Woman Newspapers, Cumberland County, Sept/Oct 2014

FREE!

cumbERland county Edition sEptEmbER/octobER 2014

PINKSTYLE W E

A R E

S T R O N G E R

T O G E T H E R

SHOP, SAVE AND HELP THE FIGHT. S E P T E M B E R 15 - O C T O B E R 2 5

A SINGLE ITEM % 25 OFF

Valid at participating stores

5

$

SAVINGS PACK Purchase a PinkSTYLE Savings Pack for $5 at Shopper Services and receive five 25% off* a single item PinkSTYLE Cards. *Valid at participating stores.

PACK OF (5) 25% OFF PINKSTYLE CARDS

10

$

PINKSTYLE

UNLIMITED MOBILE PASS

M O B I L E

Visit TangerOutlets.com/pinkstyle to purchase a $10 Mobile PinkSTYLE Savings Pass for unlimited use of 25% savings* on a single item at participating stores. One use per store per day through October 25.

PA S S

25%

OFF A SINGLE ITEM U N L I M I T E D U S E AT PA R T I C I PAT I N G S T O R E S

ONE USE PER STORE PER DAY

*Valid at participating stores.

25% OFF MOBILE PINKSTYLE SAVINGS PASS

Proceeds will be donated to Penn State Hershey Medical Center and a contribution will be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

31823 HER PStyle_PressJournal.indd 1

Hershey, PA Off Hwy 743/Hershey Park Drive 46 Outlet Square (717) 520-1236

7/23/14 4:09 PM

publisher’snote

Editor/Publisher Louise Sukle

lsukle@womannewspapers.com

Sales Manager Dave Brown

daveb@pressandjournal.com

Life is short While we all say we want to be happy, as human beings we have a tendency to focus on the negatives in our lives. It’s frighteningly easy to dwell on a tragedy, especially one which is immensely personal to us...the loss of a friend, or a child‚ or a parent.

I was with my mom the night before she died. I saw how ravaged her body was, how her mind was going, and how she held on. I cursed breast cancer with every fiber of my being.

I was angry about what I was losing. I was angry breast cancer still existed. I was angry it picked on my mother. You could say what I was feeling didn’t fit the mold of proper cancer behavior.

Advertising Representative Tina M. Rinehart 717-421-3247 tinarinehart@pressandjournal.com

Sales Assistant Sara Egan

saraegan@pressandjournal.com

Contributing Writers Debra Baer Becker dbbecker2@yahoo.com

Kathryn Baxter

kathrynbaxter@gmail.com I did my best to acknowledge my anger and then refocus on what came next. But it would take me longer to make peace with my mother’s anger.

After her diagnosis, the physical and emotional injuries started piling up for Mom, one after another. Nothing felt right. Nothing seemed good enough. Nothing was the way it should be. No one was understanding enough. And for the first time, her family wasn’t giving her what she needed.

Lisa Rae DeRosa

lisaraeseries@aol.com

Brenda Tadych

sumthin2say@hotmail.com

Creative Consultant Julianna Sukle

julianna@juliannasukle.com Feeling angry was a perfectly reasonable emotion for her to be feeling. What I didn’t understand is why it seemed to be directed at me.

In fact, in my mother’s case, anger was a great motivator. It was many years before I realized she used anger to fight back in her own unique way, not someone else’s way.

™ Dauphin County edition Cumberland County edition Web site: www.womannewspapers.com

One of the many things that makes cancer so difficult is the feeling of helplessness that this disease engenders. Diet and nutrition was something my mother could take control of, so she adopted a rigid diet that required a complete change in nearly every aspect of her daily life.

E-mail: louisesukle@womannewspapers.com

I reacted to her zealous lifestyle change without much enthusiasm. What I know now, she wasn’t angry at me in so much as anxious for me. Her cancer clock was ticking and it was her mission to prepare the people she loved.

20 S. Union Street, Middletown, PA 17057 Tel: (717)944-4628 Web site: www.pandjinc.com E-mail: info@pressandjournal.com

No one deserves cancer. There’s nothing fair about it and it’s okay to feel anger. It’s what we decide to do about it that really matters. There’s a moral to this story: My mother took charge. She did her research. She chose a healing path that felt right to her. Don’t ever let anyone tell you something that important is out of your hands.

Woman newspapers, Dauphin County and Cumberland County editions, are published bimonthly and are available free of charge, by subscription, display stand in approved private and public establishments and authorized locations only.

Trademark and U.S. Copyright Laws protect Woman newspapers. No part of this paper may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

Woman newspapers are not responsible for any editorial comment (other than its own), typographical errors from advertisements submitted as camera-ready or any reproductions of advertisements submitted as camera-ready.

If an advertisement does not meet our standards of acceptance, we may revise or cancel it at any time, whether or not it has been already acknowledged and/or previously published.

The advertiser assumes sole responsibility for all statements contained in submitted copy and will protect and indemnify Woman newspapers, its owners, publishers, and employees, against any and all liability, loss or expense arising out of claims for libel, unfair trade names, patents copyrights and propriety rights, and all violations of the right of privacy or other violations resulting from the publication by this newspaper of its advertising copy.

Publisher shall be under no liability for failure, for any reason, to insert an advertisement. Publisher shall not be liable by reason of error, omission and/or failure to insert any part of an advertisement. Publisher will not be liable for delay or failure in performance in publication and/or distribution if all or any portion of an issue is delayed or suspended for any reason. The publisher will exercise reasonable judgment in these instances and will make adjustments for the advertiser where and when appropriate.

Woman newspapers assume no responsibility for unsolicited material or reproductions made by advertisers.

This newspaper will be published by the 15th of every other month.

Representations by Woman newspapers, a wholly owned subsidiary of Press And Journal, Inc. ©2002™.

Yes, my anger resurfaces with all the pink ribbon shopping nonsense. But I’ve turned my anger into something positive by becoming an advocate. I channeled my anger for a cause, and for the last 11 years, I’ve used these pages to educate and inform Central PA about breast cancer.

No, I’ll never do enough. But I will try to do all I can.

photo by in the moment photography by hollis

Louise Sukle Publisher/Editor lsukle@womannewspapers.com

Publications Of:

Press And Journal Publications

www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

3

Please join Woman at our booth at the 2014 Making Strides Walk and share your message.

Everyone has a personal reason for participating in American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk: to honor a friend or loved one, raise awareness, fund research. Woman asked walkers at the 2013 event to share their reasons with our readers...

“Pink power for my mother. You beat it Mom! I’m proud of you.” “Kick cancer and the cell it rode in on!” “Stay strong. Love the boobies.” “My mom kicked cancer’s butt!!!” “We love you and miss you Nonni & Grandma.”

Thanking God for allowing my angel mother to survive.” “Keep going strong. Go breast cancer warriors and supporters!” “To all those fighting...keep fighting. To all the cancer survivors...you rock! To my mom, I love you and miss you very much!” “I survived with the help of friends.” “We love you and know you are smiling down on us. May your light shine forever.” “There is hope!” “Hope for a cure...better life waiting...let’s kick it’s butt.” “Go Christine-you are my inspiration!” “ I walked for my mom. I miss her every day.” “My daughter is a survivor. I love her and know God is great.” “For all the women in my family. Stay strong.” “I’m walking for 9 yrs. cancer free.” “We CANcerVIVE. 3 more day of radiation, baby, & I’m DONE!” “I’m walking for my friend Terri who lost her battle with BC 3 weeks ago.” “Stay strong sisters & brothers.” “Keep your faith, hope and courage to all the fighters out there.” “In honor of all the survivors. Keep fighting.” “Walking for my nanny.” “In memory of Mary D - 23 yrs ago I lost you.” “Walking in thanks for Momma’s recovery.” “Fighting for a cure.” “Life is worth living! Never give up!” “Walking for you in memory today. I love you Wela.” “Making successful strides in the fight for our lives.” “Stay strong. Rise above cancer.” “I’m proud to walk today in honor of my sister.” “Doing this for you Granny. Survivor!” “In honor and memory of all...” “I’m walking for my sisters and friends. God is a healer. Praise God.” “Walking for Grandma Helen.

I love you always.” “We love you, Vicky! Stay strong and fight like a girl!” “For the moms.” “R.I.P Aunt Gina! Love & Miss You!” “I love you momma. See you next year.” “You’re amazing and beautiful.” “Stay strong and keep making strides.” “Support the boobies!” “Rest in peace Grandma.” “My Aunt Linda is an 8 yr survivor.” “Save second base.” “Here’s to all the ‘fighting’ strong women I know.” “More birthdays!” “In honor of all that are battling and our survivors.”

“Walking for women everywhere.” “Good luck beating cancer, Mom.”

www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

5

Probate’s undeserved bad reputation

By Jan L. Brown, Attorney at Law Probate is not a dirty word although it has that undeserved reputation. Probate is the process of administering a person’s Last Will and Testament. There are two main functions of probate, 1) to protect and ensure the beneficiaries receive the inheritance stated in the Will and 2) to ensure that any taxes due are paid. The probate process was developed because beneficiaries were not always receiving their proper inheritances and the taxes associated with a death were not always paid.

The County Courts, through the local Register of Wills, have the authority to oversee the administration of a Will.

There are legal requirements to ensure the two primary objectives are met. One requirement is to serve notice on all the named and potential heirs so they are aware that they are potential beneficiaries of a person’s estate. Almost every one of us knows of an estate where someone did not receive their share or was not informed as to the value of the estate; the legal requirements including the notices were developed to avoid errors or fraud in estate administration.

The executor has the responsibility to administer the estate and also the liability in the event the estate is misman-

aged. The executor/executrix is named in the Will and appointed by the Court.

Depending upon the complexity of the estate, the executor’s job can be demanding, especially if there is a house, business interests or complicated family situations.

The probate process has requirements to avoid mismanagement and to allow the Courts to discover mismanagement if it occurs. Most executors hire an estate attorney to assist and guide them through the process which includes complying with the legal requirements, liquidating assets, administering the distributions properly, as well as, the preparation of the taxes filings. The tax filings can include, depending upon the circumstances, a Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax filing, the decedent’s income tax filing, a fiduciary tax filing, a gift tax filing and a Federal Estate tax filing.

Sometimes people misunderstand the probate process and try to avoid it by having a revocable living trust in lieu of a Last Will and Testament. These people often do not understand that trust administration, the process of administering the Trust after a death, is very similar to the probate process, a Living Trust offers no tax advantages compared to a Will and the costs to draft a Trust are normally 10 times higher than a Will.

