What Breast Cancer Survival Looks Like: Caryn Rosenberg 2 Years Later - MORE Magazine
I am posting this article in tribute of my dear friend and our newest angel, Caryn Rosenberg. She fought with dignity, humor, love and grace. You will be missed by all of us. You commanded us at your party to celebrate life and that I am attempting to do. You may not have been a mom but looked out for one and all like we were all family.
I am also posting this article in honor of Steven Rosenberg who exemplified the role of partner and care-giver. You were loved to the extreme by Caryn and glad to be able to call you friend.
RIP Caryn, 1960-2010.
Love and hugs,
Beth
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Creative Knitting | Easy Knitting for Everyone
Creative Knitting | Easy Knitting for Everyone
As the Holidays approach, I am constantly looking for something new to make. I will probably get the supplies for this one and work on it during the year. Then the biggest question looms in the background as I knit: To whom do I give this away to? It is very hard to part with a creation like this let alone make the decision. Will the receiver appreciate it? Will they take care of it the way I would? The answers are not as important as the love transferred to the giftee from the gifter! I have been brought to tears hearing stories from relatives about the baby blankets I have made and sent off to the tiny recipients. I am so glad that the love I knitted or crocheted into every stitch was received so well.
Well, I have plenty of projects to tend to and blogging will never help get them done! Looking forward to making presents and one day even making something for me!
Love and hugs,
Beth
As the Holidays approach, I am constantly looking for something new to make. I will probably get the supplies for this one and work on it during the year. Then the biggest question looms in the background as I knit: To whom do I give this away to? It is very hard to part with a creation like this let alone make the decision. Will the receiver appreciate it? Will they take care of it the way I would? The answers are not as important as the love transferred to the giftee from the gifter! I have been brought to tears hearing stories from relatives about the baby blankets I have made and sent off to the tiny recipients. I am so glad that the love I knitted or crocheted into every stitch was received so well.
Well, I have plenty of projects to tend to and blogging will never help get them done! Looking forward to making presents and one day even making something for me!
Love and hugs,
Beth
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
When "Thank you" is Just Not Enough
Today marks the very first Annual National Previvor* Day, in the middle of National HBOC (Heriditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer)Week. Due to the efforts of Sue Friedman, Executive Director of FORCE and Representative Wasserman Schultz, H. Res 1522 was passed UNANIMOUSLY in Congress. Cancer does not recognize party lines, race, creed, nationality or sexual preference. I am proud of our politicians that they threw aside biases and voted to approve this very special milestone.
*Previvor (according to Wikipedia)
Like many others in my sphere of influence, I witnessed first-hand the toll cancer takes on a loved one. My father passed away from Breast Cancer in 1989 after a 5 year battle. In 1996, I found out I carried the BRCA2 Genetic Mutation. This meant I had a predisposition to both Breast and Ovarian Cancers in addition to my strong family history. In 2002, I had my first of many surgeries to remove my ovaries, ending one stage of my womanhood. Being 42 I was not in favor of more children but I still felt that tug of never being able to have more and having that choice stripped away from me in deference to avoiding Ovarian Cancer and reducing my Breast Cancer risk by half.
By 2006, I had had several scares and a multitude of mammograms, biopsies, MRi's, ultrasounds and my stress level was at an all-time high. Having never had cancer, I felt out of place in the survivor support groups both in person and on the Internet. My fiancé convinced me to seek another opinion and I went to an oncologist for help. I was put on Tamoxofin as a prophylactic measure. This was met with mostly contempt from survivors along with comments such as, "You don't know what it is like to be a survivor", "How can you even begin to compare your life with ours". I was in tears because I had nowhere to turn for help.
I began investigating the Internet with a ferocity. I discovered FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (www.facingourrisk.org) and found a home! I was in tears again but these were happy tears! They got me! I was not the only one out there. I heard discussions about genetic testing, prophylactic surgeries, reconstruction (or not), talking to family members and an overall feeling of belonging. In 2007, with love, support and information from my family, friends and my FORCE Family, I had the next of a series of surgeries to have my breasts removed and reconstructed. I encountered many speed bumps along the way. When someone would tell me I was "mutilating" my body, I had FORCE to turn to. In 2008, I attended my very first JoiningFORCEs Conference in Tampa, FL. This was followed by the next one held in Orlando, FL. Each trip, I learned more and more and brought back more to share with my fellow BRCA community in Philadelphia.
