This interview is with Andrea Berkowitz, Owner at Andrea Berkowitz Coaching.

Andrea Berkowitz, Owner, Andrea Berkowitz Coaching

Andrea, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to becoming a health and life coach for women battling cancer?

I am a 53-year-old wife and mother of two daughters. At the age of 42, I was diagnosed with stage 2 hormone-positive breast cancer. It was just one month before my oldest daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. After undergoing a double mastectomy and 16 rounds of chemo, I began my journey to recovery, both physically and mentally. It took a while, but after several years, I was able to move forward with more strength and resilience. In March of 2021, right in the middle of COVID, I found a large mass just below my right breast implant. It came out of nowhere, literally. Once again, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, but this one was completely different. It was the most aggressive form, triple-negative breast cancer. This was not a recurrence of the first cancer. After multiple rounds of chemo, the tumor did not respond, and surgery was urgent. I then went through six weeks of radiation and a year on a chemotherapy pill. These two journeys have changed my life for the better. I have been able to change my mindset completely, have a deeper appreciation for all that life has to offer, a passionate purpose of helping and inspiring other women, and I feel stronger and more resilient than ever before. I have bundled up my transformation into a unique program to help other women battling breast cancer.

What key events or experiences led you to specialize in coaching women specifically through their breast cancer journeys?

I became a certified health coach, worked with a cancer dietitian, and spent years blogging my journey and inspiring others. The mindset changes I made have been pivotal in my growth, and I want to empower other women to do the same.

You mentioned being a two-time breast cancer warrior. How has your personal experience with cancer shaped your coaching philosophy and approach?

I believe in making small, incremental changes that are unique to each individual. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as all women have different challenges. I emphasize the importance of patience and forming habits that fit with each person’s individual and family lifestyle.

Many women experience fear and uncertainty after a cancer diagnosis. What is one practical piece of advice you give your clients to help them navigate those initial emotions?

I always recommend staying off the internet, as it can cause more stress and anxiety. Allow yourself time to grieve and process the information, and keep communication open between you, your medical team, and your family.

You emphasize the importance of diet and exercise in your coaching. Can you share one specific strategy you use to help clients stay motivated and committed to their health goals during challenging times?

The most successful and sustainable strategy is finding a nutrition and exercise plan that works for your lifestyle and that does not require strict rules or extreme measures.

Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial during cancer recovery. What tangible steps do you encourage your clients to take to cultivate a positive outlook?

I believe that gratitude and purpose are the most powerful forces that cultivate a positive mindset and resilience. This will help to shift the focus away from worrying and ‘what ifs.’ This requires a self-discovery process of finding things that you are passionate about and distractions that are ‘therapeutic.’ For example, I discovered a passion for creativity and spend a part of each day in my creative mode.

Building a supportive community can make a significant difference in someone’s recovery journey. How do you guide your clients in finding or building that support system?

I recommend support groups, religion and spirituality, community events, becoming involved in a charity that is meaningful, and any other group or organization of like-minded people. It is also important to build a support system of friends and family you can count on. Have someone start a meal train and/or a social media page for updates. There are so many options for building support.

What is one common misconception or myth about cancer recovery that you often address in your coaching practice?

There are many diet myths that I educate my clients about. For example, it is a myth that sugar feeds cancer and that soy is bad. It is important to be armed with factual information so that people do not feel stressed about having to completely change their entire diet. The internet is full of misinformation and can send you spiraling out of control with unnecessary extreme changes that are unsustainable.

Looking back, what is one piece of advice you wish you had received at the beginning of your coaching career that you now share with aspiring coaches in the health and wellness space?

Utilize free and paid resources to help build your business. It is very competitive out there! Also, be authentic.