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VOICES Volume 10 reast Number 3 Autumn 2009 ancer of the ribbon oalition of Sixth Annual Terri Schmitt ochester Legislative Reception by Anne DaSilva Tella In this Issue... It was August 2009 and the media was reporting fiery debates, arguments Legislative Rception . Cover and clashes between lawmakers and Mission Statement ....... 2 their constituents regarding the proposed Executive Director ....... 2 health care reform policy moving Meet Kitty Van Bortel . 3 through the Senate and the House. Herceptin ..............4 Not so at the Breast Cancer More Legislative Reception 5 Coalition of Rochester’s Sixth Life After BC . .6 Annual Terri Schmitt Legislative A Personal Journey....... 7 Reception organized by the Programs Update........8 Advocacy Committee at BCCR. Lives Touched . 9 Attended by breast cancer Valued Volunteers....... 10 survivors, their families, medical Betty Miller Gets Award . 11 care givers, and lawmakers from Healthy You . .12-13 all levels of government, it was a pleasant, sociable gathering. Book Review . 14 Bix BeBaise with Teri’s grandson Jack The mood was relaxed, and the Poetry ................14 atmosphere friendly, as survivors met I Am More Than My Hair 15 must work with all of our elected new survivors, became reacquainted Golf Tournament......16-17 officials, regardless of political with survivors they’d not seen in a Our Programs . .20-21 party affiliation, to be certain that long time, and chatted with family we continue to strive for improved Friends Remembered ..22-23 members, doctors, and politicians, laws and policies concerning Collage Poetry ......... 25 while enjoying an impressive spread comprehensive health coverage for Fundraising Friends...26-27 of sweet and savory hors d’ouvres. breast cancer patients, advocate for Our Donors . .28 This event also allowed those in need, and provide safer Upcoming Events....... 30 the Advocacy Committee an Support BCCR......... 31 opportunity to reinforce that we continued on page 5 ur Executive Director Volume 10 Number 3 Autumn 2009 O VOICES of the Ribbon The Newsletter of the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester Holly Anderson Our Mission is to provide support to those touched by a diagnosis of breast can- cer, to make access to information and care a priority through education and advocacy, Here it comes, folks… hold on to your hats! October’s “Breast and to empower women and men to par- Cancer Awareness Month” is just around the corner. Breast cancer is ticipate fully in decisions relating to breast cancer. the poster child of corporate cause-marketing campaigns, as companies try to boost their image and their profits by connecting themselves to a Board of Directors: good cause, especially during the month of October. Community-based independent breast cancer organizations Chair Anne-Marie Strasenburgh across the country brace themselves for the onslaught of awareness Past Chair Joyce Wichie campaigns and fundraising opportunities bombarding us and those Vice Chair Melisande Bianchi we serve. We are alerted, informed, and passed-along information and Vice Chair Debra Kusse notifications about all sorts of fundraising opportunities featuring the Treasurer Rhonda St. Amant “cause” of breast cancer. It takes a delicate approach in responding, as Secretary Mary Carafos Advocacy Marianne Sargent these notifications are often sent along to us by well-meaning friends, Major Funds Patricia Cataldi Chair Emeriti Phyllis Connelly and “Demand answers. In other words, Sylvia Cappellino Think Before You Pink.” President, Holly Anderson Ex Officio acquaintances, business colleagues, etc. Questions abound. Which Staff: pink thing wants our green? What exactly is being marketed? How Executive Director, Holly Anderson does purchasing the featured product actually help those of us in the Office Manager, Janet Wolf aftermath of breast cancer? How do we handle the sometimes conflict Program Coordinator, Tracey Knapton of wanting to support the cause, while responsibly scrutinizing what we Outreach Coordinator, Niki MacIntyre are being asked to support? Communications, Susan Meynadasy This is a fantastic opportunity to educate those who want to Special Events, Kim Kircher support the cause about an important topic, something I frequently Special Events-Development, Amy Connell refer to as The Myth of the Pink Pot. Newsletter Editor: Susan Meynadasy The Myth of the Pink Pot is that all the funds raised for breast Newsletter Coordinator: Pat Battaglia cancer cause are raised legitimately, and with only the most altruistic Technical Support: Alex Cheek of reasons, and that they all go into a big pink pot in a mythical pink place to be dispersed to every deserving breast cancer organization… BCCR extends a hearty thank you to our equally and fairly. As my kids