Survivors

Producer, Director, Camera, Editor: Sy J. Abudu
Second Camera: Alaura Martucci

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has been in the forefront of the breast cancer movement for over 27 years. The organization has changed how the world deals with and talks about this devastating disease. One of Komen for the Cure’s many accomplishments has been helping to transform millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of all the cancer survivors in the country, the 2.3 million breast cancer survivors represent the largest group of survivors of any kind of cancer in the United States — a living testament to the power of society and science to save lives.

Although we anticipate and applaud the tremendous medical and scientific advances in the fight, sometimes the best therapy is the knowledge that we are not alone in this fight. Together we can make a difference.

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(c) 2011 Mark Jason Photography

2011 Survivor Photo from the Komen Greater NYC Race
for the Cure. Prints can be ordered via Snapfish, where
you can also upload your own photographs from the Race to
share with other Survivors.”

Welcome, Survivors

Many survivors were in Central Park on Sunday, September 18th for the 21st annual Komen Greater NYC Race for the Cure^®.

Komen Greater NYC celebrated survivors on Race Day with a host of special activities, including:

• Survivor Village — Survivors and their families could partake of breakfast prior to the Race.After the Race, therewere refreshments and post-Race survivor massage treatments.
• There were seven contenders in the Survivor Race Fashion T-Shirt contest. 
• The winner was Brenda Linsell, who won a $500 Levi’s/Dockers gift certificate.
• Second prize went to Dr. Kim Allison ($250 Levi’s/Dockers gift certificate); third prize to Debbie Persaud ($150 Levi’s/Dockers gift certificate)
• TheSurvivor Parade, which startedat Survivor Village and went to Bethesda Terrace, where the Survivor Photo was taken.

CBS 2 anchor and co-survivor Dana Tylerhosted the 2011 Survivor Program. Speakers included Komen for the Cure founder & CEO Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, actress, Komen Ambassador and co-survivor Gabrielle Union, and survivor and Komen Greater NYC CEO, Dara Richardson-Heron, MD.

This year’s Survivor of the Yearwas Lisa Vernale Fusco, whose father was honored with the Co-Survivor of the Year Award.  Dara Richardson-Heronpresented the award.

Lisa Fusco was no stranger to breast cancer.  Her mother, Barbara, was first diagnosed in 1998 when Lisa was 15, and, again, in 2006.  Three years later, only 26 years old, she was diagnosed.  The disease changed her life.

In 2009, Fusco finished her master’s degree, married the love of her life, went to Rome for her honeymoon, and starting teaching at an amazing school.  “My life was truly a dream come true,” she remembered.  It all changed in November when her husband felt a lump on her left breast.  Unconcerned — women my age don’t get breast cancer, she thought —Lisa ultimately decided to have it checked out at her husband’s and mother’s urging.

Several weeks later, with her mother at her side, Fusco had a breast sonogram, biopsy and mammogram.  She was still unfazed.  After all, she was 26.  In December, her doctor called and told her the news.  She was filled with shock, horror, confusion, and absolute numbness.  The next weeks were filled with finding the right doctors and having “tests, tests and more tests.”

The news got worse.  Fusco had Triple Negative Breast Cancer — which occurs most frequently in younger women, women with BRCA1 mutations, and African-American and Hispanic women. Fusco and her mother are both BRCA 1+.  The treatment plan was for a bi-lateral mastectomy and chemotherapy.  She had only two-and-one-half weeks to absorb everything.

“I had cancer, I was losing my breasts, I was losing my hair, and I was also possibly losing the ability to have children,” she explained.  She had a one-month fertility treatment as a back up plan.  Lisa likes to say that she and her husband “…are now the proud parents of 17 embryos.”

Over six months, Fusco underwent four major surgeries, fertility treatments and four months of chemotherapy.  “People ask me how I did it, and I can honestly say it was through the love and support of my family and friends,” she said.  “Watching my mother undergo chemotherapy, I saw a strength and positivity that I tried to emulate during my cancer experience.

“I feel so blessed to have the most amazing husband. He has stuck by me and has truly been my rock, holding me up when I needed support, pushing me when things got rough and letting me know he was there and always would be. He has seen me at my worst and has never stopped telling me that I was beautiful.”  Her two brothers also rallied by her side and kept her laughing throughout the ordeal.

A health teacher, Fusco’s job is to educate students on the importance of being proactive about their health.  She taught high school health for five years and is now in her second year as a health educator at Adelphi University, where she also teaches.

to Download a High Res version of this photo click on
this link then right click on the photo and click Save

(c) 2011 Mark Jason Photography

In 1998, Fusco’s mother started raising money for Komen.  Since then, the Vernale family has raised over $65,000 for the organization.  While going through chemo, Fusco knew she wanted to give back, so she started “Lisa’s Pink Party,” an annual July event to raise money for Komen for the Cure and her Pink Party Race team.  This year’s event had 200 attendees and raised over $12,000.  As of Race Day, Lisa had raised over $15,000 for the Komen Greater NYC Race for the Cure.

• Survivors at the 2010 Komen NYC Race for the Cure®

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