Properly planning your estate is a gift to your family. It avoids confusion, saves time and avoids most family disputes that can arise. It allows your family or beneficiaries to receive the share that

The Law Office for Older Persons Their Families

&

Jan L. Brown & Associates Attorneys-at-Law

Attorney Jan L. Brown

Practice Exclusively In: • Estate Planning & Probate: Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Tax Planning, Special Needs Trusts

Attorney Jacqueline Kelly

• Elder Law: Protecting Assets From Nursing Home Costs, Qualifying for Benefits, Incapacity Planning

845 Sir Thomas Court, Harrisburg 17109

(717) 541-5550 www.janbrownlaw.com

Attorney Christa Aplin

6

september • october 2014

Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

www.womannewspapers.com

you want them to receive, it ensures that your wishes are carried out and that your estate can be administered efficiently and cost effectively. Give your family the gift of a well prepared estate plan.

Jan L. Brown and Associates is a law firm founded in 1993 to help families. The firm has over 43 years of combined experience and practices exclusively in the areas of estate planning, probate and elder law.

Estate planning includes Wills, Powers of

Attorneys, Living Wills, Trusts, Tax Planning, Special Needs Trusts and Guardianships.

Elder law addresses the legal issues of seniors, their families and those who care for them including obtaining benefits, such as Medicare, Medicaid and VA benefits and protecting assets from nursing home care costs. The information presented is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice as every client and situation is different and requires specific review and analysis. If you would like an appointment, please call (717) 541- 5550.

Our advertisers love to hear you say you saw them in

Protecting your most valuable asset

By Sarah J. Leer, ChFC® Many people take steps to insure things of value in their lives.

Your car, your home and even your life are likely protected in the event of a loss or accident.

However, often people forget to protect the most valuable asset we all have, the ability to earn an income to provide for ourselves and our families. In the event of an accident, injury or sickness, you may lose your ability to bring home a paycheck and in turn could lose even more, such as falling behind on bills.

In addition, many people believe that group plans through their employers will fully protect them in the event of a disability. The unfortunate reality is that many group policies cover only 60-70% of pre-disability income. The proceeds are paid out pre-tax if the premiums are paid pre-tax or by your employer. So, what are considerations to protect the most valuable asset you have?

Take a hard look at your current living expenses each month. Try to keep a liquid reserve of at least 3 months, but preferably 6 months of living expenses in

savings. Next, investigate the disability options available through your employer or employer plan. Many employers offer some type of sick leave prior to utilizing disability coverage. Finally, consider applying for an individual disability income insurance policy to help cover any shortfalls. Benefits paid out of these policies are typically after tax and can help close the gap between your expenses and the payouts you have otherwise.

INSURANCE

RETIREMENT

EDUCATION

WHAT IF YOUR

WHAT IF YOU’RE

WHAT IF YOU

WHAT IF THEY

PORTFOLIO

DISABLED ALONG

LIVE TO 100?

DON’T GET A

UNDERPERFORMS?

THE WAY?

INVESTMENTS

SCHOLARSHIP?

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU ASKED YOURSELF

WHAT IF? WEALTH MANAGEMENT INCOME STRATEGIES

INVESTMENTS

INSURANCE

ESTATE PLANNING 5001 Louise Drive, Suite 300 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Tel: 717.791.3331 Fax: 717.796.3563

Securities, investment advisory, and financial planning services offered through qualified registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC. Supervisory office: 5001 Louise Drive, Suite 300, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.

(717) 791-3300. Polaris Advisors is not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, LLC or its affiliated companies.

CRN201607-184500

Good friends. Good eats. Good times. al• i c e p S h c n u L • Monday thru Friday of get second for Buy one lunch value equal or greater

1/2 Price

}

Download our APP for daily specials, entertainment and special offers!

ludes alcohol) 11am-4pm (exc pires 10/31/14 ex Coupon offer

DECK BAR OPEN YEAR ‘ROUND Enjoy your favorite drinks and menu items outside!

• Every Tuesday: All-You-Can-Eat Crab Legs $20.99 • Kid’s menu • Take out and catering available • Sundays: $3.00 off all entrees and $1.99 kid’s menu

2050 State Road, Camp Hill (next to Fager’s Heating & Plumbing) PHONE 737-0030 FAX 730-0766 OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR! Mon.-Sat. 11 am - 2 am, Sun. 12 pm - 2 am www.brewhousegrille.com www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

7

We owe it to ourselves and to our loved ones

By Rosie Turner, Director of Marketing & Communications, Harrisburg YMCA There is a woman in my life that I have never met. When I met my husband, she had already passed. She was his stepmother, and she passed away from breast cancer.

I met my husband in the fall of 2005.

We were freshmen in college, he was on the football team, I was in the marching band. He seemed so strong and tough – I had no idea he was mourning the death of someone so important to him. One night he opened up to me and told me that she had always pushed him to do better in school, was at every football game, even went camping and hunting with him. She believed in him, and showed it by encouraging him to be the best he could be. I could see in his sadness that he was forever affected by her, and would be a better man because of her.

According to breastcancer.org, a breast self-exam should be part of your monthly health care routine, and you should visit your doctor if you experience breast changes. If you’re over 40 or at a high risk for the disease, you should also have an annual mammogram and physical exam by a doctor. The earlier breast

cancer is found and diagnosed, the better your chances of beating it.

Women are strong. We are encouragers. We can build others up and help them to lead powerful lives. Let’s encourage each other to take care of ourselves, and be vigilant about screening for breast cancer. I will always be grateful to the woman who saw the potential in my husband, and encouraged him to be his very best. In her memory, I ask you to take care of yourself, and take the proper steps to address your risk of breast cancer.

BE BOLD.

BE YOU.

BELONG. WEST SHORE YMCA

410 Fallowfield Road Camp Hill, PA 17011 717.737.9622 www.YMCAHarrisburg.org

We Support Our Troops and Thank Them For Their Service!

PROUDLY MADE

IN AMERICA

(717) 737-5584 • (717) 761-9124 Monday-Friday 8:30-5 pm

As always, NO CHARGE for in home delivery and set up!

• We now have financing available on specific cash sales •

facebook.com/americanhomemedicalequipmentcompany

8

september • october 2014

Some restrictions apply. Expires 11/15/14.

It’s not too early to prepare for winter 081114_WOMMAG.indd 1

2300-A Old Gettysburg Road, Camp Hill, PA

Present this advertisement for a complimentary 2-day pass to the West Shore YMCA.

www.americanhomemedicalcompany.com

www.womannewspapers.com

8/12/2014 9:21:04 AM

Submitted By American Home Medical

cushions, gloves and travel socks.

Hope you all had a wonderful summer! It’s never too early to think about fall and winter.

The change of seasons is a good time to check your supplies and assisted living equipment. Is everything in good shape? Do you need new tips on a cane? A bar to assist in getting out of bed? A seat lift chair for safe transfer to walker?

Have you been putting off getting assisted living equipment for one reason or another? A wheeled walker to replace a cane that no longer gives the support needed for a steady gait or a raised commode seat can make a significant difference in quality of life. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor or physical therapist before making these changes.

Safety in your home is so important.

Simple steps can be taken to prevent falls and hospital and rehabilitation stays.

Items such as a reacher, shoe horn, bed and bath rails, a walker basket, a handheld shower or special feeding utensils make everyday living easier and safer.

Comfort can be improved with snugfitting slippers, bed pads, bath sponges,

To our Wounded Warriors: We thank you for your honor, service, and dedication to this fine country! We appreciate your giving us continued freedom, liberty, and life. God bless our military and the USA!

Putting an end to domestic violence in PA Submitted by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence

America’s first state domestic violence coalition, extending a lifeline to more than 3 million victims and their children

3605 Vartan Way, Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 717-545-6400

www.pcadv.org

Last year, 158 Pennsylvanians died in domestic violence-related incidents, a 12 percent increase over the 141 deaths in 2012. Two commonwealth initiatives are being implemented to address these disturbing statistics.

The first is a Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). Based on a screening model developed in Maryland, LAP is a diagnostic tool that helps police departments identify domestic violence victims who are at greatest risk of serious injury or death. Victims who respond positively to survey questions are placed in contact with local assistance providers.

LAP helped Maryland cut fatality deaths by 34 percent in its first five years of implementation.

More than 70 Pennsylvania police departments, including the city of Pittsburgh, are participating in LAP, which was launched in 2012. Additional police departments are being added almost every month.

Another way to stop domestic violence is to eliminate it before it occurs.

The main focus of the statewide “No More” campaign is primary prevention programs that teach young men about healthy relationships and masculinity. One

way the prevention program attempts to reach male youth is by recruiting men as mentors and messengers.

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) has partnered with the FISA Foundation and Heinz Endowments of Pittsburgh to develop a primary prevention program for youth that can serve as a statewide model. More than four dozen Pittsburgh-area civic, business and religious leaders have signed a pledge to end gender violence and serve as healthy role models and mentors to western Pennsylvania youth.

“Domestic violence isn’t just a women’s issue,’’ said PCADV Director Peg Dierkers. “It’s also a men’s issue, and a community issue.’’

Turning a dream into a business Submitted by Mid Penn Bank For many, entrepreneurship is the dream career. The independence, room for decision-making and potential wealth accompanying entrepreneurship are all viable reasons for its appeal.

What can be most daunting about entrepreneurship is the challenge of funding. However, with the assistance of a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, your dream could become a reality.

“SBA guaranteed loans are available specifically for small business owners who wish to start a new business, acquire a business or expand an existing business,” said Mid Penn Bank SBA Loan Officer Natalie Falatek. “There are many benefits SBA loans offer that can help propel a business’s success and profitability.”

To start, these loans are guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration up to 85 percent. This guarantee helps reduce lenders’ risks, enabling the lender to provide financial assistance that may not be available otherwise. Other benefits include lower down payments, more flexible repayment terms and more competitive interest rates in comparison to traditional commercial loans.

If you are interested in applying for

an SBA loan, set up an appointment with a financial institution that is accredited as an SBA lender. Make sure you bring along documentation to sell your case when meeting. A resume, business plan, personal credit report, income tax returns, financial statements and bank statements will help demonstrate your reliability as a borrower.

Also consider the questions that will be asked of you by the bank. For instance, why are you applying? How will the loan be used specifically? What assets need to be purchased?

“Map out as much information as you can ahead of time and you will appear fully prepared to move forward with your business plan,” said Falatek.

Visit sba.gov or midpennbank.com to learn more.

Helping to make your business dreams a reality.

Mid Penn Bank’s Preferred Lender status with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) means we can simplify the process of providing financial assistance to our vibrant small business community. Through our partnership with the SBA, we can help you start or expand your business.

For more information on how you can get started, please contact Natalie Falatek at 717-692-7118.

1-866-642-7736 | midpennbank.com Member FDIC

www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

9

Permanent makeup offers a 24/7 solution

By Dianne Stein, Esthetician When most women think of permanent make-up they still have the misconception that one must be rich to get permanent makeup. In contrast, many people seek out permanent makeup artists to help them with a variety of medical conditions. In fact, the practice of permanent cosmetics or micro-pigmentation has attained a professional standing with the scientific, cosmetology, and medical communities.

