Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Ann Romney Makes Strides for Breast Cancer


Ann Romney will literally be taking large strides toward defeating breast cancer on Saturday morning, when  she’ll walk in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k in Orlando, Fla. A representative of the American Cancer Society has confirmed to ABC News that Mrs. Romney is registered to participate in the walk. (Husband Mitt is not expected to walk alongside her.) She will join fellow survivors and the community at Lake Eola Park. Romney herself has battled with breast cancer; she was diagnosed with the illness in January 2009.
“I had ductal carcinoma, which is DCIS,” Romney said in an interview with America’s Radio News. “Stage zero, which meant, for me, I had surgery, and I had radiation, but I did not have to do chemo because it was a stage zero. So again, it was early diagnosis that prevented me from having to have chemotherapy.” Ann Romney, who has had a long family history with the disease, says that cancer is a “serious business.” “I lost my mother from ovarian cancer, I lost my grandmother from ovarian cancer, I lost my great-grandmother from breast cancer, so for me, you know, it’s been a long line of cancer,” Romney admitted. “Women that have dealt with cancer in their lives, and I unfortunately saw my grandmother die from ovarian and I took care [of] and loved my mother in her death, with her battle with ovarian cancer. So cancer is a serious business.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Mrs. Romney was seen just last week supporting the cause by wearing a bright pink Oscar de la Renta dress to the second presidential debate. A spokeswoman for Mrs. Romney said she “has been very involved with breast cancer awareness this month by visiting hospitals and meeting with patients and survivors. She’s worn lots of pink as a result!”

Monday, October 15, 2012

Brakes for Breasts!

We're getting closer every day to reaching our goal. 

Brakes for Breasts helps support breast cancer vaccine research in October: 

10-13-12--AUTO--Women and Cars--Brakes for Breasts-Check.jpgBrakes for Breasts presented Cleveland Clinic's Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund with a check for $10,000 in 2011. Founder of Brakes for Breasts, Leigh Anne Best, anticipates an even greater amount this year. | Mighty Auto Pro


http://www.cleveland.com/automotive/plaindealer/index.ssf/2012/10/brakes_for_breasts_helps_support_breast_cancer_vaccine_research_in_october.html

On behalf of me and all my sister's battling cancer...........A huge THANK-YOU!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Seven Hills Lawyers team up to help breast cancer research

Providing some free legal services in exchange for donations to the Toni Turchi Foundation supporting breast cancer prevention are, rear, from left: Timothy Boyko, Patrick DiChiro and Seven Hills Mayor Richard Dell'Acquila; front row, left, Seven Hills Law Director Richard Pignatiello, and at right, Christine Tobin. Toni Turchi, who established the Foundation, is front center.

SEVEN HILLS Similar to the importance of a yearly mammogram and other preventive medical tests, a simple will, property deed and power of attorney are documents everyone should have. And like those medical tests, these imperative legal documents don’t always top a person’s to-do list or have a place in the family budget. Some lawyers in Seven Hills have teamed up to make obtaining these documents and legal services more accessible. Throughout October, which is recognized nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they will provide basic legal services free of charge. All they ask for in return is that a donation be made to the Toni Turchi Foundation dedicated to raising funds in support of scientific methods proven to prevent and eradicate breast cancer.Turchi, a resident of Aurora, was diagnosed in 2011 with triple negative breast cancer, a rare, aggressive form that is less responsive to treatments. A longtime friend of Seven Hills Law Director Richard Pignatiello, Turchi endured months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and several rounds of radiation.Now, she refers to herself as “NED,” a term representing “No Evidence of Disease.” Research has shown that if someone with TNBC can surpass the five-year milestone, they statistically fall into a greater success rate than any other form of breast cancer. Following treatment and disease research, Turchi reflected on her experience and knew she needed to do something more for future generations. She was introduced to Dr. Vincent Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic. He and his team of researchers in the Department of Immunology are making discoveries toward what could become the first-ever vaccine to prevent breast cancer, according to information on the Toni Turchi Foundation website. Turchi founded the foundation in hopes of securing funds to further support Tuohy’s research and tested trials, which have proven successful on mice. “I know the prevention exists,” Turchi said. “The vaccine is out there and ready for clinical trials. We have to try and we can’t sit back.” Turchi called on her friendship with Richard Pignatiello and Seven Hills lawyer Timothy Boyko, who recently lost his wife, Patricia, to cancer. “I was over her house for dinner, learned about her foundation and I wanted to do something to help raise awareness,” Pignatiello said. He called out to his legal network of friends and decided to garner foundation donations by offering free legal services for the duration of October. In exchange for services, the lawyers ask that a nominal donation be made to the Toni Turchi Foundation. 

Participating lawyers are: Richard Pignatiello, 216-524-1000; Christine Tobin, 216-369-0100; Timothy Boyko, 440-886-3800; Patrick DiChiro, 216-642-0424; and Seven Hills Mayor Richard Dell’Aquila, 216-447-8500. 

“Toni’s passion, energy and drive is humbling,” Boyko said. “I have no doubt that she will be successful in her mission.” Turchi, who has an 11-year-old son, says she is determined to see to it that the next generation is spared from what she says is an unnecessary disease. “If they can find a vaccine for polio, they can find a vaccine for the nurturers, the moms,” she said. She reflects on her focus of staying positive. “You could sink or swim, and sinking is not an option.” 

To learn more about the Toni Turchi Foundation, visit www.toniturchifoundation.org
email info@toniturchifoundation.org, or call 330-333-0NED (0633).