Posts by: Nancy Brier

Nancy Brier

Nancy Brier lives in Palm Desert, California with her husband and their daughter. She coaches entrepreneurs and writes about family, cancer, travel, and business. For more of her work, please visit www.NancyBrier.com.

April 24, 2017April 25, 2017

Aviate. Navigate. Communicate. What Hospitals Can Learn from Pilots

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

“Could I have some water?” Gary bent his head closer. Apparently, my husband couldn’t hear me. I couldn’t remember ever being so thirsty, and I felt too weak to talk. ... Read more

April 17, 2017April 16, 2017

Receding Gums, and a Life Story That Inspires

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

“We didn’t have indoor plumbing,” Claudia told me. She was inches from my face, holding a weird-looking camera to my gums as I pulled my cheeks into slightly painful, awkward ... Read more

April 10, 2017April 10, 2017

Ouch! Waxing for Real, Not Just Philosophically, After My Breast Cancer

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

“That’ll go away,” Dr. Hope Rugo told me. It was my first visit with an oncologist after my breast cancer surgery. I could hear a vacuum cleaner in the background, and ... Read more

April 3, 2017April 3, 2017

The Paradox of Cancer, the Paradox of Life

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

“It was my year off from the world,” a nurse told me when I was in the Emergency Room with side effects from chemo. He had had cancer too, and ... Read more

March 27, 2017March 27, 2017

What’s Wrong with US Healthcare? Let’s Talk About Advil

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

“Do you have any Advil with you?” a tech asked me. I was having a port installed. Prior to cancer treatment, my husband thought a port was a place to park ... Read more

March 20, 2017March 20, 2017

Finding the Right Time, Words to Tell About The Drumbeat in Her Head

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

“We have to tell Lauren,” my husband Gary said. “One more day,” I replied, “Let’s just wait one more day.” Gary wrapped me in a hug, and told me we’d ... Read more

March 13, 2017March 13, 2017

A Harp, ‘Moon River’ and Me

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

I tend to live in my head, to lean into my intellect. “What does that mean?” my husband asked when I described it. So I rephrased it and told him, ... Read more

March 6, 2017March 6, 2017

Starting with Surprise Upgrade, Blessings for Breast Cancer Checkup

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

When I turned 27, I bought my first car. When I turned 49, I experienced my first cancer diagnosis. (And I hope, my last). The car I bought was a ... Read more

February 27, 2017February 27, 2017

Life’s Delicate Balancing Act

A Lump in the Road - A Column by Nancy Brier, Columns

“Watch, Mom,” Lauren quipped when we wandered through a tent at the fair. She hopped on a crazy contraption, a simple machine designed to test balance. Beneath her tennis shoes, ... Read more