Some of the medical conditions served by the application of permanent cosmetics include breast reconstruction surgery, alopecia, vitiligo, and chemotherapy patients. People suffering from physical scars or asymmetrical appearances often times are left feeling down, disfigured, self-conscious and sometimes depressed. Using permanent makeup helps them recover to feel better about themselves, have greater confidence and outlook on life.

Chemotherapy and alopecia are two examples of medical conditions where hair is lost or cannot grow. Micro-

Natural, soft cosmetics that enhance your face without being too bold or overdone.

pigmentation can be used to create a full eyebrow and eyeliner on the eyelids. Individuals with scarring or skin conditions, such as vitiligo, have also benefitted from skin pigmentation to cover discrepancies in their physical appearance.

Areola micro-pigmentation following breast reconstructive surgery becomes a significant event in a woman’s life. In a way, it signals the end of their journey through the diagnosis of cancer, then the mastectomy and reconstruction of the breast. They have been through the entire process and the areola micropigmentation is the completion of their physical journey. It also allows them to begin to feel complete physically, mentally and emotionally.

Throughout history, makeup and micro-pigmentation have been used to accentuate bodies and faces for the purpose of beauty. Increasingly more, it has become a small way to help people recover from medical conditions and feel better about themselves.

beautiful Wake up

every day

Your brows need it... your eyes want it... your lips have to have it... and everyone will love it...

Dianne Stein is a licensed Esthetician and a certified permanent make up artist. She has over 25 years experience as a professional make-up artist. Dianne works for a Plastic Surgery group in the Capital Medical Center in Harrisburg, PA.

• LIP LINER • FULL LIP ENHANCEMENT • ACCENTUATING EYE LINER • FEATHERED EYEBROWS WITH HAIRLIKE STROKES • COSMETIC ENHANCEMENT OF AREOLAS AND NIPPLES FOLLOWING BREAST RECONSTRUCTION • FDA APPROVED PIGMENTS, STERILE EQUIPMENT • NO PAIN AND NO DOWNTIME WITH PRECAUTIONS FOLLOWED

“I would be honored to set up a consulation appointment!”

- DIANNE STEIN Esthetician

Certified with 5 years experience in permanent cosmetic application Professional makeup artist for 27 years

PERMANENT MAKEUP BY DI 717-514-8445

permanentmakeupbydi@gmail.com

We Put Our

Members First.

VISA Platinum Credit Card. ®

Three different cards for you to choose from:

CASH BACK* 2% on gas & grocery purchases and 1% on all other purchases

POINTS Earn points for every dollar spent

LOWER RATE OPTION

Apply today at our Middletown Branch, 361 E. Main Street, Middletown. www.members1st.org (800) 283-2328, ext. 6040 Say goodbye to high interest store credit card rates. Ask about our VISA® Balance Transfer offer. *Our Members 1st FCU VISA Platinum Cash Back Rewards card will earn 2.0% cash back on all new qualifying net purchases at eligible grocery merchants and gas merchants. Eligible grocery merchants are classified by standard industry codes (SIC) of 5411 and 5451. Eligible gas merchants are classified by standard industry codes (SIC) of 5541 and 5542. Each quarter (defined as January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December) there is a limit of a total of $1,500.00 of the 2.0% cash rewards related to gas and grocery purchases. Once the $1,500.00 limitation for that specific quarter is reached, all additional gas and grocery transaction codes will receive the standard 1.0% cash reward only. Members 1st FCU cannot be held liable or responsible for merchants that are not properly identified with these SIC codes which will result in receiving only 1.0% cash rewards. Balance Transfers, Cash Advances, purchasing of money orders or cash equivalents (including ATM advances) are not eligible for cash rewards. Should your account become 90 days or more delinquent or fall out of good standings, any and all accumulated cash rewards may be forfeited. Cash Back Reward redemption options are outlined within our ScoreCard Rewards web site at www.scorecardrewards.com. Minimum redemption amount is $25.00. All cash back rewards are non-expiring.

We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

142396 Middletown Press & Journal VISA Ads.indd 1

10

september • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

7/17/14 8:53 AM

MY SUCCESS STORY by Gwen Ricks

My new career My name is Gwen Ricks, originally from Brooklyn, NY. I was brought up in a stable home with 4 siblings with a stay-at-home mother and a working father. My father worked for the NYC Transit Authority until he retired at the end of his career.

I was educated in the NYC School System up to the 10th grade when I dropped out of school. My very first job was at 19 years of age caring for an elderly woman. Eventually I went back to get my GED at the age of 22.

I am now 56 years old, a widowed mother of three adult children. I currently reside in Harrisburg, PA. My husband passed away in 1997 and up until that time, I was a wife and a stay-at-home mother with three children.

Everyone knows that is a fulltime job.

My situation required some action and with no real work skills I decided I would go to college to gain the education that I needed to become employed. I received an Associates of Arts degree in Human Services and in addition to that, I became a Certified Nursing Assistant. I worked as a Nursing Assistant for 6 years until I was no longer able to perform the physical duties required by the job.

For three years I stayed at home babysitting my granddaughter, however, I started to realize that I needed something different.

I gave up babysitting to explore what my choices might be for employment and a new career. My search took me to the PACareerLink where I found out about a senior job training program.

Working with a counselor at that program, I explained my situation and my interest in becoming a receptionist as a new career.

There were opportunities within the job training program that could provide me with the experience that I was seeking.

WEST SHORE LOCATIONS • Camp Hill: 2020 Salon, A Special Touch, BodyLogic, Camp Hill Café, Center for Women’s Health, Central Pa. OB/GYN Inc., Christian Life Assembly Pastoral Care, Cornerstone Coffeehouse, CPRS Physical Therapy, Drexel Group, Face To Face Cosmetics, Family Development Services, Foos OB/GYN, PC, Franklyn Studio, Fredrickson Library, Gable Associates, Genevieve’s Beauty Salon, Giant Foods, Gold’s Gym, Hair Care Center, Hanger/Teufel, Hard Bean News & Coffee, The Healthy Grocer, Herd Chiropractic Clinic, Heritage Cardiology Associates, Highmark, Holy Spirit Hospital, Individual & Family Services, Kenneth & Co. Beauty Clinic, Kosmetique Salon, Mirage Hair Design, Momentum Business Solutions, Orthopedic Institute, Dr. Ida Page, Pennsylvania Bakery, Premier Vein Specialists, Prescriptions for Enlightening Paths, Stephen Rydesky Jr., DMD, Trindle Bowl, Urology Assoc. of Central PA, WatersEdge, Woods at Cedar Run, YMCA • Enola: CA Nails, The Goddard School, East Pennsboro Library, Summerdale Diner, Synchrony ChiroCare • Lemoyne: Adult Medicine & Aesthetics, Baby Bug n Me, Conforti Physical Therapy, First Choice Rehabilitation, Gunn Mowery Insurance Group, Infinity Hair Salon, Internists of Central PA, Nail Touch, Paper Lion Gallery, Partners in Women’s Healthcare, Polished, Style Unlimited, Womb With A View • Mechanicsburg: ABC Lanes West, Allstate Insurance, Art Depot, Autobody by Lucas, Beaudry Oral Surgery, Bethany Village, Bowmansdale Family Practice, Brewhouse Grille, Brothers Restaurant, Center for Independent Living of Central PA, Central PA Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Colour Forte, Community Health Resource Library, Cost Cutters, Cumberland Valley OB/GYN, Delta Development, Enterprise Sales, Executive Offices at Rossmoyne, Farrell Plastic Surgery, First Choice Rehabilitation, Gettysburg Pike Animal Clinic, The Goddard School, Great Lengths, Hair Image, The Hair Loft, Healthy Inspirations, Hetrick Center, Hoover Rehabilitation Services, Huntington Learning Center, JC Penney Salon, Jones, Daly, Coldren & Assoc., Juice-N-Java Café, Kids Kutters, Madden Physical Therapy, Majors Select Collision Group, The Mane Difference, Meadwood Sr. Citizen Apts., Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop, Mechanicsburg Public Library, Merry Maids, McCafferty Ford, My Gym Children’s Fitness Center, Naturelle Nail, Oakwood Breast Cancer Center, Passiton, Quest Diagnostics, Ramada Inn, Rich Connor Associates, Sahara Tanning, Sass Hair Salon, Shepherdstown Family Practice, Sherry & Co. Family Hair, Stratis/Gainer Plastic Surgery, Studio 7 Nail Salon, Styles Boutique, Sue Witters Beauty Salon, Tressler Counseling & Ed. Services, Twin Ponds West, Vanessa’s, West Shore Surgery Center • New Cumberland: A Heavenly Touch Beauty Spa, Bridge St. Coffee, New Cumberland Library • Wormleysburg: Susquehanna Surgeons, Ltd., Your Crowning Glory

Masquerade Friday, October 24

For more info visit DressForSuccess.org/SouthCentralPA or call 717-232-1333

The mission of Dress for Success South Central PA is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS South Central PA locations: Harrisburg 717-232-1333 York 717-764-3330 Lebanon 717-270-5337

I am now working as a receptionist! I am able to meet new people, get up and get dressed in the morning, catch a bus and off I go to work every day. I get a paycheck! It all may sound trivial to some; but, to me it was freedom and moving toward a brighter future.

Where to find a

8th Annual GALA

So, ladies, there are places and people that are ready and willing to help you, you only have to seek them out.

They then referred me to Dress for Success South Central PA, who was instrumental in giving me not only the perfect outfit for my first interview, but supplied me with a week’s worth of clothing as well, right down to the accessories, shoes and purse when I started working in my new position.