In the words of Dr. Friedman in her recent blog entry,
The importance of the HBOC Week and Previvor Day cannot be felt as poignant as it is with those of us in the BRCA community. This will help pave the way for more research and hopefully, a way to reduce and maybe even eradicate Breast and Ovarian Cancers in, perhaps, my child's lifetime. FORCE has brought an empowerment and sense of belonging to me more than any other group could possibly have done. Out of this has sprung a wonderful new book, released during HBOC Week, Previvors: Facing the Breast Cancer Gene and Making Life-Changing Decisions by Dina Roth Port, a FORCE member.
We have also been fortunate to have a view from another FORCE member and friend, Diane Tropea Greene, Apron Strings: Inhereting Courage, Wisdom and . . . Breast Cancer. This chronicles a family of sisters and their journey through their family's ordeal with cancers.
Apron Strings: Inheriting Courage, Wisdom and . . . Breast Cancer
My friend and film-maker/researcher, Joanna Rudnick, was prompted to make a documentary following her family and her own search for answers to make an informed decision after learning she carried the genetic mutation. Her film, In the Family, is incisive and educational in a grounded way. I have since become good friends with one of the FORCE women in the film and glad we met 3 years ago!
I am having trouble typing through the tears forming. Had I never found out about my mutation I carry, my surgeon was almost certain I would have had a bout with Breast Cancer at some point. It was a matter of when, not if. As a matter of fact, they did discover a stage zero DCIS in my pathology. A Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy would have been the treatment for me and that is exactly what I had done. I am here, defying my risk of 85-90%, seeing my child grow up to become a man and graduate next year from high school. This year, we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary, and I never would have gotten here if not for him. I am happy to be able to celebrate this momentous occasion of HBOC Week with my fellow FORCE Members and look forward to many, many more!
Love and hugs,
Beth
*Previvor (according to Wikipedia)
A cancer previvor is a person who is not diagnosed with cancer, but has a survived the predisposition, or higher risk, of cancer due to a certain genetic mutation.[1] As such, this is the first generation in human history who, armed with information about a predisposition to a cancer after opting in to DNA testing, can make informed choices prior to cancer diagnosis.
Like many others in my sphere of influence, I witnessed first-hand the toll cancer takes on a loved one. My father passed away from Breast Cancer in 1989 after a 5 year battle. In 1996, I found out I carried the BRCA2 Genetic Mutation. This meant I had a predisposition to both Breast and Ovarian Cancers in addition to my strong family history. In 2002, I had my first of many surgeries to remove my ovaries, ending one stage of my womanhood. Being 42 I was not in favor of more children but I still felt that tug of never being able to have more and having that choice stripped away from me in deference to avoiding Ovarian Cancer and reducing my Breast Cancer risk by half.
By 2006, I had had several scares and a multitude of mammograms, biopsies, MRi's, ultrasounds and my stress level was at an all-time high. Having never had cancer, I felt out of place in the survivor support groups both in person and on the Internet. My fiancé convinced me to seek another opinion and I went to an oncologist for help. I was put on Tamoxofin as a prophylactic measure. This was met with mostly contempt from survivors along with comments such as, "You don't know what it is like to be a survivor", "How can you even begin to compare your life with ours". I was in tears because I had nowhere to turn for help.
I began investigating the Internet with a ferocity. I discovered FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (www.facingourrisk.org) and found a home! I was in tears again but these were happy tears! They got me! I was not the only one out there. I heard discussions about genetic testing, prophylactic surgeries, reconstruction (or not), talking to family members and an overall feeling of belonging. In 2007, with love, support and information from my family, friends and my FORCE Family, I had the next of a series of surgeries to have my breasts removed and reconstructed. I encountered many speed bumps along the way. When someone would tell me I was "mutilating" my body, I had FORCE to turn to. In 2008, I attended my very first JoiningFORCEs Conference in Tampa, FL. This was followed by the next one held in Orlando, FL. Each trip, I learned more and more and brought back more to share with my fellow BRCA community in Philadelphia.
