The Cancer Issue

Judi Kaufman

Beverly Hills, 64, community activist and retired business owner.

Diagnosed with: Brain cancer 15 years ago. Had a recurrence and second surgery in 2002 and a third recurrence this year.

What cancer inspired her to do: Kaufman describes herself as a creative person and lifelong caregiver. But after learning she had cancer, she felt a wave of insecurity over her identity. She worried about the loss of certain cognitive abilities due to the surgery; whether she would ever be creative again; whether she had become a burden to her family. Kaufman's solution to her problem was to help others. Art of the Brain, a nonprofit organization she founded at UCLA, pairs brain cancer patients with former patients or others who can serve as mentors. One of its programs, "Brain Buddies," provides patients with support, information, friendship and a hopeful new destiny. "These men and women are intuitive and have insight," Kaufman says of the program's volunteers. "They just know what to do." For more information, e-mail Judi@JudiKaufman.com.

-- Shari Roan

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Beverly Tiffany

Westwood, 54, retired healthcare lawyer.

Diagnosed with: Primary lymphoma of the humerus, upper arm bone. After six rounds of chemotherapy spaced over 18 weeks followed by five weeks of daily radiation, she's been cancer-free since 2002.

What cancer inspired her to do: Tiffany had a degree in social work before becoming an attorney, and knew after her diagnosis and treatment that she wanted to get back to that kind of work. She now volunteers at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai. "I knew I wanted to work with cancer patients," she says. "My job description is to provide emotional support. I chitchat." She rotates from the chemotherapy infusion room to the radiation treatment waiting room to private rooms. She listens to patients and, when appropriate, tells them how it was for her. "I thought I would never feel carefree again. It took a few years, but I have that carefree feeling back." Some conversations last a minute. Some last an hour. "Every time I leave, I feel like a million bucks."

-- Susan Brink

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Candace Brady

Chatsworth, 55, a retired LAPD police captain and attorney.

Diagnosed with: Stage 2b breast cancer, in 1998. Had surgery, radiation and extensive chemotherapy, still has annual check-ups with her oncologist.