Your Pink Dish! Stories

Every Pink Dish! Story is a meaningful tribute to those whose lives have been touched and changed by breast cancer – and a powerful example of how sharing experiences can increase awareness and save lives.

We hope you’ll take a moment to read our Pink Dish! stories and those shared below.

If you have an experience you’d like to share, please add a Pink Dish! story as well. For every Pink Dish! Story we receive, Let’s Dish! will donate $5.00 to the Pink Dish! Campaign.

If you’d like to share a story with us, but would not like it posted on this website, please email your story to pinkdish@letsdish.net

I am a 39-year-old Breast Cancer Survivor! I was diagnosed at age 34 with stage II aggressive Breast Cancer and underwent a biopsy, lumpectomy and a sentinel node biopsy. After the surgery healed I started a six-month regiment of chemotherapy (AC, Taxotere). After finishing that I underwent 36 treatments of radiation. Since that time I have been a very healthy and alive woman.

I lost all of my hair (except I still had to shave my legs!) and instead of wearing a wig, hat or scarf I choose to embrace being bald. I looked great and have pictures to prove it!

Treatment is something I wish on nobody, but on the other end it's changed my life. Instead of living to work, I work to live. Being a survivor has brought many opportunities I would have never had previously.

I'm now involved with a spectacular program called Survivor Diver. The founder of this foundation, Lisa, had her mother pass away from breast cancer after her second fight with this disease. Lisa and her mom started SCUBA diving and it made her mother feel so much better. Lisa decided to start a foundation to help survivors of BC discover the same feeling. She teaches survivors to SCUBA and takes them somewhere sunny and fun to get their certification. (survivordiver.com) Lisa's philosophy is, "Together, we can help others find hope, courage, joy and a passion for life."

I am also an identical twin. My sister, thankfully, has been checked regularly and is healthy. We are involved in something called the Sister Study sponsored by Susan G. Komen. This follows the life of the sister to see what role genetics play in diagnosis. I'd love to talk to you further...feel free to call me anytime.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I believe my life purpose is to inspire and educate women.

—Stephanie Gensler (Abingdon, MD)

I was diagnosed with Stage 2 bc at age 34 in 2006. With a family history and positive genetic mutation, it did not come as a huge shock. The hardest part was trying to keep life normal for my 2 children, who were ages 7 and 2 1/2 while I went through treatment. To anyone who would ask 'what can I do for you' I felt the best ways to help a young mother who is exhausted during treatment was 1. Watch my kids, 2. Clean my house, 3. Feed me. One of my best friends dished with me during this time and it really was a great help during a stressful time. I highly recommend it and am very glad to hear about this campaign.

—Cathy Shaw (Shrewsbury PA)

Dishes in Timonium

I was diagnosed at age 39 in 2001 with no risk factors. What a terrible surprise. My husband was out of town when I received the news, so my mom and I cried together. I'll never forget the receptionist saying "have a nice day!" as we were leaving. I have survived this long because I have a wonderful oncologist (Mary Wilkinson) and an excellent team of doctors and support group. Plus lots of prayers!! I have four children aged 22 through 12 and they are helpful and concerned about me of course. I try to put on a brave face for them, but of course, there are bad days.
I was so thrilled to receive the gift of meals in October. That has been a great help, as even the children can put the meals together, and we all love them. Lately it seems like I've had a revolving door of doctor's appointments and it's not alot of fun. Necessary evils to get me through this! Luckily the doctors and nurses are as kind as they can be.
I pray that my own daughters do not have to go through this. I know that they will be good about early detection as they have seen what the alternative can lead to!

—Patricia Marcinkowski (Burke)

Dishes in Fairfax

Twenty-six women, 26 reasons, one goal: Fund research to find a cure for breast cancer, which afflicts one in three women across the country.

The Brambleton Step Sisters team began last year with a team of eight women who came together to walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, DC. The team walked 39 miles last spring, and earned more than $30,000! The word got out, and this year more women have joined the team, which now has 26 active members. The team hopes to raise more than $60,000 this year. As of January 2008, the Step Sisters are the top grossing fundraising team in the region!