In the words of Dr. Friedman in her recent blog entry,
An estimated 750,000 people—about .2% of the entire U.S. population—carry a BRCA mutation. Not a large group compared to our overall population, yet we shoulder about 10-14% of the breast and ovarian cancer burden, and our cancer risk is some of the highest known to science.. I am part of that percentage.
The importance of the HBOC Week and Previvor Day cannot be felt as poignant as it is with those of us in the BRCA community. This will help pave the way for more research and hopefully, a way to reduce and maybe even eradicate Breast and Ovarian Cancers in, perhaps, my child's lifetime. FORCE has brought an empowerment and sense of belonging to me more than any other group could possibly have done. Out of this has sprung a wonderful new book, released during HBOC Week, Previvors: Facing the Breast Cancer Gene and Making Life-Changing Decisions by Dina Roth Port, a FORCE member.
We have also been fortunate to have a view from another FORCE member and friend, Diane Tropea Greene, Apron Strings: Inhereting Courage, Wisdom and . . . Breast Cancer. This chronicles a family of sisters and their journey through their family's ordeal with cancers.
Apron Strings: Inheriting Courage, Wisdom and . . . Breast Cancer
My friend and film-maker/researcher, Joanna Rudnick, was prompted to make a documentary following her family and her own search for answers to make an informed decision after learning she carried the genetic mutation. Her film, In the Family, is incisive and educational in a grounded way. I have since become good friends with one of the FORCE women in the film and glad we met 3 years ago!
I am having trouble typing through the tears forming. Had I never found out about my mutation I carry, my surgeon was almost certain I would have had a bout with Breast Cancer at some point. It was a matter of when, not if. As a matter of fact, they did discover a stage zero DCIS in my pathology. A Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy would have been the treatment for me and that is exactly what I had done. I am here, defying my risk of 85-90%, seeing my child grow up to become a man and graduate next year from high school. This year, we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary, and I never would have gotten here if not for him. I am happy to be able to celebrate this momentous occasion of HBOC Week with my fellow FORCE Members and look forward to many, many more!
Love and hugs,
Beth
Thursday, September 9, 2010
To Mature or Not to Mature, That is the Question!
I am amazed at the changes in people over the course of many years. The change in family members is the hardest to see sometimes. My brother has turned out just like our father in so many ways. Makes me sad that Daddy is not here to see him interact with the kids. Others, like my friends and acquaintances from my teenage years are the ones I have trouble understanding.
I had two very good friends in high school. Due to relationships, they have not spoken in several years. I am still friends with both of them, even if one I just rekindled our friendship again. I will not stop associating with one over the other, just not have them present at occasions together. I would hope, however, that they are MATURE enough at this point, that they can set aside differences. We were friends over 30 years ago and still are, like the intervening years never happened.
What I do not understand so much are the people who have not MATURED at all. They are still forming cliques and excluding people from them. In talking to one of our former classmates, we marveled at the associations that have formed post-graduation in the past couple years since the advent of Facebook. There are a few women who would never have been in each other's circles back then who are now thick as thieves now. Who knew? And some of the superficial antics that go on are what I would term, IMMATURE. Then again, maybe I am still not MATURE enough to not have sour grapes over being excluded.
Fast forward to college years. I suppose since we were tossed together without any prior knowledge of each other's circumstances, we had no preconceived notions about one another. We were already starting to MATURE. I am certainly glad to have gotten in touch with so many familiar faces so that we can catch up with each other.
Now I have branched out into other areas of friendships with people who have gone through college, some grad school, one or two marriages, births and deaths, careers and lifestyles changes. I accept these people at face value. Some I have begun iron-clad relationships with and others I keep at arms' length so I do not get hurt. Is this being MATURE or just cautious? I have found what I want out of a friendship and what I am willing to give back. If there is not a good balance, then I question if it is a healthy one to start. Very similar to what I went through with romantic relationships after my divorce. I am saddened by one friend in particular who seems to have pulled away. I feel as though it is based on finances or in my case, lack thereof. The jury is still out on this one!
Additionally, I have made some strong friendships with several women who are active in the fight against Cancer. I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in whatever it takes to raise awareness and and funds. Being MATURE means having to deal with life and death in a totally different way than we did when we were younger. The "buffer" generation of our grandparents is gone and our parents' generation is starting to disappear. When we were teens and young 20-somethings we were invincible in our minds. Nothing could touch us! Now, we see the ravages of disease affect our peers and their loved ones.