For me at age 56, it’s both exciting and a little scary at the same time. Who knows where I’ll be in the next few years. I plan to stay involved with the Professional Women’s Group (PWG is a job retention program) and

• YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED •

with my training program that will help me to gain skills for future opportunities. The PWG truly provides me with a “network of support” from other employed and professional women that have had similar and different barriers on their journey to becoming employed.

southcentralpa@dressforsuccess.org www.dressforsuccess.org/southcentralpa

MY SUCCESS STORY is a special feature sponsored by:

AND Gwen before & after

EAST SHORE LOCATIONS • Elizabethtown: Now Wear This • Harrisburg Area: A Physical Therapist, AARP Sr. Employment, Affordable Dentures, All About Faces Community Dermatology, Arthritis Foundation, Associated Cardiologists, Auditor General’s Childcare Center, Bakare & Associates, Barbara Sullivan’s Classic Hair Design, Baturin & Baturin, Baughman Family Medicine, Beauty Bar, Belco Federal Credit Union, Blue Mountain Family Practice, Broad Street Market, Bronstein Jeffries Professional Associates, Café Fresco, Capital Region Sleep Disorder Center, Casual Cut, CAT, Central PA Oral Surgeons, Central PA Surgical Associates, Central Penn Fitness, Chartwood Dental Center, Colonial Park Animal Clinic, Colonial Park Diner, Cost Cutters, CPRS Physical Therapy, Crown Plaza Hotel, CVS, Dauphin County Department of Aging, Dr. Zuckerman, Dress For Success, East Shore Public Library, Exit Realty Capital Area, Felicita, First Choice Rehabilitation, First Impressions, Giant, HACC, Hair Biz, Harrisburg City Hall, Harrisburg Mall, Harrisburg Uro-Care, Harrisburg Visitors Center, Hildebrand Learning Center, Hilton Towers, Holiday Inn Express, Homeland Center, Innovations, Jan L. Brown & Associates, Jan’s Beauty Salon, Jewish Family Services, Karns, Kindred Place, Kline Pediatric Center, Kmart, La Piazza, Labor & Industry Building, Leber & Banducci Plastic Surgery, Mangia Qui, Manor at Oakridge, Mazzetti & Sullivan Counseling Services, Memorial Eye Institute, Mia Testarossa, New Passages, Noah’s Animal Hospital, Orbit Salon, PA Mentor Network, Party City, Pasquale’s Restaurant, Peachtree Restaurant & Lounge, PHEAA Building, Pheasant Hill Estates, Pinnacle Community Hospital, Premier Eye Care, Promenade Restaurant, PSECU Childcare Center, Quest Diagnostics, Rhoads & Simon LLP, Rite Aid, Sam’s Club, Silvers Dental Care, Social Security Administration, Sterling Life Insurance, Susquehanna Harley Davidson, Sutliff Chevrolet, Sweet Arrow Springs, The Goddard School, Tristan Associates, Watkin Freshman & Nipple Associates, Weber Vision Care, Weis Market, West Hanover Winery, What If Café, WomanCare Resource Center, Women First, YMCA • Hershey: Cocoa Urology Associates, Dafno’s Italian Grille, Edward M. Mimnaugh Veterinarian, Emerald Springs Spa, Heritage Cleaners, Hershey Dental Associates, Hershey Endoscopy, Hershey Grille, Penn State Hershey Med Center, Hershey Ortho & Spine Rehab, Karns, Leo Frittelli Salon & Day Spa, Hershey Public Library, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Mohler Senior Center, Nestico Druby & Hildebrand, Tristan Associates, What If Café • Highspire: Days Inn, Chubb’s Market, Highspire School Apts., Highspire Senior Center • Hummelstown: Gold’s Gym, Hilton Garden Inn, Soda Jerk, Woodward & Assoc.

• Middletown: Hairacy, Hardee’s, The Hetrick Center, Karns, Loretta’s Beauty Salon, McDonald’s, Middletown Area School District, Middletown Home, Middletown Library, Middletown Pharmacy, Penn State Harrisburg, Press And Journal Publications, Sharp Shopper, • Steelton: Daniel Kambic MD, Dauphin County Housing Authority, Steelton Pharmacy

THIS IS ONLY A PARTIAL LISTING - FOR HELP IN FINDING A LOCATION NEAR YOU,CALL SARA AT 717-944-4628

www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

11

Protect your retirement If You Aren’t at Your Last Job, Why Is Your 401(k)?

Leaving a 401(k) with a previous employer could mean leaving it alone with no one to watch over it.

At Edward Jones, we can explain options for your 401(k) and help you select the one that’s best for you. If you’d like to roll it over to an Edward Jones Individual Retirement Account (IRA), we can help you do it without paying taxes or penalties. And you can feel confident that someone is looking out for you and your 401(k).

To find out why it makes sense to talk with Edward Jones about your 401(k) options, call or visit your local financial advisor today.

Christopher B Dixon, AAMS® Financial Advisor .

29 S Union St Suite 110 Middletown, PA 17057 717-944-1206

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

Submitted by Chris Dixon, AAMS Edward Jones Financial Advisor

As an investor, you’re well aware that, over the short term, the financial markets always move up and down. During your working years, you may feel that you have time to overcome this volatility. And you’d be basing these feelings on actual evidence: The longer the investment period, the greater the tendency of the markets to “smooth out” their performance.

But what happens when you retire? Won’t you be more susceptible to market movements?

You may not be as vulnerable as you might think. In the first place, given our growing awareness of healthier lifestyles, you could easily spend two, or even three, decades in retirement — so your investment time frame isn’t necessarily going to be that compressed.

Nonetheless, it’s still true that time may well be a more important consideration to you during your retirement years, so you may want to be particularly vigilant about taking steps to help smooth out the effects of market volatility. Toward that end, here are a few suggestions: • Allocate your investments among a variety of asset classes. Of course, proper asset allocation is a good investment move at any age, but when you’re retired, you want to be especially careful that you don’t “over-concentrate” your investment dollars among just a few assets. Spreading your money among a range of vehicles - stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, government securities and so on - can help you avoid taking the full brunt of a downturn that may primarily hit just one type of investment. (Keep in mind, though, that while diversification can help reduce the effects of volatility, it can’t assure a profit or protect against loss.)

• Choose investments that have demonstrated solid performance across many market cycles. As you’ve probably heard, “past performance is no guarantee of future results,” and this is true. Nonetheless, you can help improve your outlook by owning quality investments.

So when investing in stocks, choose those that have actual earnings and a track record of earnings growth. If you invest in fixed-income vehicles, pick those that are considered “investment grade.”

• Don’t make emotional decisions. At various times during your retirement, you will, in all likelihood, witness some sharp drops in the market. Try to avoid overreacting to these downturns, which will probably just be normal market “corrections.” If you can keep your emotions out of investing, you will be less likely to make moves such as selling quality investments merely because their price is temporarily down.

• Don’t try to “time” the market. You may be tempted to “take advantage” of volatility by looking for opportunities to “buy low and sell high.” In theory, this is a fine idea — but, unfortunately, no one can really predict market highs or lows. You’ll probably be better off by consistently investing the same amount of money into the same investments. Over time, this method of investing may result in lower per-share costs. However, as is the case with diversification, this type of “systematic” investing won’t guarantee a profit or protect against loss, and you’ll need to be willing to keep investing when share prices are declining.

It’s probably natural to get somewhat more apprehensive about market volatility during your retirement years. But taking the steps described above can help you navigate the sometimes-choppy waters of the financial world.

BATURIN & BATURIN ATTORNEYS AT LAW

A family of attorneys since 1917 ■ General PractiCe of Law ■ Fa mily Law Divorce Support Custody Adoptions

■C RIMINAL Law

DUI Motor Vehicle Offenses Drug and other Criminal Offenses Juvenile Offenses

Madelaine N. Baturin, Esq.

■A DMINISTRATIVE LAW

License Suspensions and PennDOT Issues Unemployment Compensation Due Process Hearings

■R EAL ESTATE/ESTATES Landlord/Tenant Real Estate Transactions Wills/POA

2604 N. SECOND ST., HARRISBURG, PA 17110 717.234.2427 Cell 717.329.6809 FAX 717.234.7544 12

september • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

“

a couple of things I’d like to get off my chest

Follow Woman columnist Debra Baer Becker’s blog updates @ www.womannewspapers.com and click on “Blog”

fight e h t h is in f lp e h n a c u o Y against breast cancer. Š2014 American Cancer Society, Inc.

This walk gets us to the finish line faster. When you walk and fundraise in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, you help the American Cancer Society make the greatest impact and save more lives in more communities, through groundbreaking research and programs like clinical trials matching and free rides to treatment.

Walk with us, because you can help us finish the fight. Form or join a team today.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Harrisburg Saturday, October 18, 2014

l

Registration begins: 7:30 a.m. Walk start: 8:30 a.m.

City Island

MakingStridesWalk.org/harrisburg

www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

13

lymphedivas MEDICALLY CORRECT FASHION FOR LYMPHEDEMA

Treat your body. Treat your spirit. Treat yourself.

You deserve a compression garment that feels as good as it looks!

LympheDIVAs provides either Class 1 or Class 2 medical compression in both sleeves and gauntlets — and we do it in something other than just boring beige. With over 50 patterns, 2 crystal additions and our Diva Tone line with 30 unique skin tones, LympheDIVAs works to provide you with medical compression that you would actually want to wear. All our garments are made in the USA with a state-of-the-art breathable and moisture-wicking fabric with 360° stretch to decrease binding at the elbow. Say “Goodbye” to beige and slip into the comfort of LympheDIVAs!

WWW.LYMPHEDIVAS.COM • 866-411-3482

Women First Obstetrics & Gynecology, P. C.

Because We Care Margaret M. Hawn, M.D. Kenneth J. Oken, M.D. Andrew Perrotti, M.D. Emma Cargado-Leynes, D.O. Parul Krishnamurthy, M.D. Richard Crispino, M.D.

Krista Rebo-Massara, D.O. Gerald F. Maenner, M.D. Katharyn L. Kraemer, CNM Elaine Y. Greene, CNM Sharon L. Jones, CRNP Karen Stilp, CRNP

• • • •

• • • •

Obstetrics & Gynecology Normal And High Risk Pregnancy Infertility Bone Densities

Laser Surgery Adolescent & Geriatric Gynecology Female Urinary Incontinence Robotic Surgery

OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT

717-652-6605

4700 UNION DEPOSIT RD (SUITE 140) HARRISBURG 1000 EvElyN DRIvE SOUTH WING MIllERSBURG 2025 TEcHNOlOGy PARkWAy SUITE 309 MEcHANIcSBURG

14

september • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

i

was born into a relatively small family; a total of 10, including the extended members. In 20 months, we were reduced to seven. Then, less than a decade later, we were six. As a child it felt like the dominos were falling; three out of my four grandparents vanished.

“Died” was what happened in my family when cancer appeared. We said “died” in my family. We didn’t say “passed on” or “passed away”. But it was the same ethereal notion to a small child. I didn’t need more language to signal death as precious and life-altering.

In 1984, my paternal grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. It started as a spot on her lung, which the doctor removed. She then underwent chemotherapy, but on New Year’s Day in 1985, we lost my cunning, kind, grandmotherly Grandma Weez. I was only 6 years old, but I have strong memories: I am sitting on her kitchen counter while she cooked. She is reading my father’s childhood books to me. The kitchen is stocked up on the sugary cereals that we weren’t yet allowed to have at home.

Exactly 11 months after Grandma Weez died, my maternal grandfather, Papa, who escaped the Germans in Paris, who started his life over in no less than three countries and spoke more than that many languages doing so, passed away from heart disease.

