Cancer Cannot Keep Women Off Catwalk

[Guest guest]

She doesn't say if she got breast implants . . . I

hope not! - Rogene

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http://www.gazettes.com/catwalk05182006.html

Cancer Cannot Keep Women Off Catwalk

By Carla M. Collado

Staff Writer

Two years ago, Clougherty was struggling with

her newly diagnosed breast cancer, undergoing

chemotherapy and researching information on breast

implants. Although her doctors gave her plenty of

information, she wanted to talk to someone who had

actually experienced getting them.

That’s when she called Breast Friends, a

peer-mentoring program at Long Beach Memorial Medical

Center. There, they paired her with a breast cancer

survivor who shared her experiences, listened and

answered Clougherty’s questions.

“I just wanted to hear verification of what I’d

learned,” Clougherty said. “It was really reinforcing

for me.”

Now a breast cancer survivor herself, she is taking to

the runway and sharing her own stories with other

women at the third annual Catwalk for a Cure Fashion

Show and Garden Party at the Marketplace. The show

will feature five breast cancer survivors modeling

alongside 10 professional models to raise money for

the Breast Friends program.

In addition to showing off the summer’s fashions, the

survivor models — all Breast Friends mentors — will

share their experiences of dealing with and conquering

breast cancer.

“I want to heighten awareness of breast cancer and the

fact that there are help groups like Breast Friends

out there,” Clougherty said, “women who’ve been

through the experience and are very willing and open

to share. We’re not hiding, we’re out there on the

catwalk.”

The event will take place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. this

Saturday at the Marketplace Center Court. There will

be a catered lunch, music and opportunity drawings for

items from the various Marketplace restaurants, stores

and boutiques.

Organizers expect to raise about $5,000 at this year’s

show to benefit Breast Friends, according to Jacque

Gilmore, event coordinator for the Marketplace

Merchants Association. The show usually attracts about

150 people and has been growing each year, she added.

“I love it,” Gilmore said. “It’s a rewarding thing to

do, to meet some of these ladies who are breast cancer

survivors Š to see their strength, what they’ve been

through.”

Since it was founded in the late ’90s, Breast Friends

has trained more than 100 mentors. The program matches

newly diagnosed patients with mentors according to

their type of treatment. Mentors are women who have

been cancer-free for at least one year.

Before being paired with a patient, the mentors take

six weeks of training with physicians, surgeons and

other professionals to learn about the latest

treatments and how to communicate with a patient.

After completing the training, mentors still have the

option to attend lectures and informational sessions

to stay on top of things.

Clougherty, who just finished her training to become a

Breast Friends mentor, said it was a very helpful

experience.

“I met other women who’d gone through breast cancer

experiences,” she said. “It expanded my horizons Š you

tend to focus on what’s happening to you.”

Sandy , manager of the Breast Center at Long

Beach Memorial Medical Center, said programs like

Breast Friends give patients the chance to get

perspectives other than that of their doctors or

relatives.

“A lot of them just like to talk to someone,”

said, “and many times they really become close

friends.”

Breast Friends is free to all breast cancer patients,

regardless of where they are receiving treatment.

Tickets for Catwalk for a Cure can be purchased for

$50 at selected Marketplace stores or over the phone

by calling 431-6282.