It has touched us personally as well. I am very active in FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered. If you know me at all, you already know this. Over the summer, I went to the very first funeral of one of our local members. It really made me MATURE some more. One of the biggest things it made me realize was that, although trite, our time on the earth is limited. So, in agreement with my friend from school, cast off those people who seem to be so shallow and continue with those who you can laugh, cry, share good and bad with, whenever you need to.
Thanks for listening!
Love and hugs,
Beth
I had two very good friends in high school. Due to relationships, they have not spoken in several years. I am still friends with both of them, even if one I just rekindled our friendship again. I will not stop associating with one over the other, just not have them present at occasions together. I would hope, however, that they are MATURE enough at this point, that they can set aside differences. We were friends over 30 years ago and still are, like the intervening years never happened.
What I do not understand so much are the people who have not MATURED at all. They are still forming cliques and excluding people from them. In talking to one of our former classmates, we marveled at the associations that have formed post-graduation in the past couple years since the advent of Facebook. There are a few women who would never have been in each other's circles back then who are now thick as thieves now. Who knew? And some of the superficial antics that go on are what I would term, IMMATURE. Then again, maybe I am still not MATURE enough to not have sour grapes over being excluded.
Fast forward to college years. I suppose since we were tossed together without any prior knowledge of each other's circumstances, we had no preconceived notions about one another. We were already starting to MATURE. I am certainly glad to have gotten in touch with so many familiar faces so that we can catch up with each other.
Now I have branched out into other areas of friendships with people who have gone through college, some grad school, one or two marriages, births and deaths, careers and lifestyles changes. I accept these people at face value. Some I have begun iron-clad relationships with and others I keep at arms' length so I do not get hurt. Is this being MATURE or just cautious? I have found what I want out of a friendship and what I am willing to give back. If there is not a good balance, then I question if it is a healthy one to start. Very similar to what I went through with romantic relationships after my divorce. I am saddened by one friend in particular who seems to have pulled away. I feel as though it is based on finances or in my case, lack thereof. The jury is still out on this one!
Additionally, I have made some strong friendships with several women who are active in the fight against Cancer. I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in whatever it takes to raise awareness and and funds. Being MATURE means having to deal with life and death in a totally different way than we did when we were younger. The "buffer" generation of our grandparents is gone and our parents' generation is starting to disappear. When we were teens and young 20-somethings we were invincible in our minds. Nothing could touch us! Now, we see the ravages of disease affect our peers and their loved ones.
It has touched us personally as well. I am very active in FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered. If you know me at all, you already know this. Over the summer, I went to the very first funeral of one of our local members. It really made me MATURE some more. One of the biggest things it made me realize was that, although trite, our time on the earth is limited. So, in agreement with my friend from school, cast off those people who seem to be so shallow and continue with those who you can laugh, cry, share good and bad with, whenever you need to.
Thanks for listening!
Love and hugs,
Beth
Friday, August 27, 2010
Saying Prayers and Moving Forward
I have come to notice that I did not blog at all in the month of August. While my erstwhile fellow bloggers have latched onto news headlines, heated topics and their own journeys, I have blithely ignored typing anything at all. Not that I don't have things to say or nothing on my mind. Rather, the things on my mind are very difficult to put into writing. I have a handful of wonderful friends with whom I share some of my innermost feelings but even there I hold back. Larry, my husband and best friend, does not see a whole picture.
This past month has seen a lot of events. Birthdays are numerous among my family and friends over the summer months and it seems like a summer-long celebration of life. It started with just that: One of my FORCE Friends(Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, www,facingourrisk.org) had celebrated her 50th birthday. She wanted us all to celebrate LIFE and our various journeys that got us to this point in time and how our lives have all intersected. She has been battling Breast Cancer for several years and been Stage IV for quite some time. As of this writing, she is in hospice at home. Her husband wants everyone to understand that this is not the end, but rather for her to catch up and be able to be in her own home instead of the hospital. But from what he says, she is tired of the fight and the chemotherapy, the stomach problems, the fatigue and the headaches and IV bags.
It is selfish of us to have her keep fighting when she herself wants none of it. I realized the same thing when my father was nearing the end of his battle with Breast Cancer.
