For 25 years, breast cancer survivors from every age, gender and ethnic background have responded to Sue Miller’s invitation to discover new resources, support and inspiration through Day of Caring. Each of the 1,000-plus guests arrives with a unique set of circumstances, but they all seem to have a positive attitude and a fighting spirit.
In fact, one guest’s nickname could be used by them all.
Huynh “T.C.” Nguyen, who came to the United States from Vietnam when she was 13, was diagnosed following a mammogram two years ago when she was 41. The initials, she said, stand for “tough cookie” and gave her strength after a lumpectomy followed by radiation and chemotherapy. There’s no history of breast cancer in her family.
Nguyen works at the Asian Pacific Development Center and was one of the survivors who modeled in the Foley’s fashion show that was staged during Day of Caring’s awards luncheon. The morning hours were devoted to seminars, a resource and services expo, boutique, art gallery and silent auction.
Barbara Lipkin, Tameisha Bell and Jeanna Finch chaired Day of Caring. Lipkin had her first mammogram when she was 35, right after her sister-in-law, who was about the same age, was diagnosed. Three years later, Lipkin received her own breast cancer diagnosis. Bell admitted she thought her life was over when she was diagnosed at age 29, but with support from her mother and grandmother has become a healthy and happy survivor. Finch received her first beast cancer diagnosis when she was 41; in the eight years that followed, three more diagnoses were to come.
Finch refused to let the cancer win. “I’m alive, kickin’ and strong,” she says. “I’m not leaving for heaven any time soon.”
9News anchor Kim Christiansen emceed the fashion show, and misted up when it came time to introduce one of the models in particular: her 43-year-
old sister, Keri, who was diagnosed last August, joining what Kim described as “a sisterhood like no other.”
In addition to Nguyen and Keri Christiansen, other models were Pat Blohm, a registered nurse with two breast cancer diagnoses 10 years apart; Charlie Blosten, who had a modified radical mastectomy followed by chemotherapy following his diagnosis in 1997; Judy Braun, a two-
time breast cancer survivor who has also had ovarian cancer; Jan Hanson, who was diagnosed twice, at age 52 and again at 54; Joanie Hartman, who is also a breast and ovarian cancer survivor; Tracy Mansoor, who was 32 when a cancerous lump was discovered in her breast; and Cynthia Morales, whose diagnosis was followed by three surgeries eight days apart.
Also, Diane Pollard, who discovered a lump during a self-exam nearly two years ago and had a lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy; Julie Puma, who lost her mother and sister to breast cancer and had a prophylactic double mastectomy in 2000 after testing positive for the breast cancer gene; Marie Sims, who found a lump during a self-exam three years ago; Barbara Swindall, who was 45 when she found a lump during her monthly self-exam; and Ada Torres, director of Juntas Contra el Cancer del Seno in Colorado Springs, who was diagnosed six years ago. She has been married for 34 years and in 2005 was honored as an outstanding volunteer at the Colorado Cancer Coalition Conference.
Radiologist Kelly McAleese was given the Sue Miller Award for 2006 in recognition of the care and compassion she provides for breast cancer patients. Elaine McCain, president of the Day of Caring board, noted that McAleese, director of the Women’s Imaging Center in Denver, received more nominations than any other recipient has had.
“Those who nominated her say she is caring, personal, passionate, helpful, supportive and outstanding,” McCain noted. McAleese has degrees from Stanford University, Dartmouth Medical School and the University of Arizona, with specialty training from the University of Colorado. She is married to a cardiologist and has four children: 8-year-
old twins, a 6-year-old and a newborn.
This also marked the last year for Day of Caring under its current leadership. Miller announced that CURE Media has acquired the program in its entirety and will be presenting it in an expanded format starting in 2007. CURE Media publishes the nation’s largest magazine focused on cancer, with 1 million readers per issue.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
More online: Additional pictures from Day of Caring, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Awards Gala and Women With Hattitude denverpost.com/society
