Teacher plans to fight, win against cancer: Expected to publish book about experience

English teacher Jamie Batson smiles towards the camera after shaving her "golden locks" in preparation for her fight against cancer. Photo courtesy of Jamie Batson.

English teacher Jamie Batson is one of hundreds of thousands who are fighting the fight of their lives against the disease.

“My first thoughts when I was diagnosed with breast cancer were of my friend Vera and how she fought breast cancer and lost her fight,” she said.

To cope, Batson writes in a journal, blogging to her friends and family about her experiences.

“This also allows me to fill in many people at once about what is going on,” Batson said. “Some days it’s still overwhelming and in many ways surreal.”

Her feelings about this are quite simple, she won’t go down without a fight.

“It is what it is,” Batson said. “I plan to fight, and I plan to win. Losing the fight means death, and I am not ready to die yet.”

Those journals may end up being published at the behest of a family member. Batson’s writing is designed to keep a positive look at the cancer-fighting process, including providing information and adding humor to the situation.

“I spin the information for people who are interested in how the process works and what the progression is,” Batson said.

A book is something she has pondered doing for awhile.

“I have spent the past several years thinking of writing a book for publication,” she said. “My mistake was in praying for clarity of the best possible topic.”

Her family has being supportive through out her whole experience.

“My kids wear pink tie shirts that say ‘My mom fights cancer, what does your mom do,’” Batson said.
Sophomore Angelique Castellano was surprised when she heard about her teacher’s illness.

“When I first heard about her diagnosis I was shocked and sad because I would have never thought she would have cancer”, Castellano said.

Fighting her battle with a smile, Batson notes she had a rough day when she first heard about her cancer.

“That was the night to cry,” she said.

Since that time, Batson shaved her hair to beat the inevitable loss of her locks from chemotherapy and has been impressed with the support received at school.

“Here at school, I have secret friends who leave wonderful inspirational surprises in my box,” she said. “Several colleagues have also volunteered for a list of people to help watch my girl as needed.”

Freshmen Jazmin Gomez and Jasmin Benavidez said Batson told her students about the disease from the very beginning of school. The disease has not changed the classes.

“I don’t think it has [changed classes],” Gomez said. “She doesn’t act different.”

Castellano is impressed with how Batson keeps up a positive attitude every day at school.

“She is a very nice lady to me and everyone else who knows her,” she said.

For Batson, cancer isn’t a fight she wanted, but she said the battle is all about attitude.

“Faith is perhaps the most important thing in my life that helps me cope,” she said “Whatever the outcome, if one person benefits from my experiences, it is/was worth it.”