Where I would normally recite and sing the Mishebayrach for her and others who are trying to keep fighting this beastly disease, I have heard another song recorded by Debbie Friendman. It is called "Mourning into Dancing" and her YouTube recording is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLsTk0YpE4A
Many of the songs and prayers Friedman sings are on this album:
The lyrics are universal and transcends all faiths as does so much of Friedman's liturgy. I will remember my family and friends' battles with cancers, their grace and spirit. And I pray that from this day forward that God, or however you perceive a Higher Power, will be with us all when we are in need, whether or not we know it ourselves. The lyrics follow:
He's turned my mourning
Into dancing again
He's lifted my sorrows
I can't stay silent
I must sing
For His joy has come
Where there once
Was only hurt
He gave His healing hand
Where there once
Was only pain
He brought comfort
Like a friend
I feel the sweetness
Of His love
Piercing my darkness
I see the bright
And morning sun
As it ushers in
His joyful gladness
You've turned my mourning
Into dancing again
You've lifted my sorrows
And I can't stay silent
I must sing
For Your joy has come
Where there once
Was only hurt
You gave Your
Healing hand
Where the once
Was only pain
You brought comfort
Like a friend
I feel the sweetness
Of Your love
Piercing my darkness
I see the bright
And morning sun
As it ushers in
Your joyful gladness
Your anger lasts
For a moment in time
But Your favor is here
And will on me for
All my life time
Sending Shalom, Peace, and my Love and hugs to all!
Beth
This past month has seen a lot of events. Birthdays are numerous among my family and friends over the summer months and it seems like a summer-long celebration of life. It started with just that: One of my FORCE Friends(Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, www,facingourrisk.org) had celebrated her 50th birthday. She wanted us all to celebrate LIFE and our various journeys that got us to this point in time and how our lives have all intersected. She has been battling Breast Cancer for several years and been Stage IV for quite some time. As of this writing, she is in hospice at home. Her husband wants everyone to understand that this is not the end, but rather for her to catch up and be able to be in her own home instead of the hospital. But from what he says, she is tired of the fight and the chemotherapy, the stomach problems, the fatigue and the headaches and IV bags.
It is selfish of us to have her keep fighting when she herself wants none of it. I realized the same thing when my father was nearing the end of his battle with Breast Cancer.
Where I would normally recite and sing the Mishebayrach for her and others who are trying to keep fighting this beastly disease, I have heard another song recorded by Debbie Friendman. It is called "Mourning into Dancing" and her YouTube recording is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLsTk0YpE4A
Many of the songs and prayers Friedman sings are on this album:
The lyrics are universal and transcends all faiths as does so much of Friedman's liturgy. I will remember my family and friends' battles with cancers, their grace and spirit. And I pray that from this day forward that God, or however you perceive a Higher Power, will be with us all when we are in need, whether or not we know it ourselves. The lyrics follow:
He's turned my mourning
Into dancing again
He's lifted my sorrows
I can't stay silent
I must sing
For His joy has come
Where there once
Was only hurt
He gave His healing hand
Where there once
Was only pain
He brought comfort
Like a friend
I feel the sweetness
Of His love
Piercing my darkness
I see the bright
And morning sun
As it ushers in
His joyful gladness
You've turned my mourning
Into dancing again
You've lifted my sorrows
And I can't stay silent
I must sing
For Your joy has come
Where there once
Was only hurt
You gave Your
Healing hand
Where the once
Was only pain
You brought comfort
Like a friend
I feel the sweetness
Of Your love
Piercing my darkness
I see the bright
And morning sun
As it ushers in
Your joyful gladness
Your anger lasts
For a moment in time
But Your favor is here
And will on me for
All my life time
Sending Shalom, Peace, and my Love and hugs to all!
Beth
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Asking for Your Help with Advocacy of Hereditary Cancers
I am appealing to everyone's good nature to help in a way that is at no cost at all and can help so many people across the country. By taking just a few moments of your day, you can help get the necessary cosponsors to help pass HR#1522. So far, we still need 80 of the 100 needed. The last week in September will be designated Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week with that Wednesday being Previvor Day.