say… “so NOT.” regular office volunteer Nancy Weinmann! Also, welcome to our SUNY Brockport in- When approached about a breast cancer fundraising opportunity, tern, Kirsten Southard. we ask you to ask those well meaning friends, acquaintances, business Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester colleagues, etc. some critical questions before opening your wallets for 840 University Avenue pink-ribbon campaigns: Rochester, NY 14607 • How much money from your purchase or participation actually Office: 585-473-8177 goes to the cause? Fax: 585-473-7689 • In the case of a product purchase, what is the maximum amount Online at www.bccr.org that will be donated? continued on page 15 2 This is the 8th Annual ARTrageous Affair and yet we have never had an Honorary Chair. After years of thinking about it and then talking about it, we began to think about who would best exemplify the spirit of the event. The women at the Breast Cancer Coalition are anything but victims of breast cancer. In the face of a life-threatening, life-altering disease, I have never seen such toughness, such strength and courage, as exhibited by the women faced with this disease who are living in our community. Not every moment of the fight, certainly... nearly all of us have had moments where we crumble to our knees... but, after the shock has worn off, these women stand up, brush themselves off and face their disease head on. We knew that the Honorary Chair needed to reflect this spirit and needed to possess just such strength and courage. We thought of Kitty last year. She was so honest and open about her experience, and stood right up to her breast cancer. When Patti Cataldi (Chair of the ARTrageous Afair) and I approached the committee this year, they wholeheartedly agreed that Kitty would make the perfect Honorary Chair. -Holly Anderson, BCCR Executive Director Meet Kitty Van Bortel Honorary Chair of Artrageous Affair by Kathy Mangione Talking with Kitty Van Bortel is a lot like When her daughter was two years old Kitty standing in a cool rushing stream on a hot decided to have a battery of medical tests to ensure summer day; you are both instantly refreshed and that she was in good health and ready for the amazed by the swift speed of the current. She physical demands of motherhood. She had every starts the high-energy conversation by saying that test possible except a mammogram. she is honored and thrilled to be the Honorary About the same time one of the women in Chair of the BCCR Artrageous Affair on October the dealership mentioned that she hadn’t had a 17th. Working to find a cure for breast cancer is a mammogram in 15 years. Kitty had just heard true joy in her life and she looks for new ways to a story about the importance of early cancer get the word out and raise funds for research. detection on WXXI, and thought it would make Kitty Van Bortel is one of Rochester’s most it easier for her colleague to have the exam if Kitty successful and influential women business owners. and a third woman from the dealership went to She turned a $500 investment and a few used the mammography screening together. The three cars on her front lawn into the top selling Subaru were so confident that they were cancer-free that dealership in the nation as well as the most after their exams they didn’t wait for results they successful Ford dealership in a multi-state area. just went to lunch. She is a dynamic woman. Kitty’s two friends got negative results right Kitty has turned her cancer experience into an away but Kitty didn’t get a call. On the second opportunity to focus her energy on bringing public day Kitty got a letter from the breast clinic asking attention to the disease that strikes so many women. her to set up an appointment for another exam. From the moment she heard her diagnosis in 2006 The clinic couldn’t fit her in for two weeks but she knew she would be able to use her visibility in Kitty was too panic-stricken to wait. She drove to the community to bring funding to the cause, and the clinic and sat in the waiting area until she was Breast Cancer is clearly her personal cause. seen. She had a biopsy that same afternoon then went home and disintegrated into a fetal position continued on page 24 3 ews on N How Herceptin Has Affected My Life by Lori Griffin eing diagnosed with HER-2/Neu. Dr. Slamon is the which we hear so much about these breast cancer is scary! But oncologist/researcher that developed days in the breast cancer world. He when you learn that you the drug Herceptin and dedicated stated that he wasn’t a big advocate Bhave been diagnosed with an his research to getting the drug for the movie but thought they aggressive HER-2/Neu positive approved. The movie “Living Proof”, portrayed the women in it accurately tumor it can become even scarier.

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