I was interested in Escape to Thrive when I heard about it through a former attendee. Just the title of the conference got me interested. “Escape to Thrive” has a lot of meanings and being in healthcare as a social worker and therapist I know many ways to practice self-care, but I was intrigued when Jason told me it would be unlike any retreat or conference I had every attended and so I applied and was accepted for the 2018 conference.
I had the great fortune to be roommates with Debbie. She and I bonded over many meals, hikes, and talks and I felt so inspired by her breast cancer journey. I learned from all of the participants at Escape whether they were cancer survivors or working in the field. Those four days as a participant were wonderful and empowering. I took the information I learned from cancer advocates from around the country and applied what I learned to help the patients I serve at Stanford in the Cancer Center. I kept in touch with Debbie over the years and some of the other participants through Facebook.
During the pandemic I was asked to give on-line webinars and I did one for Escape when Sherri and Mindi asked. I decided I would like to go to the 10th year anniversary Escape for alumni and was accepted again. It’s been 10 years since I started working as a social worker for Stanford’s Cancer Center, and last year I became a breast cancer patient myself. I got diagnosed with Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma on 4/18/22. Since I wanted to still present on Self-Care strategies and attend the conference, I told my surgeon about Escape to Thrive and asked if I could have my lumpectomy and radiation afterwards. He said yes and cleared me to attend because my cancer was slow growing and it wouldn’t change the outcome if I waited until I came back from the conference.
So, after all the preparation I put into my Art of Self-Care presentation, I decided I would still go to Escape and give the talk. A couple of days before I left for the conference I let Debbie know that I would be going and looked forward to seeing her and let her know the updates on my upcoming surgery. From the moment I landed in Tucson, and Debbie and I saw each other at the airport, I knew I made the right decision to come back to Miraval and learn again on how to heal from cancer from all of the Escape attendees.
I had my surgery on June 1, 2022 and I recently celebrated my anniversary since having my lumpectomy and intraoperative radiation. Having cancer and surviving is an ongoing process. I am so grateful to all of the people who guided me in cancer advocacy whether as an oncology social worker or healthcare professional, or as a cancer advocate and survivor. Escape to Thrive is an opportunity to grow, learn, and heal all at once.
Thank you Brandi for all you do to keep it going and for Sherri and Mindy and many others who created this opportunity.
Jenny Kwak, LCSW, OSW-C