Jan Hasak

Jan Hasak was born in the 1950's in Rochester, New York. For over 30 years she wrote patents for various corporations, including Cetus Corporation and Genentech, Inc., a premier biotechnology company based in California. During her tenure at Cetus she wrote patents for a pioneering PCR invention, a gene amplification technique that won the Nobel Prize.

At 43, as a vegetarian, avid runner and skier, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just when she thought she had beat the disease, she discovered a recurrence at 52. Her harrowing breast cancer journey as a wife and mother of three sons is chronicled in her first book, "Mourning Has Broken: Reflections on Surviving Cancer" (Xulon Press 2008). Her second book, "The Pebble Path: Returning Home from a Forest of Shadows" (Outskirts Press 2010), presents Ms. Hasak's story in the form of an inspirational allegory interlaced with poetry.

As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and a lymphedema patient-advocate, Ms. Hasak enjoys sharing her story of hope and wit with various audiences, including cancer support groups, church women's groups, fitness club members, and American Cancer Society volunteers. She is still a vegetarian, avid runner and skier.