Susan G. Komen® San Diego Announces 2017 Honorary Breast Cancer Survivor
Christine Trimble is shown ringing the bell after her last treatment.
Susan G. Komen® San Diego (Komen San Diego) announced Christine Trimble as the 2017 Race for the Cure® Honorary Breast Cancer Survivor. Trimble will be the organization’s spokesperson through the 21st Annual Race for the Cure on Sunday, Nov. 5. Trimble credits her survival to her annual mammogram and life changing medical care, including chemotherapy and treatments, that were developed with the help of Komen-funded research grants. She is also immensely grateful for the unwavering support of her family and friends.
Trimble, a Mission Hills resident and native San Diegan, is no stranger to high pressure and stress. As vice president of public affairs for Qualcomm, she handles national and global public policy challenges for one of the leading mobile technology companies and largest companies in San Diego. The proud U.C. Berkeley graduate, mother of a 16-year-old son, wife and communications professional said nothing prepared her for the September day in 2014 when she was told she had Stage III C invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer.
“I will always look back on that day as the worst day of my life. I knew my life had taken an unexpected turn and would never be the same,” said Trimble. “As informed as I thought I was and had been there for friends fighting cancer—when I was diagnosed I was thrust into an unknown world of breast cancer at a meteoric speed. I had no idea how much I needed to learn and what questions to ask – trying to process it all at the same time I was being told I needed to undergo chemotherapy right away.”
Trimble always had access to the best healthcare, has always taken her screenings seriously and has doctors in her family, yet still felt overwhelmed with understanding her disease, medical treatment options and the many decisions that had to be made quickly.
“I wanted to learn as much as possible and have confidence I was making informed decisions. If I found the learning curve steep and the process challenging, I knew it could be an insurmountable challenge for individuals who may not have access to the same healthcare, the financial ability, a support system or an understanding of the medical advice they are receiving.”
Trimble’s daunting experience, including chemotherapy, a mastectomy and radiation, inspired her to make a change for others going through the same breast cancer battles. She became a top Susan G. Komen San Diego fundraiser, bringing in more than $60,000 to help provide breast cancer patients in San Diego with free mammograms, life-saving screenings, temporary financial aid for living expenses, meal deliveries, patient navigation, education, research and more.
A challenge Trimble faced which many recently diagnosed women go through is how to maintain a career and make a decision to share their experience in their workplace. “Managing my career and everything I have worked so hard for was very important to me,” said Trimble. “Walking into work each day gave me a sense of empowerment that cancer wasn’t going to beat me.”
Shortly after her diagnosis, Trimble let her close colleagues and her boss know. She planned to work while undergoing chemotherapy as long as possible. Trimble is appreciative of the tremendous support and flexibility from her employer, and was able to work through her chemotherapy, taking a leave when she had a mastectomy and radiation. She was happy she shared it with her close colleagues as they became some of her greatest supporters, and have joined in the fight against breast cancer by joining her Race for the Cure team. As Trimble confided in colleagues and friends, she learned of many women at work and professional organizations who had fought and beat breast cancer. In turn, those women helped her by sharing their experiences and encouragement.
“Christine is truly extraordinary. I will never forget sitting with her as she called her doctor and learned the diagnosis that would reshape her life,” said Christie Thoene, Trimble’s colleague and close friend. “Despite the uncertainty of what lie ahead and the unfairness of it all, Christine never lost her positive attitude. Christine learned everything she could about cancer and set out to fight it. She took the time to get well, shared her experience openly with colleagues and friends, and returned to her career stronger, smarter and more determined than ever to help her team succeed. She continues to inspire all of us every day.”
Trimble’s story and her leadership will help inspire others and help Komen San Diego continue to fund the County’s largest program of free breast cancer services and support.
EVENT DETAILS:
• Event: Susan G. Komen San Diego 21st Annual Race for the Cure
• Date: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017
• Time: 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Location: Balboa Park; Start: 6th Ave. at Palm St.
• Registration/Website: KomenSanDiego.org/race
Category: Events, Local News
