After the doctor delivered the news that she had invasive lobular carcinoma, a type of breast cancer, O’Brien didn’t even want to know the stage or type of cancer she was up against. “I didn’t want to give it any power,” she said.

O’Brien’s oncologist attributes that to her bounce-back nature and resolve to turn lemons into lemonade.

“Rebecca was like no one else,” said Arash Asher, MD, director of the Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program—part of the Patient and Family Support Program at Cedars-Sinai’s Samuel Oschin Cancer Center. “She had a laugh so boisterous, it was hard not to laugh with her,” he added. “As I got to know her, it seemed that her humor was a big part of her reason for living.”

Monica Mita, MD, associate director for Breast Medical Oncology at Cedars-Sinai, agreed. Mita also treated O’Brien and says her willingness to expose her vulnerabilities with humor and emotion, even in front of an audience, is admirable.

“This is her calling,” Mita said, “and it’s the first time I have had a patient creating a show based on their health challenges and victories.”

Following surgery to remove a cancerous mass, O’Brien began six rounds of intensive chemotherapy, seven weeks of radiation treatments and a year of infusion treatments. Without the use of a car or loved ones living nearby, O’Brien rode the bus alone to the hospital. Each day brought new encounters with strangers. To pass time and keep her emotions from swinging to negative thoughts, O’Brien jotted down the impromptu conversations on a notepad. Fellowship with her newfound bus buddies became a silver lining during a difficult time. On the commute from Los Angeles’ bustling Fairfax District to the Cedars-Sinai campus, O’Brien launched her most inspired work.

She was determined to push past fear and depression. On mentally and physically taxing treatment days, she people-watched and fish-gazed—the hospital waiting area had a giant fish tank at the time, that served as a soothing distraction for patients.

“I didn’t know I was writing this show,” O’Brien said. “I was just keeping myself in the present moment instead of worrying. I wrote to entertain myself, not knowing those stories would ultimately entertain others.”

Staying in the moment was something O’Brien learned while participating in an improv program at Cedars-Sinai, designed by Emmy-nominated writer, comedian and breast cancer survivor Shelly Gossman, a Second City alum whose credits include Saturday Night Live.

The end results: A poignant and hilarious one-woman show aptly titled, “Getting There!” Last June, O'Brien's breakout production beat out 150 competitors to earn Best Solo Performance at the 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival, as well as a coveted platinum medal for her stellar work. LA Magazine said, “'Getting There!' is a gem!” 

Now, O’Brien is raising money to restage the show inside L.A.’s Hudson Theatres. After paying for the theatre rental, as well as small stipends to the cast and crew, proceeds will go to the Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program led by Asher.

The program provides support to cancer patients, including classes on exercise, nutrition, cooking and art.

“My chief goal with developing these programs was to relieve some of the suffering and distress that our cancer survivorship community experiences,” said Asher. He added, “to have challenges like fatigue, chemo brain, neuropathy, insomnia and anxiety detract from roles with their families and communities compounds the problem—we want to do everything in our power to enable our patients to live their best life possible.”

O’Brien is still creating, working on a memoir about growing up in Tennessee. She hopes that she can help other cancer survivors navigate their cancer journeys.

To learn how you can support Rebecca O’Brien’s one-woman show, “Getting There!,” please email rebeccaobrien2u@yahoo.com.

Read more from the Cedars-Sinai Blog: What’s My Breast Cancer Risk?

Valdez’s dance through life was interrupted by a cancer diagnosis, but it was the struggle to move on after recovery that ended his career and threatened his life. Wellness, Resilience and Survivorship programming, a part of the Patient and Family Support Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, as well as care from director of Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Arash Asher, MD, gave him his life back.

“I can say with certainty that I would not be here today if it weren’t for this program and Dr. Asher,” Valdez said. “His passion for his work, his wisdom, his impeccable bedside manner … through it all, Dr. Asher has been right there by my side.”

On a Friday night in late spring 2012, Valdez was on his way out the door for a night of dancing when the subtle lower back pain he had been experiencing for months suddenly became nearly debilitating. Kidney stones, he thought. His mom had them before. They would pass soon.

His partner disagreed and told Valdez he needed to get to the hospital right away.

