'My 2nd Act' aims to inspire cancer survivors to pursue life passions

CHICAGO (WLS) -- "My 2nd Act" is more than a survivor story. It's about empowerment, community, taking one's life back after cancer and paying it forward.

"Cancer draws a line in the sand of your life," said Judy Pearson, co-founder of the Women's Survivor Alliance. "You can never go back to being who you were."

For survivor Pearson, that was a positive thing, and one that lead to a turning point in her life. Searching for answers after cancer, she found a survivor event for women in Nashville and immediately bonded with its creator, a longtime cancer survivor looking to make a difference.

"I'm just going to create an event in which women survivors come and heal through community," said Karen Shayne, co-founder of the Women's Survivor Alliance. "Women love to share their stories. So we decided we're going to do a stage show. How we were going to create that stage show was not about the journey of having cancer, but about what you're doing with your life after cancer."

"My 2nd Act: Survivor Stories from the Stage" features women reading their personal stories of taking their lives back after finding out they have cancer.

It's making its Chicago debut next month at the Athenaeum Theatre. Two-time survivor Tammi Walker saw a TV ad.

"Women who survived cancer, tell us your story, this will be your second act," Walker said. "A light bulb went off and I was like, I gotta do this. Once you have cancer it really affects the psyche and you start thinking why am I here, what is my purpose? I feel like I can inspire others."

Emily Calvo, a breast cancer and leukemia survivor, had a passion for poetry and art. It took a life threatening illness for her to finally publish her work.

"It really forced me into 'What do I do with this? What do I want my life to be from now on?'" Calvo said. "It doesn't have to be crippling, it's empowering and with discipline and focus you can really make your life into something totally different."

"Although this is cancer focused, the lessons the audience will learn from these 10 beautiful women, they're applicable to any life challenge," Pearson said.

While the stories are courageous, powerful and inspirational, there's also humor in this show. It's at 2 p.m. on Feb. 8, so you have plenty of time to get tickets.

For more information about "My 2nd Act," visit survivorssecondact.com.

To purchase tickets to "My 2nd Act: Survivor Stories from the Stage," click here.