038: Breast Selling Author with Holly Bertone

037: Suicide Prevention in Kansas with Kristin Vernon
December 6, 2017
039: Stigma and My Life’s Epiphany with Rick Strait
December 6, 2017

038: Breast Selling Author with Holly Bertone



Holly Bertone PMP is an author, blogger, and breast cancer survivor and advocate. She is the
president and CEO of Pink Fortitude, LLC and editor-in-chief at the inspirational blog The Coconut Head’s
Survival Guide. Holly holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor’s Degree from
Elizabethtown College, and is a Project Management Professional (PMP). Holly is an Ambassador for the
Tigerlily Foundation. She was named a 2014 Woman of the Year by the National Association of
Professional Women. Holly is married to a retired Green Beret, is a stepmother, and lives in Alexandria,
VA.

Holly Bertone shares her incredible journey on the i’Mpossible Project #podcast #breastcancer #survivor!

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Time Stamped Notes

  • 1.49 Holly was diagnosed with breast cancer on her 39th birthday
  • 2.04 Within the same 48 hours of being diagnosed with breast cancer, Holly’s fiancé also
    proposed to her
  • 2.15 Holly’s treatment for breast cancer included a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation
  • 5.05 Immediately after her diagnosis, Holly was sad and angry and shocked, but soon after she
    saw breast cancer as “God’s gift for me,” and she felt she was going through this for a greater
    purpose
  • 7.34 Holly attributes to the attitude she chose during her cancer treatment to her mother. Her
    mother was diagnosed with a terminal disease more than 35 years ago (30+ years past her life expectancy)
  • 9.12 Holly also coped with treatment by trying to find the humor in everything
  • 12.40 Holly’s health got a bit worse after treatment (non-cancer symptoms)
  • 13.22 One realization Holly had because of breast cancer was prioritizing what’s most important
    in her life. To Holly, her health and being able to take care of her family are most important (over a high paying job or material things).
  • 14.40 Holly paraphrases a quote: “If you have your health you have many dreams, but if you’re not healthy you have one dream.”
  • 16.40 Holly’s favorite word is “fortitude,” her spirit animal is a fish in her office, Mr. Swimmy,
    and she says she is terrible at staying awake (find out more fun facts about Holly in the Quick
    Fire Round) …

Key Points

  • When going through adversity it’s possible (not easy) to choose the mindset: “I’m going
    through this for a purpose. This could be a gift (in addition to being an unwanted trial/tribulation.”
  • Health is (almost) everything: If you have your health you have many dreams, but if you’re not healthy you have one dream
  • If you can impact even one person in a healthy/positive way, you can have a profound
    effect on human history

Resources or Websites Mentioned

Holly’s website: www.Pinkfortitude.com

Resources on Holly’s website: www.Pinkfortitude.com/thanks

Holly’s social media: @Pinkfortitude across all social media except Facebook, which is Coconut’s Survival Guide

Holly Bertone is an author in The i’Mpossible Project: Volume 1—Reengaging with Life, Creating a New You: www.iampossibleproject.com/one