Precisely 10 months and 10 days after Papa died, Grandma Kay – who held the highest position in the Navy until she married, who helped to rebuild Pearl Harbor, who nursed my grandfater for years and years – was also taken by cancer. Grandma Kay was almost two decades younger than Papa. It was painful for the family to lose Papa, but there had been a morbid silver lining: Grandma Kay would be able to enjoy her twilight years unburdened. She was only in her mid-60s.

When Grandma Kay was diagnosed with cancer, which had started in her lungs and eventually metastasized to her brain, it was crushing on so many levels. She was the third parent that my parents were losing in a very short span of time; the diagnosis came in before the first anniversary of Grandma Weez’s death.

Grandma Kay’s cancer was far along, but the doctors were optimistic. They fought with chemotherapy. They said they “got it all.” She wore wigs, a woman dressed for an intermediary period of illness before wellness returned. But in less than a year after diagnosis, Grandma Kay also died.

My mom was relatively new to the world of cancer when her mother was diagnosed. So, when my Grandma Kay got sick, everything changed for my mom. With her mother hundreds of miles away and her sister championing the care-taking, my mother looked right in front of her and tried to stabilize the things as best she could with her family, her job, her life. She visited her mother every three weeks or so as her cancer battle raged on.

My mother believed positive thinking could keep her safe, but she now couples it with regular doctor’s visits. She still hunkers down, focusing on what’s in front of her, on the things she can manage. She connects everyone she can who might be able to help one another. This is her method of surviving. This is also the legacy of survival she’s given to me.

My father’s first awareness of cancer came when the mother of his closest childhood friend was struck with recurrent breast cancer in the ‘60s (a time when cancer details weren’t openly shared.)

At his friend’s wedding a few years later on, a

how we survive

telephone link from the church to his friend’s mother’s bedside was arranged so she could listen to her son’s ceremony. That memory influenced my father’s life and it impacted how he raised me.

When his mother (my Granda Weez) died, I was 6. I probably cried some but not a lot. I told my father I was sad. He took me to the kitchen and opened the cupboard to remove some old mug with a bank or hotel logo on it. We went to the back patio, a 20-foot swath of cement facing a green lawn and then a horizon of woods, and he handed me the mug. “Throw it,” he said and pointed to the cement. “Break it. Maybe it will help.” I did, and we giggled and hugged. I didn’t learn to break things when I’m sad. I learned that it was part of surviving. To be sad.

Cancer is so engraved into my father’s core that he faithfully visits the doctor in an attempt to catch anything before it becomes real. And while his vigilant skin check appointments are his personal life raft; in all probability he doesn’t clearly see how he’s instilled a survivalist mentality in me.

By the time we lost Grandma Kay, I’d gotten accustomed to death. I say that very superficially. I was too young and had not spent enough time with my grandparents to truly feel their absence, but my parents obviously did. My brother, who is just 20 months older than me, surely felt more than I. 10 years after the first loss of a grandparent, my last remaining grandparent was diagnosed with an incurable melanoma. That’s what the doctors called it: incurable. We didn’t have much hope anyway in our family when we heard the word “cancer.”

The disease didn’t take my grandfather right away, but that didn’t seem to soften the blow. The knowledge that we were losing another family member to cancer had become almost expected, like losing someone to old age.

As far as I could tell at my young age, cancer only killed.

I’ve since learned that there is so much more to cancer than dying. A few years ago, a high school friend survived a tough battle with leukemia and has been in remission since. Two more friends have had pre-cancerous cells removed from their cervixes, repeatedly catching the disease before it could take hold. My stepmom has had frightening precancerous cells removed from her skin. My mother had lumpectomies that put her under medical surveillance for several years, but thankfully has never evolved to more. My family history warns that I may have to battle it in some way one day and I’m terrified. But I’m buoyed by medical advances and early detection.

I’ve also come to realize that those with cancer aren’t only the warriors enduring the horrors of chemo, treatments, medications and surgeries. Our scars aren’t always on the skin, but we too are survivors. We have stood beside our friends and family as they endure those treatments, rallying others to support our loved ones. We run in marathons and wear ribbons and have our bone marrow tested and go to memorials or volunteer in hospitals. We survivors demand research, raise awareness, train for early detection. Yes, there are those who push their heads deep into the sand, as though all the chips have already fallen and the end is known. We can choose to churn out positivity or we can also swelter in pessimism.

But be certain: We are surviving – sometimes barely, sometimes brazenly.

We reunite, we feel, we rally and we research. We move forward. These are the ways we survive.

my family’s War with Cancer Kathryn Baxter is a writer living in Brooklyn, NY.

by Kathrynseptember Baxter • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

15

Reconstruction restores look and feel of the breast Enhance your

By Leo D. Farrell, M.D., Farrell Plastic Surgery and Laser Center Breast reconstruction is the rebuilding of the breast, after all or part of the breast has been removed.

Women choose to have breast reconstruction for a number of reasons. Reconstruction can provide a sense of psychological well-being and restore a feeling of wholeness. It generates confidence in appearance, and allows women to wear various types of clothing without worry.

Breast reconstruction includes a variety of procedures performed to restore the shape and form of the breast after mastectomy or partial breast removal. The reconstruction may be performed using breast implants and tissue expanders, or using a woman’s own tissues borrowed from the abdomen or back.

Newer methods involve using a cellular dermal matrix, which is a sheet of processed human tissue; this tissue makes the reconstruction process easier, and improves overall results.

Fat grafting, or fat transfer, uses

a woman’s own fat to improve breast shape, symmetry, and provide better external appearance.

Breast reconstruction is generally a multi-step process which takes place over several months. Initial surgery typically requires a short hospital stay, and subsequent procedures are then performed as an outpatient. The initial surgery may include a skin-sparing mastectomy and nipple-sparing mastectomy. Nipple reconstruction is often done as a last stage, with tattooing of the areola.

Breast reconstruction is performed by a plastic surgeon. In light of this, a plastic surgeon should be a part of every breast cancer patient’s team. A plastic surgeon can discuss a patient’s surgical options based on her physical characteristics, age, need for adjuvant therapy (such as radiation or chemotherapy), and aesthetic goals.

Breast reconstruction is a popular procedure, with over 95,000 procedures performed in 2013, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Breast reconstruction patients are typically very happy with their decision to have reconstruction, and very pleased with their results.

LIGHTS LIGHTS...

CAMERA CAMERA..

RUNWAY RUNWAY.

image!

Featuring...  Breast reconstruction  Breast augmentation  Breast reduction  Breast lift Performed by Leo D. Farrell, M.D. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Farrell Plastic Surgery & Laser Center, P.C.

Fredricksen Outpatient Center 2025 Technology Parkway, Suite 204, Mechanicsburg www.farrellmd.net

717-732-9000

The 10th Annual

Power of Style Fashion Show

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Radisson, Camp Hill 11am to 2pm Featuring: Higashi Jewelry & Eyewear, The Plum, Creative Elegance, Maggie Adams, Baby Bug & Me, Leaf of Eve, Presence, Sassy, and Tara’s Bridal.

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE! $100 per seat Tables of 10 available

All proceeds benefit the YWCA’s emergency shelter and services for victims of domestic violence.

For reservations call 717-724-2248

NEW location NEW vendors NEW runway SAME great cause!

16

september • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

greater harrisburg

Tips for YOUR NEXT

mammogram ■ I f it is not posted visibly near the receptionist’s desk, ask to see the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certificate that is issued to all facilities that offer mammography. The FDA requires all facilities to meet high professional standards of safety and quality in order to be a provider of mammography services. A facility may not provide mammography without certification.

■ U se a facility that either specializes in mammography or does many mammograms a day.

■ I f you are satisfied that the facility is of high quality, continue to go there on a regular basis so that your mammograms can be compared from year to year.

■ I f you are going to a facility for the first time, bring a list of the places, dates of mammograms, biopsies, or other breast treatments you have had before.

■ I f you have had mammograms at another facility, you should make every attempt to get those mammograms to bring with you to the new facility (or have them sent there) so that they can be compared to the new ones.

■ O n the day of the exam don’t wear deodorant or antiperspirant. Some of these contain substances that can interfere with the reading of the mammogram by appearing on the X-ray film as white spots.

■Y ou may find it easier to wear a skirt or pants, so that you’ll only need to remove your blouse for the exam.

■ S chedule your mammogram when your breasts are not tender or swollen to help reduce discomfort and to ensure a good picture. Try to avoid the week just before your period.

Useful suggestions for making sure that you will receive a quality mammogram.

■ A lways describe any breast symptoms or problems that you are having to the technologist who is doing the mammogram. Be prepared to describe any medical history that could affect your breast cancer risk — such as surgery, hormone use, or family or personal history of breast cancer. Discuss any new findings or problems in your breasts with your doctor or nurse before having a mammogram.

■ I f you do not hear from your doctor within 10 days, do not assume that your mammogram was normal - call your doctor or the facility.

Source: American Cancer Society www.cancer.org

You are your best defense against women’s cancers Submitted By PinnacleHealth

You can protect your health and your life by taking control of your gynecologic health. Gynecologic cancers include all cancers of the female reproductive tract. This means ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal, vulvar, tubal cancer, or gestational trophoblastic disease. Early detection and education tools, such as Pap tests and risk assessment tests, not only can detect them, but also can help prevent them.

There are simple things you can do: Know your genes Learn about your family history of breast, ovarian, uterine, and colon cancers. The genetic risk for ovarian cancer can be passed on to you through either your mother or father. This makes both family histories equally important. Familial risk is the most significant risk factor for ovarian cancer. Alert your gynecologist about your family history of cancer so you can take preventive steps.

Assess your risk Talk with your doctor about your risk of developing cervical, ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer. There are common factors that can influence your personal cancer risk. By combining your family’s health history and discussing lifestyle factors, your doctor can help you know more about your overall risk, but also what actions you can take to help reduce your risk.

Know your body Learn the warning signs of these cancers. If you notice anything different or unusual in your health, consult your doctor.

Gynecological symptoms may resemble other medical conditions or urological problems. Consult your health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Bleeding between periods • Frequent and urgent need to urinate, or a burning sensation during urination • Abnormal vaginal bleeding, particularly during or after intercourse • Pain or pressure in your pelvis that differs from menstrual cramps • Itching, burning, swelling, redness, or soreness in the vaginal area • Sores or lumps in your genital area • Vaginal discharge with an unpleasant or unusual odor, or an unusual color • Increased vaginal discharge • Pain or discomfort during intercourse Recognizing symptoms early and seeing a health care provider right away increase the likelihood of successful treatment.

Make an appointment for your annual gynecologic exam and cancer screening tests.

Some of these cancers have no symptoms. Get an annual gynecologic exam, no matter what your age. This regular healthcare routine is critical to maintaining your health.

While they are often discussed as a group, each gynecologic cancer is unique. Each has different signs, symptoms, and risk factors. While there is no known way to prevent all types of gynecologic cancer, there are things you can do that may help lower your chance of getting them or help to find them early.

