Debra Thaler-DeMers
Lois Tschetter Hjelmstad

Debra Thaler-DeMers, BSN, RN, OCN, PHN Debra is currently a clinical staff nurse and chemotherapy educator at the Peterson Cancer Treatment Center, Stanford University Hospital & Clinics, Stanford, California and the founder of Cancer ACCESS: Advocacy, Counseling, Clinical Education & Survivorship Skills. A twenty two year survivor of two primary cancers, Debra is part of one of the largest family clusters of Hodgkins Disease in the United States. Debra has served on the Board of Directors of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. She is a certified oncology nurse, a pain resource nurse and a specialist in end of life care. Debra has conducted workshops on intimacy and sexuality issues for cancer survivors and has written journal articles and book chapters on this topic. Debra has received several awards for her work with cancer survivors, including the American Cancer Society’s Celebration of Life Award. She is a lecturer in the biology department at San Jose State University.

Lois Tschetter Hjelmstad, speaker, author, and breast cancer survivor, lives in Englewood, Colorado, where she owned and operated a large music studio for 38 years. She and her husband, Les, have four grown children and twelve grandchildren. Lois has given over 500 presentations throughout North America and England, speaking on Breast Cancer as a Catalyst for Change, The Issues of Intimacy, Writing Our Grief, and related topics. She was featured in Rosie magazine and appeared on The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Lois’ first book, Fine Black Lines: Reflections on Facing Cancer, Fear and Loneliness won awards in Colorado and London. The Last Violet: Mourning My Mother, published in 2002, is Hjelmstad’s sensitive, moving story of one woman’s journey from grief and regret to inner peace. She says, “My mission is to bring whatever insight, courage, comfort and joy that I can — especially to those who deal with breast cancer and loss.” Articles by Lois can be found on her website, www. facingbreastcancer.com .