One Myeloma Hero Helps Others While Helping Herself

I wish to nominate Dr. Linda Huntimer, who has been battling cancers and “coaching” people through their own cancers since I have known her. I connected with Dr. Huntimer in 2012 in preparation for a stem cell transplant and we have continued interacting ever since.

At 77 years young, Dr. Huntimer has been dealing with the cancer world via her own battles with tumors and treatments since she was 22 years old:

• She had breast cancer, and had a mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstruction 23 years ago.
• She had a mass on her right ovary removed 21 years ago. 
• She received a multiple myeloma diagnosis in 2007, had a stem cell transplant 2009 and continues on chemotherapy and treatment at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Wolf.

Dr. Huntimer was also treated at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer in Houston; InspireHealth in Vancouver, Canada; and the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment in Skokie, Illinois.

In her determination to help others through their journeys and recognizing the limitation of her own, she pursued more education, training, licensing and certification and created a Facebook page, Your Bridge to the Future.

Dr. Huntimer has a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco; is a licensed marriage family therapist with a master’s degree in counseling and psychology; and is a nationally certified Integrative Oncology Cancer Navigator.

She was one of 17 navigators invited by the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, D.C., to a three-week educational program at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. On completion, a graduation ceremony was held and plaques and certifications were given, naming us nationally certified Integrative Oncology Cancer Navigators.

In 2021, Dr. Huntimer received a different honor: being included in the 74th edition of Marquis Who’s Who. 

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