By keeping regular appointments with your doctor, discussing any concerns or changes in your health and having an open dialogue, you can take control of your gynecological health.

Craft shows offer a fun 25th Anniversary Hegins Valley Arts & Crafts Faire alternative to the malls September 20, 2014

Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Come to the country” ❤ Over 200 selected craftsmen from PA and nearby states will be demonstrating and displaying their finest work. ❤ A delicious variety of foods prepared for your eating pleasure - all day including breakfast starting at 7:00 a.m. ❤ Show will be held rain or shine.

Parking - $2.00 (Benefit Hegins Park Association) No Dogs Allowed - Service Dogs Only

HEGINS PARK Approximately 6 miles West on Rt. 25 from Exit 112 on Interstate 81.

Watch for signs to Hegins Park.

18

september • october 2014

For Information Call: 570-682-9541 or 570-682-8181

www.womannewspapers.com

By Kathryn Otto Hegins Valley Arts & Crafts Faire

Do you find a craft show difficult to resist? Maybe you need a special gift? Or perhaps you want to add to or change your home decor? A craft show is the ideal place to find the special item you are looking for.

As you stroll among the vendors, you will find many unusual and unique new crafts which are added each year.

Recycling and reusing ordinary items into different uses such as men’s ties into scarves or skirts is becoming popular at craft shows.

“Interactive Art” is another different approach. The artist makes various designs and the purchaser completes the art design. These personalized items make great gifts for weddings, showers, birthdays, reunions, and graduations. This is a very personal gift for a special person.

Traditional handmade arts and crafts such as jewelry, rugs, clothing, pottery, paintings, arrangements and holiday items are just a few of the arts and crafts that may be on display. Some craft shows may even have live demonstrations of weaving, broom making, and turning pottery.

And don’t forget the tempting aroma of a huge variety of foods wafting throughout the fair reminding you there is so much to please every palate.

As the sweltering days of summer give way to cool, brisk days of autumn, a day spent at a craft show is a great autumn tonic before the cold, blustery winter days arrive.

If you’re looking for a “day away”, a craft fair is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a day with family, friends, food, and fellowship.

I’ll toast to that!

By Leigh Hurst, Founder/President Feel Your Boobies Foundation

n!

ebratio

ry Cel niversa

10th An

All Proceeds Benefit

Silent Auction • Raffle • Drink Specials Appetizers • DJ, and more

For event info & tix… feelyourboobies.com

Wanna Win a FIAT? Find out how at

feelyourboobies.com

There’s no question about it: Getting breast cancer sucks. No matter your age or diagnosis, it feels like your world comes screeching to a standstill. It’s the beginning of living your life with a dark cloud over your head. Some days are sunnier than others, but the chance of another storm rolling in is ever present in the back of your mind.

Right after I was diagnosed, I remember reaching out to other women who had breast cancer. Some were just newly diagnosed, like me. Others were decades beyond their diagnosis and I remember thinking, “I can’t even imagine being 10 years out from all of this.” Partly because it was all so new and raw, I wondered if I actually would ever be able to say I was a 10-year survivor.

This year I “celebrated” 10 years of living cancer-free. Kind of a weird and wonderful thing to celebrate, I know.

Oddly, counter to what I expected, I felt the presence of that looming dark cloud more than ever. Maybe it’s because 10 years is such a major milestone for breast cancer. Those women who survive 10

years are far less likely to die of the disease. But of course, as with most things in life, there are no guarantees.

Back in April 2004 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33, I learned to take things one day at a time. In the 3,652 days since then a lot has happened: I started a nonprofit breast cancer awareness foundation called Feel Your Boobies and later quit my career to manage it full time. I became a wife and the mother of two beautiful boys. I lost two of my friends, Rachel and Jess, to breast cancer. I marked several milestones of being cancer-free and another major milestone when I turned 40 and celebrated by traveling to Paris and Morocco. More recently I became a single mom (which has presented its own kind of challenges!) I have also been doing speaking engagements on behalf of FYB and along the way I’m honored to have met women who credit Feel Your Boobies for their own breast cancer diagnosis.

Not bad for 10 years. 10 years I wasn’t sure I’d have back in 2004. And through the good days, and not so good days, I’ve learned that you can’t predict what tomorrow will bring. It sounds cliché but it’s true. So here’s to 10 more years - and to taking them one day at a time.

For all those touched by breast cancer

The

Pink Party An authentic stern paddlewheel riverboat

THLY

MON

A FREE Evening of Fun~ No Money Required or Requested Sunday, October 12, 6-8pm The Friendship Center 5000 Commons Drive, Harrisburg (717) 657-5635 Monte Carlo Tables • Kid’s Carnival Games • Ducky Regatta Live Entertainment • Gift Basket Raffles • Refreshments Information Booths • Use of the Friendship Center

Join us on facebook: thepinkparty

WINE& CHEESE CRUISES

MURDER

MYSTERY Dinner Theatre Cruises

Select Frid

ays

City Island, Harrisburg • 717-234-6500 Check our website for the complete schedule and details OF OUR FAMILY-THEMED CRUISES.:

www.HarrisburgRiverboat.com www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

19

For

SHOP YOUR

CLOSET SPECIAL EDITION! Meet Amber

A woman's body goes through many changes with cancer as Amber H. knows firsthand. Amber was diagnosed with breast cancer in March at the age of 28. She knew something was wrong when she experienced soreness in her breast and then discovered a lump. “Knowing your own body is very important,” she said.

aF

REE

str Are you ugg you r w ling ard wi rob th e?

clo Drea set min ma g o keo f a ver clos fea et w tur he ed re e on ve thi ry i s p tem ag e, E fits ma and il L fla isa tte at rs y lisa ou rae ! ser ie

s@

aol

.co

m

Woman’s Stylist Lisa Rae DeRosa helps women just like you look good and feel good.

Lisa Says:

I'm dedicating this edition of Shop Your Closet to Amber and to the memory of my Aunt Sandy and to all women affected by breast cancer.

Amber’s challenge: Finding tops to fit! Our style goal: Simple, yet sassy-chic wardrobe to match her upbeat personality. Great news Amber will be getting married soon and her fiance is surprising her with a honeymoon next year! (The location is the surprise!)

On our visit

to LifeChanges Boutique in Hanover, PA, Amber and I found a positive, supportive and caring environment catering to the needs of women who are living with cancer.

Diana Klunk is the owner of LifeChanges and a breast cancer survivor. Thank you to Amber and the wonderful ladies at LifeChanges. Learn more by visiting lifechanges4women.com.

Battle ready Looking casual chic and comfy in a hot pink “Amber’s Army” t-shirt and bracelet paired with black “Fight Like A Girl” shorts.

Little black dress The classic black dress with a touch of detail on the hip. What’s even more “hip,” is that you can wear it as your basic LBD or as a beach coverup! Best part: Saving money and time! Doesn’t Amber look beautiful!

Honeymooner Did someone mention “tropical” honeymoon? (we're not telling!)

Love this swimsuit set, Why? When not wearing as a coverup Amber can wear it as a top. Diana surprised Amber and gave her this set as a gift.

Tropical style Don’t you love these vibrant colors on Amber?

Surprise - the vest is actually a scarf! Pair it with a purple sleeveless top and black yoga pants to enjoy a casual night out. This top was a fashion comfort winner for Amber.

Hey Fashionistas! Book a PartyPretty Fashion Party with Lisa and get 10% off all pink dresses - which you help design! Fun, right? Visit www.lisaraederosa.com for info. (expires 10/31/14) Lisa Rae DeRosa is a fashion consultant and stylist who specializes in wardrobing on a budget. Check out her website: www.lisaraederosa.com, twitter @LisaRaeStyle and facebook @Lisa Rae DeRosa

20

september • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

Sh ow Fa sh io n

a Sp

•

Third Annual

•

omen’s Expo Cumberland County

ts en

tm ea Tr

What did you do this week or even this month to relieve stress? I know you’ve heard the saying: “All work and no play makes Jane a dull girl.” Well, it used to be Jack, but now that Jane is more than 50 percent of the workforce, women need to learn how to slow down and find releases from the stressors in their lives.

There are two kinds of stress – short-term and long-term. Although short-term stress can make us edgy or irritable, somewhat surprisingly, this stress can be good for us. A series of studies was conducted from Stanford that showed short-term stress can actually boost the immune system. It can also help us solve problems or finally get a project finished. It’s a motivator to act.

Ironically, if we are under stress for prolonged periods of time, the opposite can happen – our immune system can become compromised and we are more susceptible to depression, insomnia, obesity, digestive disorders, and colds and other illnesses.

How do you relax? I love to read, so that’s an option year round. Gardening is very cathartic for me. Of course, that isn’t something you can do in the colder months, so then it’s baking.

Oh, the comfort smells of fresh-baked breads and cookies can bring back special memories and can be very soothing.

Now, if you just thought, I don’t have any free time, you’re in trouble. You need to find the time to do what rejuvenates your body and spirit for a happier, healthier life.

Women often have a special bond with girlfriends. It’s an easiness with the other person that allows us to laugh and giggle more.

Research has shown that laughing releases feel-good brain chemicals called endorphins. And did you know that we are 30 percent more likely to laugh with others than when we are alone?

Higher levels of endorphins lead to feelings of joy, a decreased appetite, a release of sex hormones, and diminished effects of stress. That’s why we often feel more relaxed and sleep better after a fun day with our significant other or friends.

So call your friends, get together, and have a good laugh!

Ex hi bi to rs

By Christianne Rupp

Please, Join Us! ng pi op Sh

Did you laugh today?

November 8, 2014 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center

on Fashi , Show p o H o Hula st, Conte e! or and m

100 K Street, Carlisle Please join us for the third annual Cumberland County women’s expo.

Call your family and friends and join us for this fun-filled event, featuring exhibitors, a fashion show, demonstrations, shopping, free spa treatments, and so much more!

FREE

advance gue registrat st ion online. ($ 5 at the

door.)

Finance • Home • Technology • Beauty Health & Wellness • Nutrition

and more!

717.285.1350

HEALTH & WELLNESS SPONSOR:

VISITOR BAG SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

MEDIA SPONSORS:

Sponsor and exhibitor applications are now being accepted — reserve today!

For more information, call (717) 770-0140 or visit:

aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

21

BEFORE&AFTER WOMAN brings you the latest amazing makeover by Sass Salon & Day Spa: Tina Avara

Tina before

Tina after

Tina began her makeover with a relaxing salt therapy session to repair and regenerate her skin and hair while building her immune system and creating an overall healthier balance.

Next, Angela gave Tina a refreshing pedicure where she was groomed, exfoliated, hydrated and polished to perfection.

Julie then took over, taking 4” off Tina’s hair and giving her soft, light, face-framing layers with a side-swept bang. But that was only the beginning! Julie then colored Tina’s hair a deep violetred and added peek-a-boo highlights of red and blonde for a younger, playful look.

