Jennifer Patterson

Psychotherapist/art therapist/counseling/coaching/expat expert/maker/writer about my metastatic breast cancer:

[Thanks Cancer! @ThanksCancer]

You don’t have to “battle” or “fight” — you just have to take the next step and the next breath, and that’s enough.

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@ThanksCancer Today is a taxol day and my dog made me get up early enough for this sunrise, so this is perfect for today.

[Josh Weed @The_Weed]

One of the more surprising things I’ve learned in my years as a marriage and family therapist is that pets are more than just “man’s best friend”—most families see them as *actual* members of the family system.

The thing that finally made me see it clearly was grief.
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[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

When chemo gives alien vibes... https://t.co/zFH39Kr3l0 @ThanksCancer #fuckcancer #metastaticbreastcancer

[Chef José Andrés 🕊️🥘🍳 @chefjoseandres]

Longer tables not higher walls!
Give away the dignity you want to receive..
Give empathy to everyone on the way
Give the respect everyone deserves
Give love away…you will have no regret
Wish to others you don’t know the same you wish to your own…
And dream away a better world…and be part of it!

[Thanks Cancer! @ThanksCancer]

Supporting a cancer patient is not about the “one big gesture” — it’s about the little things on a regular basis.

Don’t “run a 5k in their honor” once a year — text them once a week or bring them dinner once a month.

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@FairUseLBR @ThanksCancer Also! For me it helps to have a bunch of choices. Sometimes my skin is in the mood for different things. And masks!!!!!

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@FairUseLBR @ThanksCancer Instead of soap/regular body wash, special “cleansing oil” (I use uriage or avene but I live in Portugal), face oil, anything w hyralonic acid, good hydrating serum (byoma, terra naturi). I’m in love with anything from Dr. Scheller. Also avocado oil, the Bio Oil brand, cerave. 💕

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

The wheels go round, by @jennympat https://t.co/tq3nNtOs73 #substack #cancer #metastaticbreastcancer #cancermuggles

[Thanks Cancer! @ThanksCancer]

If you avoid eating anything said to cause cancer, you will starve to death.

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@A_Research_Guru It feels like it’s always something with MBC treatments. I just started a new chemo pill and I have scans in two weeks and my tumor markers are up and the anxiety is 🤯

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

Rinse and repeat. #metastaticbreastcancer #cancertreatment

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@CoopahPaloozah @ThanksCancer @Arapahoe_Basin I needed to hear this mindset today. Thank you.

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@SimonsPetCancer @ThanksCancer People get really weird when you have cancer. It's too scary for them and they don't know how to just be. It's disappointing. But the people who do show up can really hang.

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

New @substack post! #Cancer #cancerpills #substack

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@krustlemuffin @ThanksCancer Definitely a port. Takes a bit to get used to but now I barely notice it. I had it flushed for the first time yesterday and it was no big deal.

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@ask_aubry 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@DrJenGunter Over the last week and a half I flew thru 3 different airports in the US and every single one had different combinations of rules/requirements thru security.

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@UrsulaV This. We just had a bad bout of mosquitoes and I said “damn I guess there’s no more chemo in my body” as they ravaged my poor bad head.

[Jennifer Patterson @jennympat]

@UrsulaV Chicken broth helped me when I wasn't sure if I was nauseous or hungry. And butter cookies and ginger ale or coca cola. I would nibble on cookies and wimper while I rewatched Gilmore Girls.