The Rivkin Center aims to foster an ever-growing community of survivors, patients, researchers, clinicians, advocates, and supporters — all working together in the fight against ovarian and breast cancer.
Meet Jackie, a breast cancer survivor and Rivkin EDU Survivor.
About Jackie
Where are you from?
I’m from Oakland, CA
Where do you live now/what does a typical day look like for you?
I currently live in Oakland. A typical day is getting up early to fix breakfast for my granddaughter. Then heading to work where I am an Office Manager for a large church in Oakland.
What do you do for fun?
I love to hang out with family and friends eating out and taking short trips to Monterey or Santa Cruz, CA.
What is your favorite mantra?
That no one faces cancer alone.
What is your favorite drink?
My favorite drink is lemon drops. LOVE THEM!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Never give up. Do as many things as you want, have many adventures and live life to the fullest.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my daughter, Jacquie. She is a very good mother, she is smart and very conscientious about her work and basically all that she does.
Where has been your favorite place to travel?
So far my favorite place to travel is Puerto Vallarta. I still have a lot of ground to cover and looking forward to many more trips.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
That I love to dance!
Where do you go to find inspiration?
My Faith, I believe in God and my Faith keeps my grounded and inspires me to do more and to be better.
Who inspires you?
Wanna Wright
How Jackie got involved
What inspired you to get involved with Rivkin EDU?
I heard about Check Your Boobies (former name of Rivkin EDU) and was looking for breast cancer survivors to share their stories in an educational setting. I checked out what they were about and wanted to be a part of it. I had just lost my husband to esophageal cancer and needed an outlet, so the opportunity was right on time.
What is your favorite memory from a Rivkin EDU party?
Not too long ago I attended a party with Helen Chen. None of the participants spoke English and she had to translate. But for some reason, it was one of the best parties to me. I think it was because even though there was a language barrier, they really seemed interested in learning and they had a lot of questions.
How can people help to support someone going through cancer?
The most important thing is to listen to what the person is saying. A lot of times people don’t want your advice or what you think they just want you to hear where they are and be a listening ear. If they tell you they have a need then proceed. If you hear a need in the conversation, then get permission to proceed.
What is the most important thing you want attendees to learn about Ovarian and Breast Cancer?
I want people to be aware of the signs and symptoms. If people are educated on the signs and symptoms they know what to look out for and they know if it shows up in their lives or someone they know, they can refer them to a health professional.
How many total attendees have you hosted?
At least several hundred. There are too many for me to count!
Learn more about the Rivkin EDU program
Want to learn more about becoming an instructor or sharing your story as a cancer survivor or previvor? Get the details.