Beverly A. Zavaleta, MD is a board-certified family physician, cancer survivor and long-time advocate of patient education. She graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with a BS in anthropology and subsequently worked as an English teacher in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico. After returning to the US, she received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School, where she designed and implemented an asthma patient education program. She completed her residency training in family medicine at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas and spent several years in private family medicine practice. In 2015 she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and underwent a grueling chemotherapy regimen. That experience, along with her experience as a doctor treating patients with cancer, led her to turn her attention to filling the gap in chemotherapy-focused patient education materials by writing Braving Chemo. Dr. Zavaleta practices as a hospitalist and her health-related articles have appeared in the Brownsville Herald and on KevinMD. She lives in South Texas with her husband, two sons and two dogs, and when not making a mess of her garden, she is reading or doing yoga. For bonus material, more chemotherapy tips and Braving Chemo updates, sign up at BeverlyZavaletaMD.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @BZavaletaMD.
""When physician Beverly Zavaleta was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed chemotherapy, she gained a new understanding of the physical, emotional, and financial effects of cancer treatment. She writes, 'I find that my compassion for patients has been multiplied exponentially.' Dr. Zavaleta translated that compassion into this helpful and multidimensional book, written from the perspective of a patient and a doctor, with a goal of helping spare other patients some of the surprise, fear, and stress of chemotherapy."" - Patricia Prijatel, author of Surviving Triple Negative Breast Cancer ""I love the conversational tone in this book and the balance of helpful facts and encouragement. Will be amazingly helpful for cancer patients! - Lecia V. Sequist, MD, MPH, Medical Oncologist, The Landry Family Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Medical Oncologist, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center ""A great resource for anyone facing chemo. Thorough with lots of great suggestions for dealing with both the mental and the physical challenges. Conversational with an easy-to-understand style."" - Stephany Angelacos, cancer survivor, patient advocate and founder of the Knowledge Is Power Breast Cancer Tribe, Facebook Support Group ""Thanking God for this book! Priceless."" - Kim, teacher and cancer survivor.