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| The Entertainment Review |
| By: Patti Balwanz, Kim Carlos, Jennifer Johnson & Jana Peters Publisher: Da Capo Press |
Patti Balwanz, Kim Carlos, Jennifer Johnson, and Jana Peters were just 30 years old and younger when each was
diagnosed with breast cancer. Jen was pregnant, Kim was raising a two year old child, Jana had just become
engaged, and Patti was working as an information technology consultant. They were all very young for developing
breast cancer, and attending a traditional support group with women over 40 was just not the way they wanted to
deal with the problem. Instead, they met monthly at Nordstrom’s Café, to have lunch, chat, support each other, and
eventually collaborate on the book, “Nordie’s at Noon.”
Breast cancer can be aggressive in young women, which makes early detection and prompt treatment of it so vital.
These four energetic, passionate, open-hearted young women found each other during their journeys with breast
cancer, forming a monthly support group that met at the Nordstrom’s Café which has been dubbed Nordie's in the
book. Readers will at first not want to like them, but they will eventually win over even the most skeptical of reader.
They were sorority girls, rising young professionals with great futures to look forward to, who compared themselves to
the characters of the TV show "Sex and the City." However, their lives were not perfect, and they were all diagnosed
with breast cancer at the age 30 or younger.
This book takes readers by chapters through the complete cancer journey that the women went through. From
finding the lump, being diagnosed, sorting through treatment options, having surgery, reconstruction, chemotherapy
and radiation, readers will be introduced to every aspect of dealing with breast cancer. Each author steps up to the
microphone and gives her angle on what it was like for her to deal with breast cancer on a daily basis. This is a
strength and a weakness for this book because of the fact that it sometimes gets to be quite hard to keep the
authors' voices separate, often making it very easy to get one woman’s story mixed up with another.
The Nordie's girls talk about relationships and intimacy, and how they related to their own, or other people’s
children. Jennifer, who was pregnant when diagnosed, rejoices when her baby is born with a full head of hair, with no
side effects from her chemotherapy treatment. Two of the women experienced a recurrence to their bones. They tell
honestly of the pain and emotions that follow, along with their acceptance of support and renewed treatments. In the
chapter "Two Weeks," the foursome deals with Patti's death. The grace with which Patti speaks of her own approach
to dying and resolving her life experience is so peaceful that she removes fear and dread from the scene.
“Nordie’s at Noon” is a touching book that brings readers into the everyday lives of those that are dealing with the
struggles that go along with breast cancer. Though it is sometimes difficult to keep the stories separated, overall the
message is brutally honest and clear. Some will have difficulty making their way through this book because of the
issues that are talked about, but it is an honest look at what life is like the breast cancer.
diagnosed with breast cancer. Jen was pregnant, Kim was raising a two year old child, Jana had just become
engaged, and Patti was working as an information technology consultant. They were all very young for developing
breast cancer, and attending a traditional support group with women over 40 was just not the way they wanted to
deal with the problem. Instead, they met monthly at Nordstrom’s Café, to have lunch, chat, support each other, and
eventually collaborate on the book, “Nordie’s at Noon.”
Breast cancer can be aggressive in young women, which makes early detection and prompt treatment of it so vital.
These four energetic, passionate, open-hearted young women found each other during their journeys with breast
cancer, forming a monthly support group that met at the Nordstrom’s Café which has been dubbed Nordie's in the
book. Readers will at first not want to like them, but they will eventually win over even the most skeptical of reader.
They were sorority girls, rising young professionals with great futures to look forward to, who compared themselves to
the characters of the TV show "Sex and the City." However, their lives were not perfect, and they were all diagnosed
with breast cancer at the age 30 or younger.
This book takes readers by chapters through the complete cancer journey that the women went through. From
finding the lump, being diagnosed, sorting through treatment options, having surgery, reconstruction, chemotherapy
and radiation, readers will be introduced to every aspect of dealing with breast cancer. Each author steps up to the
microphone and gives her angle on what it was like for her to deal with breast cancer on a daily basis. This is a
strength and a weakness for this book because of the fact that it sometimes gets to be quite hard to keep the
authors' voices separate, often making it very easy to get one woman’s story mixed up with another.
The Nordie's girls talk about relationships and intimacy, and how they related to their own, or other people’s
children. Jennifer, who was pregnant when diagnosed, rejoices when her baby is born with a full head of hair, with no
side effects from her chemotherapy treatment. Two of the women experienced a recurrence to their bones. They tell
honestly of the pain and emotions that follow, along with their acceptance of support and renewed treatments. In the
chapter "Two Weeks," the foursome deals with Patti's death. The grace with which Patti speaks of her own approach
to dying and resolving her life experience is so peaceful that she removes fear and dread from the scene.
“Nordie’s at Noon” is a touching book that brings readers into the everyday lives of those that are dealing with the
struggles that go along with breast cancer. Though it is sometimes difficult to keep the stories separated, overall the
message is brutally honest and clear. Some will have difficulty making their way through this book because of the
issues that are talked about, but it is an honest look at what life is like the breast cancer.
