Courageous cancer survivors make a fashion statement to save lives!

Some might say that a visible bra strap is a major fashion faux pas. And, certainly, wearing a bra as a top would be downright risqué! Well, how about wearing a pink bra on top of your shirt? You won’t see this curious fashion statement on New York’s Fashion Week runways. However, during October, you will see a lot of pink bras proudly worn by thousands of women at countless breast cancer awareness events across the country in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a 27-year-old tradition established to generate awareness, foster education, and increase access to care. The official trademark, the pink ribbon, was first introduced by the Susan G. Komen Foundation in 1991 and continues to have a profound influence.  Who could have imagined that big, burly NFL players would sport pretty pink football cleats during Monday Night Football along with pink ribbons on their jerseys? Well, it seems that, like so many others, these players wanted to take a stand against a disease that impacts mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, and even men.

Orlando Family Magazine sat down with five Central Florida moms, each of whom has battled breast cancer, to gain perspective on the impact of this potentially fatal disease. After defeating cancer, these triumphant ladies have more in common than just a closet full of pink bras; each is using her experience to help other women by volunteering with breast cancer organizations such as Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation and others.

Libby’s Legacy organization founder, Robin Maynard, experienced the shock of losing her mother to breast cancer in 2006. That same year, with her family history in mind and at the urging of her mother, Robin had a mammogram. Barely in her 30s, Robin found that she had precancerous cells that necessitated a lumpectomy. She knew she wanted to advocate for breast health and honor her mother’s legacy, but had little time to devote to the endeavor because she was busy working as a Crime Scene Investigator on the high-profile Caylee Anthony case.

“I loved my job, but felt compelled to become a different kind of CSI…Cancer Screening Initiator!” says Robin. “I was going to fight for mothers to be healthy because I didn’t have my own mother to fight for anymore.” So, she left her investigative career and assumed the role of public servant in the fight against breast cancer.

Robin states that “early detection of breast cancer saves lives” and she didn’t want cost of care to be the cause of a mother’s death. Libby’s Legacy has evolved to assist underserved and uninsured women (under 50 years of age) in the Central Florida community. Because of funds raised through events such as Libby’s Scooters For Hooters and a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Libby’s Legacy has absorbed the cost of more than 1,500 breast health services, resulting in a breast cancer diagnosis for 37 Greater Orlando-area women.

“Mothers want to take care of everyone and always put others’ needs before themselves. But kids need their moms over everything else. Your health is a huge part of providing for others,” Robin advises.

5 Local Moms Celebrate Life After Breast Cancer

Jen Radloff, 50

Mom of six: Laurilei (9), Alyssa (11), Cody (12), Micala (13), Marian (20) and Jessie (28)

In the summer of 2009, Jen was prescribed high blood pressure medication after a trip to the hospital because of dizzy spells and numbness caused by severe hypertension. When the prescription needed to be refilled the following year, Jen opted to visit a free clinic because she lacked insurance. “We had made a tough decision; we sacrificed medical insurance to be able to feed our family.”

Not having had a physical exam for a decade, she was referred to Libby’s Legacy by a volunteer physician. The foundation assumed all diagnostic screening expenses and, shortly after, Robin Maynard would deliver the alarming results that Jen had Stage II breast cancer with three tumors in her left breast. Jen underwent a bilateral mastectomy, three rounds of chemotherapy, and multiple visits to the hospital to treat infections. As the cancer took a toll on her body, Jen tried to limit the impact the disease was having on her husband, Adam, and her six children.

“I sat them down and told them that mommy was not going to die,” Jen recalls. Her children had to quickly assume more parental responsibility during her recovery, such as cooking, school transportation, and making sure the house was ‘chemo’ clean to avoid the presence of any bacteria that could pose a potential risk to her weakened immune system. Jen started a blog to communicate her progress to loved ones which often served as a vehicle for some much needed humor. “Adam once added grape jelly to meat loaf! How could such a simple meal become such a cooking disaster?” she once blogged, tongue-in-cheek.

Jen’s message: “You can’t roll over and play dead. Never give up, especially for the sake of your children. I witnessed the goodwill of so many people at Libby’s Legacy, Grace Medical, and MD Anderson who were willing to fight for me.”

Maria Porres-Leon, 40

Mom of four: Christian (5), Jazmyne (10), Jose (19) and Danny (20)

Maria relocated her children ton Florida, including her special needs son, after escaping a dangerous domestic violence situation involving her estranged husband. One day, she felt “firm tissue” in her breast and thought it might be a strained muscle from the move. But, with the help of Libby’s Legacy, she elected to check it out. “I used to work in the health field, so I could tell by the body language of the medical staff that I had cancer before the words were even said,” Maria remembers. “I knew I was going to have to find the strength to beat another trauma.”

