We are so excited to introduce a community member, Carrie Tam, who has joined our Cactus Cancer Society Team for the summer. She is wonderful, and we know you’ll welcome and love her, too! Read on to discover more about Carrie!
Please introduce yourself! Could you please tell us your name and pronouns? What is your position here at CCS, and where are you located?
Hi! I’m Carrie Tam (she/her) and I’m the new Summer Development Impact Intern for Cactus Cancer Society. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, more specifically San Mateo, CA, and I’m a two-time endometrial cancer survivor who is currently on maintenance treatment.
How did you find Cactus Cancer Society?
I first found out about CCS from my Happy Hour Herd over at Elephants and Tea and learning a ton now.
What is your favorite Cactus Cancer Society program?
My favorite CCS programs were the Gabfest and Coffee and Oodles, and I look forward to attending more programs in the future.
Your Instagram is full of pictures of tasty food! What’s the best meal you made recently?
Thanks! I don’t really cook too much but like to experiment with different things. Recently I’ve been making my own cashew milk and almond milk. Also, I’ve made hummus a couple of times and it turned out surprisingly good! I also like to attend virtual cooking classes now and then to try out new simple recipes.
You also have a dog. Can you tell us about them?
We have 2 dogs, Lucky and Mocha. Lucky is a poodle/bichon/maltese mix that turns 15 this year and lives with my in-laws in SF. Mocha is a terrier poodle mix that is 4.5 years old. Lucky is super affectionate and Mocha likes to pick on his brother when his mischievous side comes out; most of the time Mocha is pretty chill and loves to sunbathe indoors here in San Mateo. Â
If anyone were to visit your area, what are your favorite spots you’d recommend?
My favorite things about San Mateo are definitely the food and the free Japanese Tea Garden. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Feel free to let me know if anyone needs recommendations. The Japanese Tea Garden is my happy place.
Shamelessly brag about one thing you’re really proud of!
I’m proud to be a two-time cancer survivor who is still fighting as a metastatic bad-a$$. I strongly believe in the power of mind and body exercises, such as yoga, qigong, tai-chi, meditation, and tapping.Â
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What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? You have to prioritize yourself and your well-being first before you can take care of others.
Thank you, Carrie for chatting with us! To learn more about our Staff, Board, and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Board, check out Our Team.