Danielle gave the finishing touches to Tina’s makeover with a makeup application using brown and gold tones to help emphasize her gorgeous green eyes. A blush of peach on her cheeks and matte beige lips with a champagne gloss was all Tina needed to show off her natural beauty.

✿ S ASS salon Beauty Tip:

Less is more these days with makeup. If you want to add drama, do it with your liner or a bright color on your lips. Avoid thick, caked-on foundations. Tinted moisturizers also work great and if you need a little more coverage you can use a dual powder over top.

Just be sure your color is a match.

Want to be considered for our next makeover? Email Desiree at desiree@sass123.com 4931 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg 717-612-0344

Monday to Friday 9 am - 8 pm, Saturday 9 am - 5 pm www.sassspaandsalon.com

Enjoy the health benefits of a

Salt Therapy Session %

50 off Expires 10/31/14

22

september • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

______________ What you should know about ______________

BREAST CANCER Every 3 minutes, a woman in the U.S. is diagnosed with breast cancer

905-year % relative

survival rate

for female invasive breast cancer

up from 75% in the mid-1970s

The most significant

1in 8

risk factors:

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE MORE THAN

2.8 MILLION

� gender (being a woman) age � (growing older)

126

80-90 of breast cancers

%

diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (national average is 122 per 100,000)

15

85

%

have a family member with breast cancer

BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS IN THE U.S.

without

symptoms

will be detected by a

mammograM

have no family history of breast cancer

OCTOBER 12

The feelyourboobies.com OCTOBER 18

Pink Party

OCTOBER 13

Conference pabreastcancer.org

Facebook: thepinkparty

OCTOBER 24

TBA

Paint The Town Pink

Less than

50%

of women

40 & older in the U.S. had a

faulknerfiat.com

Facebook: girlsgothopefoundation

of women in the general population will develop breast cancer sometime during their lives

45%

55-65%

of women who inherit a harmful BRCA1 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 70

BREAST CANCER:

mammogram

MOST COMMON CANCER

(the lowest percentage occurred among women who did not have health insurance)

(lung cancer is 2nd most common)

in the last year makingstrides.org/harrisburg

12%

of women who inherit a harmful BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 70

LOCAL BREAST CANCER EVENTS OCTOBER 4

61

median age at diagnosis

per 100,000 PENNSYLVANIA WOMEN

%

women will develop invasive breast cancer

This proof has been provided for your approval on 7/29/13 The ad will publish as shown unless notification of corrections are given within 24 hours of receipt.

among American women

www.womannewspapers.com • National octoberCancer 2014Institute 23 Sources: Americanseptember Cancer Society,

LIKE A

24

by Debra Baer Becker september • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

S

ome of my friends insist they have no emotional attachment to their boobs: “If I get breast cancer,” they’ll say, “off they go!” Then they shoo their breasts away with a flick of the wrist and say, “Good riddance,” as if their breasts were nothing more than twin fat-filled sacks and an old-fashioned milk pump with a spout on the nipples, which, now that I think about it, is a pretty good sketch of a breast with the exception that a mother’s milk production is miraculous in any species but much more respected in Alpine goats and Holsteins than in my circle of female friends.

Those breasts. There they are bouncing and swinging just enough to throw off your tennis serve, or getting in the way of a perfect arc for your golf swing, or knocking around too much during what should be a smooth run around the park.

Those nipples. The slightest chill and BAM! ON GO THE HEADLIGHTS. How many of us have seen another woman’s nipples beaming through her blouse and said to our besties, “Oh dear, she looks cold.” Chuckle, snort. Or guys who’ll say, “Come in, Tokyo,” pretend-turning our nipple knobs. Don’t even get me started on men and their obsession with women’s nipples. It’s not like they don’t have a set of their own to play with.

I used to have nipples like that. Oh, how they stood at attention in all of my family pictures. My overbearing nipples boldly pushing against the thin red cotton of my fourth of July T-shirt like a Morse Code message, two dots for the letter I. There’s Christmas, when both the tree lights and my nipples twinkled. Or would you like some happy birthday cake to go with your happy birthday nipples, Deb? Or how about the photo with me, my Mom-in-law, and my nipples, sharing morning coffee during our Thanksgiving weekend visit to her house?

Nipples. Pfft. Who needs ‘em?

Well, as it turns out, I do. I am a breast cancer survivor. My nipples were surgically removed, part of my doublemastectomy surgery. The surgeons removed the breast tissue and milk-making gadgetry, too.

Like my Grandma always said, “You’ll never truly appreciate what you have until it’s gone.”

One time, at the precise moment when my emotional capacity to deal with any more cancer-related shit had redlined, at the end of a year of treatments and healing, Dr. Brown, my plastic surgeon, asked me, “Would you like to add nipples?”

We were behind closed doors in a treatment room, furnished with pickled oak and Pepto-dismal pink upholstery. I sat on the paper-lined exam table, thinking, the 80s called and they want their furniture back. Dr. Brown ran her finger along the new surgery incisions on both of my reconstructed breasts, and then palpated each reconstructed breast, making sure the new silicone implants were sitting at attention in their pockets.

I squirmed and the paper crackled under my butt. When she finished, Dr. Brown showed me a picture of her new baby boy’s tiny face, pink lips pursed as if ready to suck. I was tired, and she was lactating.

“I can add a stitch that will give each nipple dimension and make the nipple tip stand up,” she said and smiled brightly, “It’s my specialty.”

No one, according to my entire oncology team, does nipples like Dr. Brown.

I was getting pressure to do this from all sides. My closest friends said, “You have to put the cherry back on the sundae.” My husband would say, “You’ve come this far with the reconstruction.”

Then he’d add, “But I love and support you no matter what you decide to do.”

My daughter said, “What if your bathing suit top falls off in front of your future grandkids?”

Dr. Brown said, “So what do you think?”

I looked at the silicone implant display sitting on the counter, the gelatinous goo held in its hazy textured plastic shell, and read the highlighted words, “Memory Gel.” I said, “Talk about lipstick on the pig - I have these ugly scars.”

This whole nipple thing, surgical reconstruction of the little molehill, and the areola tattoos, meant I would have to endure two more procedures, and I was battle-fatigue tired.

Then there would be the risk of infection and the worry that an infection in skin that’s had radiation might possibly mean GAME OVER: The implant would be removed, and I’d leave the field with an unreconstructed breast - a flat chest with diagonal scar.

I know that some women, for their own valid personal reasons, choose not to do any reconstruction, but I didn’t choose that for myself. I wanted to feel natural.

Not long ago, I talked with Donna Ratulowski, a resident of Central PA and a two-time cancer survivor. She recently had a single mastectomy and now has plans to have her nipple tattoo done by Vinnie Myers, a world famous tattoo artist from nearby Finksburg, Maryland. When I asked Donna why she wants to go to a tattoo shop to get this procedure done, she told me that her plastic surgeon recommended Mr. Myers, who apparently is a gifted artist, and sure, he can ink the standard-issue dragons and ornate skulls and flowers and vines, but his nipple tattoos look so real, so dimensional, so intricately rendered, and beautifully done, right down to their convincing and natural-looking color, that it’s easy to see why Donna wants Mr. Myers to do the job.

He’s the best in the business.

Donna said, “It is all about me at this point,” and she’s right. They are our breasts, and we will choose to do whatever we find necessary to put our lives back together after breast cancer.

We have a memory, an intricate imprint of how we look, tattooed on our psyche, detailed right down to the size and shape and color of our breasts’ nipples. As children, we’ve discovered ourselves by toddling up to a mirror and gazing at our natural bodies until that moment when we realized, Hey! That chunky baby with the big brown peepers and brown curls on its head—that’s me!

That’s who I am!

I’ve spent a lot of time eyeballing myself in the mirror. In my adolescent years, I’d face the bedroom mirror, pull

up my undershirt, and later my AAA bra, and look for any sign of breast development. This boob scrutiny became a daily obsession until the day when I pulled up my shirt and saw that my nipples had changed. They looked plump and poufy.

Finally, they were bigger than a bee sting.

In my 20s I’d obsess over how they looked: are they perky, frisky - is one higher than other? At 28, I was shocked to see my nipples spurt milk as if they were lawn sprinklers. As my small kids consumed much of my days, time for mirror gazing fell away, but I’d see my body on the way to the shower or while drying my hair. It’s hard to get from the toilet to the shower without passing a mirror, right?

I think that seeing our natural body, and seeing it as whole, reassures our minds and our souls that we are okay.

I know this because when I woke up from my double mastectomies surgery, my breast tissues and my nipples thrown in the hazardous waste can, I felt as empty as a hollowed-out egg shell, you know, where you poke each of the egg’s ends with a thick pin and then blow the egg’s insides out? I was not OK. I think my body remembers the blade and the blood, the tissue dissections, and maybe if the surgery team said, “Good riddance, Cancer, you mothersister-daughter killer.” Maybe they said, “Thank you, Jesus,” too. And maybe all of their words, narratives of my illness, were scratched into the scars on my chest like a palimpsest.

At least I still have my skin. That’s the one comforting thing I said to myself, after the surgery, when I finally looked at my chest in the mirror. Or I should say when I got the courage to face the mirror, naked and crying and vulnerable, and see this unfamiliar body that was my body. It reminded me of when I was a kid playing Barbies with my cousin Judy. We’d pull off the dolls’ heads and switch them to another Barbie body. They’d look odd, and their skin color never matched. After 49 years of familiarity, I was looking at myself, but staring at a stranger. And the trick is to try to merge that stranger with you.

I wonder if our spirit sees our reflected image, our bodies, who we are in the natural world, as a beloved companion. I think about this sometimes when I remember how much I grieved for my before-surgery self.

I felt unnatural. Reconfigured or disfigured? I wasn’t sure.

So after Dr. Brown told me that she highly recommends the nipple tattoos, she pressed her hand on my shoulder and said, “It’s a short procedure that goes a long way toward helping you feel normal.”

“Normal,” I said, “there’s no such thing as normal.”

What I wanted to say is this: Natural.

I wanted to feel more natural.

Dr. Brown said, “They will never feel like your natural breasts, but they will look like them.”

I said, “You know, it’s funny, but one of the reasons I breast fed both of my kids is because my gynecologist told me that breastfeeding significantly decreases your risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Brown didn’t have an answer for that.

I remembered, years ago, the day

when my nipples were so sore from my infant daughter’s suckling that I went out into the sun in my back yard, took off my T-shirt and milk-soaked bra, and laid on a blanket, chest in the air, nipples pointing to the sky. I remember feeling the healing heat of the sun and a sultry breeze on my red, chafed skin. I remember how wonderful it felt to be whole in the natural world, like a maternal sister to Mother Nature.