With her family back in New York, Maria says her ‘church family’ stepped up to the plate to help provide for her children while she recovered from the bilateral mastectomy that followed her Stage II cancer diagnosis.

Maria, along with her daughter, mother, and grandmother, now knit pink caps to give to other breast cancer survivors who have lost their hair. “I used to think your hair defined you, but I see it differently now, and have gained such respect for survivors.”

Maria’s message: “You can’t dwell on the negatives of cancer. Positivity heals.”

Heather Altema, 36

Mom to 5-year-old Olivia

During the holiday season in 2009, Heather noticed that her right breast had grown larger than her left, and within a few weeks, had turned pink. Her OB-GYN immediately scheduled a mammogram that revealed “over 50 pepper-flake sized cancers”. Just a week after the grim diagnosis, Heather learned she was pregnant with her second child but would not be able to carry the baby because she needed immediate intervention, as her cancer level had escalated to Stage III. “After working at a hospice for seven years, I had never known a cancer patient that lived. I thought I would die,” says Heather. Her insurance approved a double mastectomy, followed by a year of chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments.

Heather says that, on the one hand, she is saddened she cannot have another baby as a result of her cancer, but on the other, she isn’t too upset with the removal of her breasts. “You can live without them and get a new set,” she declares.

Heather’s message: “Find your inner strength to live. Choose your breath over your breasts.”

Jill Levin, 44

Stepmother to 18 year-old McKenzie

Just 30 years old at the time of her diagnosis, Jill admits that she had not been consistent about doing breast self-exams. After feeling a lump in the shower, she light-heartedly nicknamed her tumor ‘the potato,’ but her breast cancer had spread into her lymph nodes. Just 13 days into chemotherapy, she lost her hair (the treatment kills fast growing cells including hair). “Wigs are too hot, so I put temporary tattoos on my bald head instead! It gave me the opportunity to educate women about breast cancer when they asked about my tattoos.”

Jill waited 10 years before choosing reconstructive surgery (often done immediately) and is glad she waited for the improved options. Now a triathlete, Jill is thankful to compete without the prosthetic breast which she got from the ‘boob closet’ at the American Cancer Society (ACS). “Running with a prosthetic was getting old!” she declares. She loves making a difference through championing research – she’s been recognized as an ACS top fundraiser – and for providing support to other women through Libby’s Legacy and the Young Survival Coalition.

Jill’s message: “Know your own body, be your own advocate, and don’t deny others the joy of helping you. People care and want to support you in your battle, so let them.”

Christie Tincher, 42

Mom to six-year-old Drew

In 2005, Christie’s normal pregnancy took a dramatic turn when, at 5 months, she felt a lump in her breast. The progesterone-positive tumor was feeding off her hormones during pregnancy, and two months later she had a mastectomy. Christie brought her son to term and began months of chemotherapy and radiation when her baby was barely 3 weeks old! “My mom retired early to help care for me and my son. My whole family offered amazing support,” she states.

Christie didn’t feel guilty about using formula instead of breast milk for her newborn. She made sure he received the nutrients he needed and she received the medical attention she required, so she could become a healthy mom.

Christie’s message to all women: “It’s imperative to do breast self-exams! They saved my life.”

Choose an event to support or to give local go to www.libbyslegacy.org/donate.php

Event: Florida Squeeze em’ – (ok, texas hold’em but for mammograms)
Poker Tournament & Casino Night

Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Location: Wildsides in Thorton Park (700 East Washington Street)
Info: Visit http://libbyslegacy.org or call (407) 898-1991

Or

Event: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Date: Saturday, October 29, 2011
Location: Lake Eola Park
Info: Visit MakingStrides.acsevents.org/OrlandoMetro or call (407) 843-8680

Or

Event: Susan G. Komen Central Florida Race for the Cure®

Date: Sunday, October 16, 2011
Location: Bright House Networks Stadium – University of Central Florida
Info: Visit KomenCentralFlorida.org or call (407) 645-5429

What are the key statistics about breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among American women, following skin cancers. A woman’s probability of developing invasive breast cancer is a little less than 1 in 8 (12%). According to the American Cancer Society, this year:

• About 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
• About 57,650 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
• About 39,520 women will die from breast cancer.