Patient’s Corner: Living with Chronic Illness Vol. 3

By Dorothy Leone-Glasser

Breast cancer survivors face many challenges while going through treatment and in post treatment.  They experience a wide range of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pain. There are lingering side effects to treatment that are long term and can be hard to manage. Many times, the fear of what will happen is overwhelming.  Cancer survivors live with fearing a recurrence, especially with Stage 4 Cancer. This is especially real for women of color, since they have the highest recurrence rates and the highest mortality rates.  

I met Tiah at an Rx in Reach GA Coalition Capitol Day. Being a survivor of Cancer myself, we knew women we would have a special bond. When we look at the journey of a woman living and thriving beyond cancer, oftentimes they don’t get a chance to take a break from the day-to-day challenges of life.  These women are mothers, daughters, sisters and aunties, caregivers and pillars of their families. They are leaders in their community and on their jobs and so much more. One of the biggest needs is how to manage or cope with their daily life challenges while healing from the devastation of cancer and the damaging toll of treatment. Patients seldom receive the information and counseling on how to re-enter life. Cancer survivors and their families and friends need the education, resources and guidance from a healthcare team that supports the health of their mind and body.

Here are some ‘Tips’ from Tiah:

  • SEE ME AS A PERSON BEFORE SEEING ME AS A PATIENT. We are more than our disease.  We have families, friends, jobs, hobbies, goals and dreams.  When you are treating me as a patient, remember – I am not a “one size fits all”. I am uniquely me!  Take time to learn a little bit more about me and what could potentially be barriers to my care.   
  • BE PATIENT WITH ME. What you see on the outside is not always a reflection of what’s going on the inside.  As a patient, I may not always verbalize how I truly feel or the problems I face.  Many patients don’t want to be seen as a burden so we just keep our superhero capes on and press our way through.
  • CANCER IS COMPLICATED. SOMETIMES WE AREN’T GIVEN THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS OR ARE MISDIAGNOSED. Because I look healthy or are very young doesn’t mean I am not seriously ill. I know when something is wrong with my body. I need a care team that hears me.  
  • SOME DAYS I JUST DON’T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF.   This is why having a caregiver/advoacte is so important. 
  • LIVING WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS CAN BE VERY EMOTIONAL . Cancer comes with the challenges of side effects of treatments and drugs, isolation, fear and anxiety of disease progression or recurrence; all causing a rough ride on an emotional rollercoaster.
Tiah Tomlin headshot
Tiah Tomlin
Founder & CEO,
My Style Matters

Dorothy Leone Glasser headshotDorothy Leon Glasser
Executive Director, Advocates for Responsible Care
Co-Chair, Georgia Bio Patient Advocacy Alliance

Georgia Life Sciences Joins National Coalition Urging Congressional Action on Key Innovation Policies

December 10, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences has joined 43 state and regional life sciences organizations in signing a national Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) letter calling on Congress to take immediate action on three bipartisan policy priorities that are essential to sustaining U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation and supporting patients nationwide. With Congress back in session and several critical programs at risk of expiring, the letter urges congressional leaders to advance the following provisions without delay: 1. Reauthorize the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PPRV) Program The PPRV program has been instrumental in incentivizing the development of therapies for children with rare and life-threatening conditions. Its lapse threatens to slow or halt research that families across the country are counting on. 2. Extend the SBIR/STTR Programs The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide crucial early-stage capital for emerging biotech and medtech companies—many of them in Georgia. Without reauthorization, hundreds of innovative small businesses face uncertainty, jeopardizing new therapies, diagnostics, and technologies in the pipeline, 3. Advance PBM Transparency Reforms Greater transparency and accountability within pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices are needed to ensure that savings reach patients and employers. Reforming PBM operations is essential to strengthening access and affordability across the healthcare system. A Unified Message from the Life Sciences Community The sign-on letter reflects broad, bipartisan alignment across the national life sciences ecosystem: researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, patient advocates, and state associations all share a common message— these programs underpin America’s global competitiveness and are vital to patients who rely on continued scientific progress. Georgia Life Sciences has shared the letter with members of Georgia’s congressional delegation and will continue engaging with policymakers to emphasize the importance of swift action.

GLS Joins Georgia Partners in Calling for Federal PBM Reform

December 7, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences is proud to stand with patient advocates, providers, and employers across the state in urging Congress to take meaningful action on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform. We recently signed on to a joint letter to Georgia’s Congressional Delegation stressing the urgent need for transparency, fair practices, and policies that ensure savings flow directly to patients.

GLS’ President and CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe in December's issue of Georgia Trend

December 4, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences’ CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe shares her perspective on the value of Georgia’s research universities in this month’s issue of Georgia Trend. “Georgia research institutions have felt a very significant impact from the federal rollbacks, specifically in NIH and NSF funding. Thacker Goethe’s message about the impact of research cuts is simple: Disruption shatters the foundational trust researchers have in grant continuity….” To read the full article, click here .
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