We all have our personal reasons for walking and each have been touched by this disease in some way. The team will again walk a marathon and a half around Washington, DC along with hundreds of other participants dedicated to making a difference in the fight against breast cancer. The walk takes place May 3rd-4th.

To join our team, donate, or to learn more, please contact team captain Ashley Campolattaro at adcamp@verizon.net or visit www.avonwalk.org and click on the Washington, DC link

Current team members include:
Lara Black, Molly Bramble, Ashley Campolattaro (captain), Julie Chevreaux, Erica Cohen, Tammy Freathy, Shari Hardy, Wendy Hunt, Sharon Iglesias (survivor), Elizabeth Katzman, Marissa Levin, Elizabeth Levy, Docia Myer, Sara Reveles Pellegrini, Heather Phillips, Melissa Pilla, Colleen Robbins, Amy Shapiro, Adrienne Skapura, Amanda Smith, Tammy Viola, Sasha Wall, Karen Waltman, Andrea Wardell, Connie Wright, Elizabeth Zapp, and Katharine Zerkle.

—Ashley Campolattaro (Brambleton, VA)

Dishes in Ashburn, VA

My mother in law was diagnosed two years ago with breast cancer. She had already beat Melanoma, so we were worried that we couldn't get lucky twice. Fortunately, we were wrong. She had a lot of great karma after 34 years of teaching literature at the American University in Washington. She has passed the one year mark with no signs of recurrence. She had great surgeons and is back to work, to writing and to making a difference in the lives of my children. We brought her a few Lets Dish dinners while she recuperated.

—Renee Sklarew (Bethesda)

Dishes in Rockville, MD

In the Spring, at the age of 30, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It has been a long, difficult road, but I am surrounded by family and friends who have been so supportive. When I first found out, I worried that I wouldn't be around for my husband and my son, who will turn 2 in January. Over this long road I've traveled, I've learned to prioritize what's important, who my true friends are and I've learned to appreciate how precious and fragile life is. I am fairing well during my treatments, but having to deal with issues of my own mortality at such a young age has forever changed me. I am remaining strong, positive, and with hope in my heart, I will get through this. My motto through this heart wrenching experience is "Tough times don't last, tough people do." Let's hope I'm tough enough!!

—Lisa Carroll (Baltimore)

Dishes in Bel Air

Just before December of last year my mother called to say she needed to see me. I really didn't have a lot of time, you know, Christmas was coming and I had a lot to do. I went home and waited for her and she came into the kitchen and said she had just had a biopsy done of a lump under her arm. I told her I was sure it was nothing, after all her mammogram was fine and she recently had her gall bladder removed and the bloodwork and the preop physical was all okay. That was Friday.

Monday afternoon she called and said the radiology facility called and the doctor there said, "The results aren't back yet, but I talked to the hospital and it looks like cancer. Your doctor will cal you." Not the way you want to find out but that in itself is another story. Her doctor never called because he didn't get the results until 5 days later and they don't give results over the phone. A policy well understood especially with positive results. The results were positive with lymph nodes involved. A mastectomy, total lymph node dissection, chemo and radiation followed the diagnosis.

I have to say breast cancer is awful, but wonderful things come of it. A relationship with my mother that has never been better, unending faith, and wonderful friends have blossomed. So yes, it is possible that breast cancer too can be a blessing.

My mother soared through surgery, did extremely well with chemo, and blew through radiation. She's a survivor in every sense of the word! You go Mom!!
You're my girl!!

—Holly Kravec (Bel Air, MD)

i am newly diagnosed, this month actually. Of all months to find out you have breast cancer. October, breast cancer awareness month!
It's all I hear and part of me hates it and parts of me love it.
I just had my first surgery. They did a lumpectomy of my left breast. I go in Monday to find out the results and what they think would be the best plan for me. See how new I am.....I am trying to learn and educate myself without scaring myself with what I read. My sister is a 24 year survivor of breast cancer. Although I don't live near family they are always there to listen to my fears. I have no family around so that makes it that much harder.
Reading your stories makes me feel like i can beat this. I can be a survivor too!!!
I don't really know much about Let's dish but will check out your website.
Thanks
sincerely Jackie

—Jackie arsen (stafford va)