Ilse, Breast Cancer Patient Expert Candidate: “I don’t want a boring life”

At the age of fifty, Ilse was taken by surprise by a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. Taken by surprise, because this businesswoman was at the helm of a large HR firm with about 100 employees. Her challenging job gave her a sense of purpose, but it became difficult to balance with her treatment. “Even though I tried to keep working as long as possible, I was regularly sidelined,” Ilse says of that initial period. In consultation with management, she continued working on a project basis and rediscovered her energy and joy in this new challenge. But after five years, she relapsed and was prescribed new medication that forces her to rest completely every three weeks. “I’m completely out of it for four days; luckily, my daughter lives nearby and takes good care of me during these hellish days,” says Ilse. “But starting on day five, I regain my energy and can face the world again.”

Useful

Ilse had been looking for a new, meaningful way to spend her days for a while. “Knitting and crocheting aren’t really my thing. I want to feel useful.” Ilse attended our Pink Ribbon Day in Zaventem for patients with metastatic breast cancer. There, she met fellow patients who, like her, refuse to give up. “When I saw the call to become a patient expert for breast cancer, I knew right away that this was for me,” she says. “I’m very motivated to take the training, to learn more about the healthcare system and about breast cancer. Above all, I really want to be the voice of breast cancer patients.” It quickly becomes clear that she has all the skills needed to do this with passion. Ilse is very communicative and not one to mince words. “In healthcare, not everything goes as it should,” she discovered firsthand, “For example, there’s definitely still work to be done on clear and transparent communication. I would really love to be able to contribute to that.” If it were up to Ilse, she’d rather start today than tomorrow.

Are you also looking for a meaningful way to spend your time?

Pink Ribbon already received dozens of applications for the Breast Cancer Patient Expert training program. We still have openings and want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to participate in the program. Interested? Read the requirements on our website and apply!

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