“I thought he was being dramatic,” Valdez said. “But I gave in, and we went to the Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai. They did a lot of tests and three days later we found out what was wrong.”

The diagnosis was lymphoma—a blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Valdez was 28 years old.

He had just landed a big promotion at work, getting him one step closer to his goal of becoming a vice president at his company and retiring early. He had advanced quickly, from working the front desk for Starwood Hotels & Resorts properties to becoming its youngest director of revenue management. Valdez was proud of his successes. He hadn’t been able to go to college and especially relished any opportunity to learn something new.

“I felt like all my career goals were completely upended when I got cancer,” he said.

That first year after diagnosis, Valdez underwent chemotherapy, followed by a transplant using his own healthy blood stem cells to replace damaged cells, a recurrence of lymphoma, and a bone marrow transplant. It was a long and arduous year.

Valdez’s healthcare team recommended that he participate in Wellness, Resilience and Survivorship programming through the Cedars-Sinai Cancer Patient and Family Support Program. Classes and coaching help cancer survivors navigate life after diagnosis, focusing on body, mind and soul rehabilitation. A holistic team of cancer rehabilitation physicians, nurse practitioners, exercise physiologists, art therapists, neuropsychologists, social workers and dietitians empowers patients as they adjust to a “new normal” and provides a community of people who have been through a similar experience.

Valdez declined.

Getting back to work was his sole focus. He had big ambitions and little time to waste.

But he would soon realize that it was too much, too soon.

Roadblocks on the Path to Healing

The eventual end of Valdez’s longtime relationship, the mental and emotional turmoil of cancer and the physical toll of aggressive treatment that led to loss of mobility all added up.

Before long, Valdez was sleeping in his car between work meetings and struggling to keep up with the pace. He developed an opiate addiction. He had to leave his job and go on permanent disability. He sank into a deep depression and rarely left home. With no income, he became homeless. He attempted suicide.

“It was a dark time,” he said. “I knew I couldn’t continue down that path.”

It was time to check out the support options his Cedars-Sinai care team had recommended.

Through the programming, which also included the Cancer Exercise Recovery Program, Valdez found stability, community and compassion. He also found an advocate in Asher.

Getting On With Life

“Some people want to sweep their cancer experience under the rug and get on with life,” Asher said. “For others, it’s too big to sweep under the rug. Many people say that they feel lost after treatment ends. The warrior phase is over, the boxing gloves have come off, and they’re unsure of what to do next.”

That’s where the rehabilitation programming comes in. Educational programs, physical rehabilitation, and classes in yoga, qigong, meditation, art and nutrition are just a few of the offerings.

To avoid overwhelming patients with too many options, Asher and team listen to what patients most need in their recovery process, and then tailor specific offerings that may be most beneficial.

“If they are struggling with emotional distress, we may offer an art therapy or mindfulness program, or make a referral to a specialized clinician who can help,” he said. “If they’re physically debilitated or need to regain strength, we offer our exercise program.”

Scott Irwin, MD, PhD, director of the Patient and Family Support Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, said it is gratifying to know that patients like Valdez find immense benefit from the program.

“One goal is to offer as many of our existing programs as possible throughout all the Cedars-Sinai Cancer  care sites,” Irwin said. “In the longer term, Dr. Asher hopes to adapt some of the programs for distribution nationwide. They can offer so much to patients recovering from cancer; we want to share them much more broadly.”

Fulfillment Amplified

Through the rehabilitation programming, Valdez found renewed strength and mobility, as well as emotional and mental support. He also found a new career aspiration—he’s launched his own tote bag company and plans to use the profits to fund mental health programs for youth and programs for cancer survivors.

“I haven’t felt this fulfilled in over 10 years, and I owe it all to Dr. Asher and the cancer rehabilitation program at Cedars-Sinai,” he said.

He is interested in exploring more of the themes of cancer survivorship. While he is grateful for improved survival rates for many cancers, he’d like to see more emphasis on helping people navigate post-cancer life.

Mostly, though, he wants patients with cancer to remember that it’s OK to not feel OK sometimes.

“It may not be easy, and you may want to give up,” he said. “But try to keep pushing a little further. Remember that you’re an incredible person, and you may just surprise yourself as you embrace your new normal.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Surviving Cancer and Cooking for Health