To help out with the text of your email, here is what I sent based on the suggested email on the FORCE page:
Sample eMail to your Representative:
Dear Representative Schwartz:
I am writing to urge you to sign on as a co-sponsor of the legislation to establish Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week, HR#1522, introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
The legislation calls for designating the last week of September as “National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week” and Wednesday of that week as “National Previvor Day.”
HBOC Week and Previvor Day will raise awareness of hereditary cancer, leading to more education, research and resources. Knowledge of a genetic predisposition to cancer, available risk management and treatment options can save lives!
I carry the BRCA1 mutation. I lost my Grandmother, Father and Cousin to this disease before we knew anything about BRCA and it’s effects. The knowledge I gained about this disease allowed me to take steps that have significantly reduced my risk. I want to make sure ALL women (and men) have that knowledge.
If you are willing to co-sponsor this bill, please contact Coby Dolan (Coby.Dolan@mail.house.gov) or Danielle Gilbert (Danielle.Gilbert@mail.house.gov) at Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz's office.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Beth Cohen
Feel free to adjust it as you see fit. This bill, when passed, will enable so much more research, education and funding to be made available and will help SAVE lives!
Once again, I am thanking all of you in advance for your help. I am grateful to FORCE and its members for being there for me every step of the way to help me deal with the BRCA2 gene mutation that has affected me and my family.
Here is what you need to do:
Follow the link at the bottom of the page to go to the FORCE Advocacy page to read about the bill and its details. While there, FORCE also provides a link to find the email contact for your Representative.
FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered -- Hereditary, Genetic Breast or Ovarian Cancer and BRCA Issues
Love and Hugs,
Beth
To help out with the text of your email, here is what I sent based on the suggested email on the FORCE page:
Sample eMail to your Representative:
Dear Representative Schwartz:
I am writing to urge you to sign on as a co-sponsor of the legislation to establish Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week, HR#1522, introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
The legislation calls for designating the last week of September as “National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week” and Wednesday of that week as “National Previvor Day.”
HBOC Week and Previvor Day will raise awareness of hereditary cancer, leading to more education, research and resources. Knowledge of a genetic predisposition to cancer, available risk management and treatment options can save lives!
I carry the BRCA1 mutation. I lost my Grandmother, Father and Cousin to this disease before we knew anything about BRCA and it’s effects. The knowledge I gained about this disease allowed me to take steps that have significantly reduced my risk. I want to make sure ALL women (and men) have that knowledge.
If you are willing to co-sponsor this bill, please contact Coby Dolan (Coby.Dolan@mail.house.gov) or Danielle Gilbert (Danielle.Gilbert@mail.house.gov) at Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz's office.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Beth Cohen
Feel free to adjust it as you see fit. This bill, when passed, will enable so much more research, education and funding to be made available and will help SAVE lives!
Once again, I am thanking all of you in advance for your help. I am grateful to FORCE and its members for being there for me every step of the way to help me deal with the BRCA2 gene mutation that has affected me and my family.
Here is what you need to do:
Follow the link at the bottom of the page to go to the FORCE Advocacy page to read about the bill and its details. While there, FORCE also provides a link to find the email contact for your Representative.
FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered -- Hereditary, Genetic Breast or Ovarian Cancer and BRCA Issues
Love and Hugs,
Beth
Friday, July 16, 2010
Beauty and the Breast: empowering portraits of women who have had mastectomies
I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to know that I carry the BRCA2 genetic mutation. I am very lucky that with today's medical advances I could have the prophylactic surgeries to help prevent breast and ovarian cancers so that I can live a long and full life with my family and friends. Moreover, I am so happy to be able to call these brave and wonderful women who volunteered for this project, my friends and fellow BRCA Sisters through FORCCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (www.facingourrisk.org). Last and by no means least, I am grateful and truly one of the luckiest women on Earth to have my husband, Larry, who still sees me as a sexy and lovely woman and makes me feel as loved as I love him!
Beauty and the Breast: empowering portraits of women who have had mastectomies
If you feel as I do about this project, please help FORCE and donate what you can so they can continue to help women and men around the world deal with hereditary cancers.
Love and hugs,
Beth
Beauty and the Breast: empowering portraits of women who have had mastectomies
If you feel as I do about this project, please help FORCE and donate what you can so they can continue to help women and men around the world deal with hereditary cancers.
Love and hugs,
Beth
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