spin instructor and group exercise instructor at the Mercy Healthplex in Anderson.
Cincy Chic: Tell us about your fight with cancer - what were some of your biggest ups and downs on that journey?
Hoffpauir: I had a whole year of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries. What did I tell myself to get through it? I had a mantra that I said to myself every night, every day and a lot of times every hour, every minute: "you are strong and you are healthy." I had a picture/visualization of myself as being strong and healthy. The mantra and the visual were so helpful at times when intense fear would take over.
Cincy Chic: If you had to pick one thing that pulled you through that difficult time, what would it be?
Hoffpauir: There was not one thing that pulled me through that year. My husband, Todd, my daughter Madison, my parents, my brother and sister-in law, Dr. Cody and the staff at Cincinnati Hematology and Oncology and even the kind words of complete strangers pulled me through.
Cincy Chic: How are you different since you were diagnosed?
Hoffpauir: I do not tolerate excuses or complaints from people. I am inpatient with complacent behavior. I can handle physical challenges without giving up (long distance cycling, etc.) because I know I went through something much more difficult.
Cincy Chic: What does being a breast cancer survivor mean to you?
Hoffpauir: I am in a unique (and growing in numbers) sisterhood of women. One that I did not choose to become a member, but for reasons I will never understand, I was selected.
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