Story & Lesson Highlights with Traci Asher of Los Angeles, CA

Traci Asher shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Traci, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I am often asked if my project, 1 Cancer Patient, is a collection of ultra-graphic photographs connecting a depressing story.
I set out to create something cathartic, conversation starting, and beautiful, with a dose of gallows humor to ease fears of the unknown often felt by newly diagnosed cancer patients, as well as, their caregivers and loved ones.
Initially to track my progress, over 10 years and three cancer diagnoses, this medical memoir and motivational exhibition are the resources I wish had existed for myself in the beginning. I was desperate to know how to ask questions during doctors’ appointments and, in return, answer those posed by family and friends. Being aware of the hyperbolic depiction of everything cancer on tv and in the movies, I couldn’t find anything that effectively laid out an expected timeline of events and what each step looked like. If I knew in 2014 what I knew by 2024, cancer wouldn’t have been as scary, so I was determined to create this missing visual resource.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Traci Asher. I am the creator, author, and thriver of 1 Cancer Patient: A Unique Photo Journal to Guide Difficult Cancer Conversations. I’m a Gen X’er from the suburbs of Chicago, IL who recently concluded a 20-year career as a union costumer on television comedies in Los Angeles, CA. I’ve chosen not to look at my scars and feel flawed, but instead, to see a new version of myself that I’m learning to love more each day. They’re a reminder to be calm, to listen, to enjoy, and try to find the positives in the most unfair situations. Cancer does not define anyone, but we cannot deny the impact it’s had on so many lives.
On the day of my initial diagnosis, I made the decision to photograph and journal my life as a cancer patient. I was first diagnosed with stage III breast cancer at the age of 39. Three years after, I was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer, which appeared in the vertebrae of my neck. Two years later, after complaining of headaches and dizziness, I went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with my third tumor. A CT scan and subsequent testing revealed stage IV metastatic breast cancer in my brain.
Whether it was worrying about the side effects of cancer treatments, wondering if the tumor might be growing, researching non-Western alternatives, understanding what it meant to have the BRCA-1 gene mutation, or trying to navigate the confusing world of insurance companies, staying optimistic and realistic, was exhausting. With 1 Cancer Patient, I am sharing my diary entries, along with photographers’ documentary images of my journey to help mentor and support those who need it.
There is a mundane normalcy intertwined with chaotic stress involved in being a cancer patient. The 1 Cancer Patient book is designed to fold pages, write notes, show images to doctors, and ask them to compare it to the reader’s road ahead. The 1CP photographic exhibit provides a safe space for curiosity. By unmasking the unknown that comes with a cancer diagnosis, I hope to show that a good (though altered) life is possible.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I was bullied throughout my formative years. Mentored by adults to be ‘nicer,’ left me feeling at fault for my predicament. Throughout life, that guilty conscience would often permeate my mind.
I had missed a single annual checkup the year before my first cancer diagnosis. Work kept me ‘too busy’ to take care of myself, so it was easy for guilt to, once again, take over. The day my oncologist referred to me as a ‘wonder woman,’ I was too modest to agree. It seemed that I was just doing what I must in order to survive, and that didn’t feel particularly heroic. Once my cancer metastasized, I could no longer be considered a cured survivor. After moving through my own journey, as well as, witnessing those of so many others, it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve become a Thriver and I would look toward the future instead of being limited by a history of brokenness.
I had a new opportunity to choose between silver linings or clinging to familiar past behaviors. There’s nothing quite like a major medical emergency to force a person into finding their existential purpose in spite of naysayers.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been many times that I felt like giving up. With each new tumor, I struggled with whether or not to proceed with 1 Cancer Patient. Depression simmered in a pot on the stove, waiting for me to drink the poisonous tea of self doubt; the taunt that building a business around 1 Cancer Patient was neither important nor beneficial. Who would care? I continually battled negative thoughts.
I learned not to confuse grief with negativity. I am not a trauma survivor who has achieved enlightenment or inner peace. I’m pragmatic, realizing that I’ve faltered at many things in my life, including gracefully existing with cancer 100% of the time. In order to overcome my ever-present tormentor, I decided to keep company with people who embody the qualities I most admire as I nod in victory at the poison tea that sits untouched in its kettle.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
Many years ago, before graduating from Full Sail University film school, a professor said, “It isn’t about who you know – it’s about who knows you.” I cannot prove this to be true, but it makes sense, and it’s an unforgettable statement. I do believe it’s incumbent on me to cultivate business relationships, be clear in asking for what I need, keep connections informed of my progress, and follow up with wholehearted messages of appreciation.
I needed to advocate for myself with doctors and now I use that knowledge to confidently market myself to professionals who can help 1 Cancer Patient succeed. I’m still figuring out how to tell the difference between real interest and simple platitudes, however, I have noticed that absolutely nothing happens when I do nothing.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the printed pages within 1 Cancer Patient offer a dignified and generous story people will tell about me when I’m gone. We tend to focus on outcomes to measure success, but real wins happen when we get in the ring and put up our dukes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://1CancerPatient.com
• Instagram: @1cancerpatient
• Facebook: @1cancerpatient
• Youtube: @1cancerpatient
• Other: Flickr @1cancerpatient

Image Credits
James Asher
Warren Perlstein
James Asher
Warren Perlstein
Warren Perlstein
Donna Deck
Mark Whittington
Warren Perlstein
Hattie Portage