Jan Porterfield             Go to Jan's Cards

Jan's bio about herself, written in about 2004: 

I’m 55 years old, married with a 15 year-old son. When I was diagnosed with cancer I was teaching preschool. I kept teaching for about a year—through surgery, radiation and my first round of chemo. I stopped working when my cancer metastasized. The chemotherapy made me too tired and my energy was too unpredictable to be able to continue teaching. I was very sad to leave the preschool. I loved what I did and was good at it. But it just wasn’t possible. Since I stopped working I have become a serious watercolorist. I find that painting helps me relax and takes me out of myself. Last year I had a painting accepted for the Alaska Watercolor Society show. I was thrilled.

 I have had many interesting jobs: research, university teaching, and, of course, teaching preschool (my favorite). I was born and raised in Kansas. I went to in Britain in 1976 to do research in services for people with disabilities and stayed 11 years. I met my husband on a vacation in the States and moved to Alaska in 1988 to marry him.

 I was diagnosed with colon cancer in November 2000 when I had a routine colonoscopy. Since then I have been in and out of treatment. I am currently getting chemotherapy. I joined the LISTEN group when it was just starting in July 2002. The group was originally for women with breast cancer but since I knew most of the other women from life before cancer, they invited me to join.

 At the first meeting I attended, a woman who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer was there. She was worried about losing her hair and wondering about hats, scarves and wigs. She asked what it was like to be without hair. Everyone who was without hair spontaneously whipped off headgear—right in the middle of a busy coffee shop. It was a great moment with lots of laughing. And the woman who was concerned said she now knew she’d be OK—hair or no hair. Surprising to me, I have not lost my hair. I’m on different drugs than the breast cancer drugs. When I knew I would be getting chemo I almost got my head shaved. I didn’t want to wait around for my hair to fall out. I didn’t know that not everyone who gets chemo becomes bald.

 The LISTEN group is open to women with any kind of cancer. We especially like to have women who have completed treatment come to the group. They inspire us. A few women who have never had cancer come to the group:  Muff Zellmer, a nurse practitioner who works with Dr. Judith Whitcomb (a breast surgeon), Jean Bodeau, an acupuncturist who treats chemotherapy side-effects, Andy Dunham an artist who started coming when her daughter had cancer, Jean Shadrack, another artist and Andy’s friend. Jean and Andy have brought art activities to our retreats. They are warm, caring women who are especially sensitive to women who are newly diagnosed. I think the group is very helpful to women with are newly diagnosed. We can help them know what to expect and answer questions. We understand how scary it is and empathize.

 I come to the group meetings almost every Friday. I like being with other women who have cancer. I can be open about my fears without freaking them out (as sometimes happens with family and other friends). This group is also fun. I’m not a real group person and don’t think I’d like a formal group—but LISTEN is perfect for me. We often don’t even talk about cancer—we talk about whatever is going on in life—children, husbands, creative activities, work or whatever is on our minds. We plan retreats, tell funny stories and laugh. We help each other deal with chemo and radiation side effects, give each other advice on dealing with medical staff, and the emotional ups and downs of having cancer.

 Some people come to the meetings every week, others come occasionally, still others come after they are first diagnosed for a few meetings and then stop coming. This is a group you can come to when you want to. You are always welcome but there is no pressure to keep coming.

Note:  Jan passed away on June 21, 2007.  Her husband, Jeff Friedman, suggested we print her obituary, which is included below.

Jan Porterfield
Anchorage resident Jan Porterfield, 57, died of colon cancer June 21, 2007, at her home. Jan was born July 26, 1949, in Wichita, Kan., to Mary and Maurice Porterfield. As a child, she was active in Girl Scouts and was a camp counselor for several summers. Jan received her bachelor's degree in sociology from Ottawa University in Kansas, her master's in human development from the University of Kansas, and her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Wales, Cardiff. Jan always felt lucky to have lived an interesting life surrounded by wonderful friends. Whether she was hitchhiking in England and France, making sudden moves half way around the world, or receiving an infusion in the oncology center, she always saw life as an adventure to be enjoyed. Jan lived for 11 years in the United Kingdom, where she worked as a university researcher, an independent training consultant and as an advisor to the Rowntree Memorial Trust. While on vacation in Virginia, Jan met Jeff Friedman. They moved to Alaska and married in April 1988. Their son Sam Friedman was born in 1989. In Alaska, Jan worked for the Special Education Service Agency, taught early childhood education at the University of Alaska Anchorage, was a full-time mother and volunteer for many years, and later was the teacher/director of the Anchorage Cooperative Preschool. After her cancer diagnosis in fall 2000, Jan found a new calling in life as a watercolor artist. She was also active in her cancer support group, Women Listen, until shortly before her death. Jan's family and friends are grateful for the wonderful care she received over the years from her health care professionals and from Hospice of Anchorage. "Jan brought joy and light wherever she went, and will be deeply missed by her many friends and family," her family wrote. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Anchorage Association for the Education of Young Children, P.O. Box 201301, Anchorage 99520; Women Listen Inc., P.O. Box 140845, Anchorage 99514; or Hospice of Anchorage, 500 W. International Airport Road, Anchorage 99518. Published in the Anchorage Daily News on 6/26/2007.