Along with a cancer diagnosis comes a great deal of change. In her article on Idealist’s website, Anne Ogden Gaffney talks about how embracing the unexpected through two cancer diagnoses shifted her path in unforeseen ways.

For Gaffney, it was the second diagnosis that prompted her to “step back” from her high-powered fashion career to undergo treatment. Doing that caused her to realize “there was life beyond” the fashion industry; that realization became the catalyst for her eventual career change.

Like many survivors, Gaffney’s experience inspired her to find more meaningful work. Given her longtime passion and talent for cooking, it’s no surprise that the importance of nutrition during treatment (and beyond) became an integral part of her cancer journey. That focus ultimately led to her creation of a nonprofit called Cook for Your Life, aimed at “teaching healthy cooking to people touched by cancer.”

If your cancer experience has prompted you to re-evaluate your job and how you want to spend your time, you’re not alone. And we have resources that can help you through the transition:

— Consult our section on Exploring Your Options.

— Post questions to our Ask a Career Coach board.

— Get tailored feedback on your resume by submitting it to our free Resume Review service.

— Download a free copy of our Job Search Toolkit.