Shirley Peters beat her first breast cancer diagnosis in 1999, but at the height of her career, her work life took a turn when her cancer returned. She was working as a district manager and recruiter for 7-Eleven. With a passion for cooking, Shirley was simultaneously running a gourmet food company from home. After 20 years with 7-Eleven, Shirley was forced to step down to fight her disease once again – undergoing a bilateral mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and chemotherapy in 2011.
With the first phase of her career on pause, Shirley’s entrepreneurial spirit led her down an unexpected career path. While fighting stage IV breast cancer, Shirley bought a food truck for her son and started cooking up family recipes.
Remaining Independent
Shirley and her son have been running “Aunt Shirley’s Food Truck” together since 2012. They serve chicken and waffles, pulled pork, and delicious sides. Shirley used to spend hours on her feet cooking everything from scratch inside the truck, while fighting cancer. She pushed through the pain with positivity, but eventually found a better way to help run the family business that worked with her treatment schedule and physical limitations.
When her cancer spread to her spine and skull, Shirley took on office duty – handling administrative work, creating menu items, and booking events. Shirley says the work helps her maintain her independence.
Shirley receives a great deal of support from her “coworkers.” They take turns covering her shifts and taking her to doctor’s appointments. “I like to be the boss, but I’ve learned to ask for help if I ever need it,” Shirley said. Even with her never-fail attitude, Shirley says some days her energy levels are just too low. And on occasion, she’ll pause her work, rest, and recharge.
Shirley inspires her doctors, nurses, and fellow patients at Texas Oncology–Medical City Dallas with her work ethic. She’s known around the clinic for being well-dressed with her makeup, hair, and nails always done and a big smile on her face. She often stops by to give other patients words of encouragement.
Key Learnings from a Patient’s Perspective
Shirley says the key to living through cancer is learning to make small adjustments without sacrificing the things she enjoys, especially working, cooking, and traveling.
Shirley admits she used to be cautious discussing her cancer with others, but she finally learned to accept that she shouldn’t be ashamed of her disease. Now, she shares that mentality with others, helping fellow patients understand that having cancer isn’t anyone’s fault – it’s just life.
“Cancer isn’t the end of the world and attitude has a lot to do with survival,” Shirley said. “If I die today, I can say I have had a very full and happy life.”