Breast cancer survivor goes ‘Hollywood’
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/2084/1/Breast-cancer-survivor-goes-Hollywood/Page1.html
By Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Published on 10/18/2007
Never in her wildest dreams did Carolyn Whitney ever think that her breast cancer diagnosis seven years ago would take her to Hollywood as a star attraction.
But Tuesday night at the world-famous Beverly Wilshire Hotel, she strolled down the “pink” carpet into a lavish reception to accept a 2007 Lifetime TV Hero Award. (Pink is the signature color for breast cancer awareness.)
Whitney was selected from thousands of women across the nation associated with the Sisters Network to be honored for her phenomenal work with African-American breast cancer survivors.
“This honor is just beyond anything I could have dreamed up,” she said. “I am enjoying all this star treatment because of a diagnosis I thought would devastate my life.” The irony of this commendation was not lost on her.
Sisters Network Inc. (SNI) is the only African-American breast cancer survivor organization in America. The organization’s founder, Karen Jackson joined Whitney in Hollywood to share the big moment.
“This event has just been spectacular,” said Jackson. “But that’s what we try to do as an organization. We work to maintain the quality of life for African-American women who have been diagnosed. We like to have fun, and we are constantly looking for opportunities to bring attention to breast cancer and enjoy life in the process.”
Whitney was commended for founding SNI’s Memphis chapter. In only three years, the local branch is recognized as one of the most active among the 40 affiliate chapters.
Distinguished for her creative head wraps and high-profile work in the local healthcare community, Whitney was one of 10 women from various breast cancer survivor organizations chosen to receive the 2007 Lifetime TV Hero Award.
A reception and dinner event, where the awards were presented, preceded a premiere screening of “Matters of Life and Dating,” a Lifetime Original movie about a woman diagnosed with breast cancer and her struggle to move beyond the experience.
SNI was organized by Jackson in Houston, Texas, several years after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993. There were various support groups at that time, but Jackson had a specific mission with SNI.
“What Sisters Network did was dispel the myth that African-American women do not care about their health,” she said. “There was no organized effort before that time for African-American survivors to come together, share information, and support each other. And it was just important for people to know that we, as Black people and as Black women, do care about our health, just as others are concerned about theirs.”
In 1999, the Sisters Network broke new ground by hosting the nation’s first national breast cancer conference to specifically address the impact of the disease among African American women. Houston, Atlanta, and Detroit are among the cities that have hosted the event. Hundreds of women from all over the nation attend.
Memphis has been chosen as the SNI’s national conference site for 2008. “Stop the Silence” is the organization’s national slogan.
The SNI Memphis Chapter
Whitney and the SNI Memphis hosted their Annual Pink Ribbon Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Aug. 25. Althea Woodruff, SNI vice-president and a 28-year survivor, was named 2007 Survivor of the Year. Woodruff credited her faith in God and support from her loved ones and friends with getting her through the most difficult time of her life. She recalled feeling a lump in her breast while watching television in her den.
When a physician verified that a biopsy was necessary, Woodruff was told before she went in that if cancer was found, her breast would be removed immediately. She prepared herself for the worse upon waking.
“Now, there are so many treatments available that a mastectomy is not always necessary,” she said. “But 28 years ago, that was really the only effective treatment. But I thank God for it. I have my life today, and it’s a great life.”
Hundreds of Memphis-area breast cancer survivors are a part of SNI.
For additional information, contact Sisters Network Memphis at (901) 789-7239 or send an email to: carolyn@sistersnetworkmemphis.com.
Never in her wildest dreams did Carolyn Whitney ever think that her breast cancer diagnosis seven years ago would take her to Hollywood as a star attraction...
Breast cancer survivor goes ‘Hollywood’
 |
| Whitney |
But Tuesday night at the world-famous Beverly Wilshire Hotel, she strolled down the “pink” carpet into a lavish reception to accept a 2007 Lifetime TV Hero Award. (Pink is the signature color for breast cancer awareness.)
Whitney was selected from thousands of women across the nation associated with the Sisters Network to be honored for her phenomenal work with African-American breast cancer survivors.
“This honor is just beyond anything I could have dreamed up,” she said. “I am enjoying all this star treatment because of a diagnosis I thought would devastate my life.” The irony of this commendation was not lost on her.
Sisters Network Inc. (SNI) is the only African-American breast cancer survivor organization in America. The organization’s founder, Karen Jackson joined Whitney in Hollywood to share the big moment.
“This event has just been spectacular,” said Jackson. “But that’s what we try to do as an organization. We work to maintain the quality of life for African-American women who have been diagnosed. We like to have fun, and we are constantly looking for opportunities to bring attention to breast cancer and enjoy life in the process.”
Whitney was commended for founding SNI’s Memphis chapter. In only three years, the local branch is recognized as one of the most active among the 40 affiliate chapters.
Distinguished for her creative head wraps and high-profile work in the local healthcare community, Whitney was one of 10 women from various breast cancer survivor organizations chosen to receive the 2007 Lifetime TV Hero Award.
A reception and dinner event, where the awards were presented, preceded a premiere screening of “Matters of Life and Dating,” a Lifetime Original movie about a woman diagnosed with breast cancer and her struggle to move beyond the experience.
SNI was organized by Jackson in Houston, Texas, several years after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993. There were various support groups at that time, but Jackson had a specific mission with SNI.
“What Sisters Network did was dispel the myth that African-American women do not care about their health,” she said. “There was no organized effort before that time for African-American survivors to come together, share information, and support each other. And it was just important for people to know that we, as Black people and as Black women, do care about our health, just as others are concerned about theirs.”
In 1999, the Sisters Network broke new ground by hosting the nation’s first national breast cancer conference to specifically address the impact of the disease among African American women. Houston, Atlanta, and Detroit are among the cities that have hosted the event. Hundreds of women from all over the nation attend.
Memphis has been chosen as the SNI’s national conference site for 2008. “Stop the Silence” is the organization’s national slogan.
 |
| Carolyn Whitney (left), dressed in classic pink, presents the SNI Memphis 2007 Survivor of the Year award to Althea Woodruff, SNI vice-president, at the Annual Pink Ribbon Awards Luncheon. Woodruff is a 28-year breast cancer survivor. (Courtesy photo) |
Whitney and the SNI Memphis hosted their Annual Pink Ribbon Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Aug. 25. Althea Woodruff, SNI vice-president and a 28-year survivor, was named 2007 Survivor of the Year. Woodruff credited her faith in God and support from her loved ones and friends with getting her through the most difficult time of her life. She recalled feeling a lump in her breast while watching television in her den.
When a physician verified that a biopsy was necessary, Woodruff was told before she went in that if cancer was found, her breast would be removed immediately. She prepared herself for the worse upon waking.
“Now, there are so many treatments available that a mastectomy is not always necessary,” she said. “But 28 years ago, that was really the only effective treatment. But I thank God for it. I have my life today, and it’s a great life.”
Hundreds of Memphis-area breast cancer survivors are a part of SNI.
For additional information, contact Sisters Network Memphis at (901) 789-7239 or send an email to: carolyn@sistersnetworkmemphis.com.