I looked at Dr. Brown, at her tall marathon runner’s body and youthful face and said, “I never thought I’d be contemplating nipple tattoos.”

Dr. Brown told me that none of us knows how we will feel or what choices we will make if we come face-to-face with a breast cancer diagnosis. She said, “You have to do what’s right for you. Everyone is different.”

I thought about that. What’s always hard for me is finding what I want to do what matters most to me - buried in the debris of what I think the other people in my life expect me to do. Those expectations cloud my understanding of myself.

So I decided to get the nipple tattoos because I wanted my spirit to see my familiar image when I passed the mirror on the way to the shower. I wanted to make friends with that stranger in the mirror. I knew that I had to learn to love my scars, too. Because it’s still my skin however scarred and broken - my skin over the silicone form that makes that reconstructed breast mine.

As my Grandma always said, “Sometimes it’s the little things that matter most.”

Dr. Brown smiled when I agreed to get the tattoos, and she said, “But you’re skipping my famous nipple stitch?”

I told her the only reason I wanted to take a pass on her stitching skills was that, for me, the one perk of a double mastectomy is that I don’t have to wear a bra anymore.

“I’m going to wear halter tops and strapless dresses and backless dresses without ever having to cover up the high beams,” I said, and she chuckled, and the her white coat furled around her legs as she passed through the doorway, and left the room.

Five years later, I’m so glad that I went through the nipple tattoos procedure. My plastic surgeon’s trained technician tattooed me, not as beautifully as a Mr. Vinnie Myers tattoo. But at least my tattoos provide a focal point, which makes my scars part of the background, and helped me heal my mind from the trauma of the surgeries. I don’t feel scared when I see my breasts in the mirror anymore; I don’t think about cancer every day. My breast scars remind me that I won that fight. That’s a gift.

Deb advocates for women’s breast health, and writes about her experience surviving breast cancer. She’s writing a book about her years as a young airman with the USAF Thunderbirds.

She holds an MFA in Writing from Pacific University, and is the proud mother of two adult-sized children and two rescued dogs. She lives in Houston, Texas, but dreams of her native Pennsylvania’s rolling hills and cut-away fields.

www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

25

, What s new in breast cancer Causes of breast cancer Studies continue to uncover lifestyle factors and habits that alter breast cancer risk. Ongoing studies are looking at the effect of exercise, weight gain or loss, and diet on breast cancer risk.

Studies on the best use of genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations continue at a rapid pace. Scientists are also exploring how common gene variations may affect breast cancer risk. Each gene variant has only a modest effect in risk (10 to 20%), but when taken together they may potentially have a large impact.

Potential causes of breast cancer in the environment have also received more attention in recent years. While much of the science on this topic is still in its earliest stages, this is an area of active research.

A large, long-term study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is now being done to help find the causes of breast cancer. Known as the Sister Study, it has enrolled 50,000 women who have sisters with breast cancer. This study will follow these women for at least 10 years and collect information about genes, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may cause breast cancer. An offshoot of the Sister Study, the Two Sister Study, is designed to look at possible causes of early onset breast cancer. To find out more about these studies, call 1-877-4-SISTER (1-877-4747837) or visit the Sister Study Web site (www.sisterstudy.org).

Chemoprevention Fenretinide, a retinoid, is also being studied as a way to reduce the risk of breast cancer (retinoids are drugs related to vitamin A). In a small study, this drug reduced breast cancer risk as much as tamoxifen.

Other drugs, such as aromatase inhibitors, are also being studied to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Making decisions about DCIS In some women, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) turns into invasive breast cancer and sometimes an area of DCIS contains invasive cancer. In some women, though, the cells may never invade and remain localized within the ducts. If the cells don’t invade, DCIS cannot be life-threatening. The uncertainty about how DCIS will behave makes it difficult for women to make decisions about what treatment to have, if any. Researchers are looking for ways to help with these challenges.

Researchers are studying the use of computers and statistical methods to estimate the odds that a woman’s DCIS will become invasive. Some of these methods are based on routinely available clinical information about the patient and her DCIS, whereas others also include information about changes in her tumor’s genes. Decision aids are another approach. They ask a woman with DCIS questions that help her decide which factors (such as survival, preventing recurrence, and side effects) she considers most important in choosing a treatment.

Another recent area of research and debate among breast cancer specialists is whether changing the name of DCIS to one that emphasizes this is not an invasive cancer can help some women avoid overly aggressive treatment.

New laboratory tests Circulating tumor cells Researchers have found that in many women with breast cancer, cells may break away from the tumor and enter the blood. These circulating tumor cells can be detected with sensitive lab tests. Although these tests can help predict which patients may go on to have their cancer come back, it isn’t clear that the use of these tests will help patients live longer. They potentially may be useful in patients with advanced breast cancer to help tell if treatments are working.

Newer imaging tests Several newer imaging methods are now being studied for evaluating abnormalities that may be breast cancers.

Scintimammography (molecular breast imaging) In scintimammography, a slightly radioactive tracer called technetium sestamibi is injected into a vein. The tracer attaches to breast cancer cells and is detected by a special camera.

This technique is still being studied to see if it will be useful in finding breast cancers. Some radiologists believe it may helpful in looking at suspicious areas found by regular mammograms, but its exact role remains unclear. Current research is aimed at improving the technology and evaluating its use in specific situations such as in the dense breasts of younger women. Some early studies have suggested that it may be almost as accurate as more expensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. This test, however, will not replace your usual screening mammogram.

Tomosynthesis (3-D mammography) This technology is basically an extension of a digital mammogram. For this test, the breast is compressed once and a machine takes many low-dose X-rays as it moves over the breast. The images taken can be combined into a 3-dimensional picture. This uses more radiation than most standard 2-view mammograms, but may have the advantage of seeing problem areas more clearly, possibly finding more cancers. Still, more studies comparing breast tomosynthesis to standard 2 view mammograms are needed to know what role this technology will have in screening and diagnosis of breast cancer.

Treatment Oncoplastic surgery Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy or partial mastectomy) can often be used for early-stage breast cancers. But in some women, it can result in breasts of different sizes and/or shapes. For larger tumors, it might not even be possible, and a mastectomy might be needed instead. Some doctors address this problem by combining cancer surgery and plastic surgery techniques, known as oncoplastic surgery. This typically involves reshaping the breast at the time of the initial surgery, and may mean operating on the other breast as well to make them more symmetrical. This approach is still fairly new, and not all doctors are comfortable with it.

New chemotherapy drugs Advanced breast cancers are often hard to treat, so researchers are always looking for newer drugs.

A drug class has been developed that targets cancers caused by BRCA mutations.

This class of drugs is called PARP inhibitors and they have shown promise in clinical trials treating breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers that had spread and were resistant to other treatments. Further studies are being done to see if this drug can help patients without BRCA mutations.

Targeted therapies Targeted therapies are a group of newer drugs that specifically take advantage of gene changes in cells that cause cancer.

Drugs that target HER2: A number of drugs that target HER2 are currently in use, including trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab (Perjeta), ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla), and lapatinib (Tykerb). Other drugs are being developed and tested.

Anti-angiogenesis drugs: For cancers to grow, blood vessels must develop to nourish the cancer cells. This process is called angiogenesis. Looking at angiogenesis in breast cancer specimens can help predict prognosis. Some studies have found that breast cancers surrounded by many new, small blood vessels are likely to be more aggressive. More research is needed to confirm this.

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is an example of anti-angiogenesis drug. Although bevacizumab turned out to not be very helpful in the treatment of advanced breast cancer, this approach still may prove useful in breast cancer treatment. Several other anti-angiogenesis drugs are being tested in clinical trials.

Other targeted drugs: Everolimus (Afinitor) is a targeted therapy drug that seems to help hormone therapy drugs work better. It is approved to be given with exemestane (Aromasin) to treat advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in post-menopausal women. It has also been studied with other hormone therapy drugs and for treatment of earlier stage breast cancer. In one study, letrozole plus everolimus worked better than letrozole alone in shrinking breast tumors before surgery. It also seemed to help in treating advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer when added to tamoxifen. Everolimus is also being studied in combination with chemotherapy and the targeted drug trastuzumab. Other drugs like everolimus are also being studied.

Other potential targets for new breast cancer drugs have been identified in recent years. Drugs based on these targets are now being studied, but most are still in the early stages of clinical trials.

Bisphosphonates Bisphosphonates are drugs that are used to help strengthen and reduce the risk of fractures in bones that have been weakened by metastatic breast cancer. Examples include pamidronate (Aredia) and zoledronic acid (Zometa).

Some studies have suggested that zoledronic acid may help other systemic therapies, like hormone treatment and chemo work better. In one study of women being treated with chemo before surgery, tumors in the women getting zoledronic acid with chemo shrank more than those in the women treated with chemo alone.

Other studies have looked at the effect of giving zoledronic acid with other adjuvant treatment (like chemo or hormone therapy). So far, the results have been mixed.

Some studies have shown that this approach helped lower the risk of the cancer coming back, but others did not. The results of one study linked the use of these drugs with adjuvant chemo with an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence in younger women.

Overall, the data does not support making bisphosphonates part of standard therapy for early-stage breast cancer.

Denosumab Denosumab (Xgeva, Prolia) can also be used to help strengthen and reduce the risk of fractures in bones that have been weakened by metastatic breast cancer. It is being studied to see if it can help adjuvant treatments work better.

Vitamin D A recent study found that women with early-stage breast cancer who were vitamin D deficient were more likely to have their cancer recur in a distant part of the body and had a poorer outlook. More research is needed to confirm this finding, and it is not yet clear if taking vitamin D supplements would be helpful. Still, you might want to talk to your doctor about testing your vitamin D level to see if it is in the healthy range.

Source: American Cancer Society www.cancer.org. Last Medical Review: 09/11/2013 Last Revised: 01/31/2014

26

september • october 2014

www.womannewspapers.com

research and treatment

Woman photo from Making Strides Walk 2013

A compilation of research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer from medical centers throughout the world. www.womannewspapers.com

september • october 2014

27

PH-OrtenzioPinkAd1in3_10.25x12.75Rev_Layout 1 8/6/14 5:14 AM Page 1

1 in 3 New Specialized

Cancer Care for

Women

Your mother, best friend ... you. One in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, but every woman seeking treatment at PinnacleHealth has access to many specialties under one roof—including radiation, breast care, and gynecological and medical oncology.

Leading the Fight. Closer to Home.

Just off the Wertzville Road Exit of I-81, adjacent to the West Shore Hospital

(717) 657-7500 | pinnaclehealth.org/cancer

Now open, the Ortenzio Cancer Center at PinnacleHealth offers more than focused, compassionate care for women with cancer. We are dedicated to offering hope, along with the best treatment for any woman facing a cancer diagnosis.