News4U Online

Photography | Mark McCoy

It has been estimated that 178,480 men and women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in the United States and though there is an estimated 2.2 million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. today, it is the leading cause of death for women age 15 to 64, worldwide. These statistics are scary, especially if you are a woman, but breast cancer affects everyone in some way or another. Breast cancer can unexpectedly strike both genders and can be an emotional trial for family members and friends. The worst part is – researchers still don’t know what causes it; they can only identify those who are at a higher risk and use technology to detect the cancer at an early stage. 98% of those who discover their breast cancer in stage one will recover, so the key is early detection through self breast examination and regular mammograms.

Photography | Mark McCoy

The Greater Evansville Susan G. Komen Foundation holds a plethora of fundraising activities each year to support local treatment and research including its signature event – Race for the Cure®. On September 21 a sea of pink will flood the parking lot of Eastland Mall in Evansville. For a $20 donation, you receive a t-shirt and official race bib that allows access to the expo where you can fill your goodie bag. At 8 a.m. over 1,000 local survivors are expected to participate in the Parade of Pink. At 9 a.m. registrants (even the family dog) can participate in the 5K run/walk or 1-mile family walk. For more information on Race for the Cure®, to register your team, or for more ways to support Komen, visit www.komenevansville.org.

I spoke with a true survivor, Polly Fisher, about her nine-year battle with breast cancer and what she is doing to whip its butt!

When did you first find out you had BREAST CANCER?

In 1999. Early in the year my dog, Cookie, had jumped up on me and left a red, bruised spot on my chest. I remember thinking it was probably just a ruptured cyst but looking back it was really just denial.

How did you feel when you first found out?

I don’t remember crying, but I was really scared. Everything moved so quickly. I had a lumpectomy and then they found out the entire breast was involved and removed the whole thing. I had good doctors though, and they explained all my options. I remember standing in front of the mirror and just talking to myself. That is really the hardest because it’s you and you have to tell the truth!

When your breast was removed, how did that affect you emotionally and mentally?

I had reconstructive surgery done because my prognosis was good and honestly I was glad to get rid of the piece of my body that was harming me. I wanted it gone!

What happened then?

In May of 2000, I went into remission for two years, but in 2002, they found a lump under my arm. After radiation for that lump, I went into remission for another three years. In 2006, they found a third lump, and 2007 the BREAST CANCER metastasized into my bones. At the end of 2007, I found out I had malignant pleural effusion in my lungs. It’s not curable but everything is treatable.

How have you dealt with your prognosis?

I have always been a positive person; I’ve always taken the negative and turned it into a positive and even more so now. You know, I like living! I WANT TO LIVE! I have had a huge support system and I don’t believe in pity parties. I never once asked, “why me?” Life happens and there isn’t always a reason. You just have to learn to deal.

You said you didn’t cry when you found out. Have you ever cried during this nine-year journey?

The two things that have brought me to tears were losing my hair and watching my family watch me. My sister once said she came by my house and had to leave because she couldn’t stand seeing me like this.

Your family has been a huge support for you; who or what else had been a support system?

My dogs have also been a huge part of my recovery. They love me no matter what and are always there with a good attitude. Plus, they never feel sorry for me and they rely on me. Also, my staff is wonderful. They are tolerant and help me out so much. I have never been to a support group because I never felt the need to! I have all my support around me.

How have you grown as a person in the past nine years?

Between having dogs and having my illness, I have become a tolerant and compassionate person. I hadn’t realized how much I lacked. I wish it hadn’t happened to me but I look around and see all the other things out there that are so much worse.

So, what’s next?

I feel pretty good about how things are going. I’m a dreamer and a realist. If the doctors tell me something I don’t want to hear, I’ll buck up and deal with it!

What do you want to tell those who have just found out they or a friend or family member has BREAST CANCER?

My life revolves around my illness but it hasn’t stopped me from doing what I want to do. I work full-time and still can take my dogs to dog shows. Never let the fact that you have BREAST CANCER stop you from living life the way you want to live it! Make changes and arrangements, but never stop livin’!

Polly finishes her final round of chemo at the beginning of September. If she is feeling up to it, team N4U will be cheering her on in the Parade of Pink! Look for her and tell her and all the survivors how pretty they are in pink!

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SCHEDULE

6:00 am Pre-Worship Music Begins

6:30 AM Late Registration/T-shirt Pick Up

7:00 AM Service of Hope

8:00 AM Survivor Recognition/Parade

8:30 AM Aerobic Warm Up

9:00 AM 5K run/walk

9:15 AM 1-mile Family Fun Run/Walk

Local Coldwater Creek Store Invites Women in Evansville to

"Try It On for the Cure®" and Join in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Proceeds from the One Day, Fashion Based Fundraiser to Benefit the Greater Evansville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Coldwater Creek, the national leading retailer of quality fashion for women, is gearing up to host the fall segment of their semi-annual nationwide "Try It On for the Cure®" initiative.  The one day only event, hosted on Sunday, September 21^st from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., encourages all area women to stop in to the Evansville Coldwater Creek store located at Eastland Mall and try on clothes as a fun and easy way to join in the fight against breast cancer.  Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the Greater Evansville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Coldwater Creek’s "Try It On for the Cure®" is a simple program that has far reaching benefits for women throughout Evansville and no purchase is necessary to be a part of it.  For every woman who enters a dressing room and tries on any apparel from Coldwater Creek’s extensive collection at the Evansville store on September 21^st, Coldwater Creek will donate $1 to the Greater Evansville Affiliate of Komen for the Cure.  For those who choose to make an in-store purchase during the one-day fundraiser, the retailer will also donate 10 percent of the day’s sales to the Greater Evansville Affiliate of Komen for the Cure. 

“I’m so proud to be leading a program that is all about women helping women, right here in our own community,” said Brenda Romoser, store manager of Coldwater Creek in Evansville.  “Try It On for the Cure allows us to connect with local women who share the same passion we have for this cause in a united effort.  They do the trying on, which allows us to do the giving.  It’s a perfect partnership for a great cause.”

“Try It On for the Cure is a terrific example of how people can get involved in the breast cancer movement in a fun and meaningful way,” said Hala Moddelmog, CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “We are thrilled to have Coldwater Creek as a partner in our promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.”

Supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure has become a passion for Coldwater Creek.  In all of the company’s 300-plus stores across the country, they execute multiple programs that focus on raising funds that stay within each local community.  During the company’s last national “Try It On for the Cure®” event in April 2008, Coldwater Creek donated over $100,000 to local Komen affiliates throughout the U.S. Whether individual stores are participating in the local Race for the Cure or hosting benefit fashion events, Coldwater Creek’s goal is to give back to the community.

For more information on “Try It On for the Cure®”, please visit your local Coldwater Creek store at Eastland Mall or phone (812) 471-8378.

About Coldwater Creek

As a leading retailer of casual fashion, the company offers its colorful, comfortable clothes in misses, petites, and women's sizing at over 300 stores across the country, through catalogs and online at coldwatercreek.com . Coldwater Creek is in its fourth year as a National Sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series and during that time has donated more than $4.6 million to Komen.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, Komen has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill their promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800 GO KOMEN.