We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Decristofaro a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I never truly understood the meaning of resilience until I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at the age of 28. One moment, I was living my best life in Miami as a pharmaceutical rep, thriving in my career and enjoying the freedom of my late 20s. The next, my world was turned upside down, and I was handed a new full-time job: staying alive.
My priorities shifted drastically—from working 9-to-5, spending time with friends, dating, and working out—to spending nearly seven months tethered to a chemotherapy pole. In those moments of physical and emotional exhaustion, resilience wasn’t something I chose—it became something I had to embody. I learned to fight, even on the days I wanted to give up, because I realized resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about finding the strength to rise every single time.
Documenting my journey became a source of purpose and strength. I created a blog called Lymphoma Barbie to share my experiences and offer a guide for others who might face the same battle. That passion led me to write and publish a book, Talk Cancer to Me: My Guide to Kicking Cancer’s Booty! Through it all, I discovered that resilience is born from enduring life’s greatest challenges and finding a way to turn pain into purpose.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
After being misdiagnosed by nearly 10 different physicians, I finally received the life-changing diagnosis of Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Before that, I was told my symptoms were due to acid reflux, allergies, torn muscles—you name it. The truth was far more serious, and it took persistence and advocacy to uncover it.
Determined to turn my journey into something meaningful, I wrote a book called Talk Cancer to Me: My Guide to Kicking Cancer’s Booty! to provide hope, humor, and guidance for others facing a similar fight. Inspired to do even more, I founded Chemo Kits, a company dedicated to creating thoughtful care packages designed to support cancer patients through their toughest days. My mission is to bring comfort, encouragement, and a little light to those battling cancer—because I’ve been there, and I know how much it matters.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three qualities that had the greatest impact on my journey were hope, survival, and resilience.
Hope was my anchor. Without hope, you have nothing to hold onto in the darkest moments. It’s what kept me looking forward, believing in the possibility of better days even when the odds felt insurmountable. To cultivate hope, I focused on small victories—one good test result, one day where I felt a little stronger—and surrounded myself with people who reminded me of the light at the end of the tunnel.
Survival became my guiding principle. Life throws unimaginable challenges your way, and sometimes the goal isn’t to thrive immediately—it’s simply to survive, to keep going no matter what. To build this mindset, I learned to take things one step at a time, not getting lost in the enormity of the battle but focusing on just making it through each day.
Resilience was what kept me standing when I wanted to give up. It’s not about never feeling weak—it’s about finding the strength to keep going, even when you’ve hit rock bottom. Resilience is a muscle that grows stronger the more you use it. For me, documenting my journey and channeling my struggles into something meaningful helped me strengthen my own resilience.
My advice for anyone early in their journey is to give yourself grace. Focus on fostering hope by celebrating the small wins, build your survival mindset by taking things one day at a time, and remember that resilience is something you can grow over time. Trust that every step forward, no matter how small, is progress. You’re stronger than you think.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
One of the most helpful people in my journey has been my best friend, Jenni. With her extensive experience in the oncology space, she’s been an invaluable resource, offering guidance and support both during my cancer journey and in growing Chemo Kits.
Jenni has helped me understand the unique needs of cancer patients, refine my products, and stay focused on my mission. Her expertise and encouragement have been a constant source of strength. For anyone facing challenges, I’d say find someone who believes in you and brings knowledge and support to the table—it makes all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chemo-kits.com
- Instagram: jessdecris
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
