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I C2 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 30, 2002 Cancer survivor firm believer in breast self-examination By Shelly Sanders Greer S P E C IA L T O T H E B E A V E R Although there has been some ques tion lately as to the effectiveness of breast self-examination, Peggy Porter, 55, is a firm believer. She found a lump that a mammogram did not pick up, potentially saving her own life. In fact, Porter has survived two bouts of breast cancer in the same breast, and is now urging women to be proac tive about their health. Porter's battle began in January 1994, when she discovered two benign lumps. "I felt a third lump and I could tell it was different," she recalls. "We did a biopsy on the Wednesday and on the Friday I was in the hospital for a lumpec tomy." She went home the next day but then underwent 28 sessions of radiation at Princess Margaret Hospital. She contin ued working throughout the treatments, which was tiring, and then had regular follow-up appointments with her doctor, the oncologist and the surgeon. Porter was so impressed with the sup port from the Oakville Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society, that she became a member and was the fundrais ing chair for a couple of years. She has also been a regular volunteer with the annual John Rizzuti fundraising dinner. Ironically, eight years later, Porter found herself facing cancer again. "On Dec. 14, 2001,1 had a mammo gram which was clear," she says. "But between Christmas and the new year, I felt a lump. It was kind of scary. I real ized that mammograms are not 100 per cent accurate. After a lot of discussion with the doctors, I decided to have a mastectomy. "I wasn't crazy about it - I had to think about it for a long time, but the doctors said let's get rid of the worry." She had her surgery in January fol lowed by four sessions of chemotherapy at Credit Valley Hospital. "I met some really nice women at the hospital," she said. "You feel alone, but in meeting these women, it makes you realize you're better off than others." Barrie Erskine · Oakville Beaver Peggy Porter, right, is ready for her makeover, done by Cheryl Heydon left, and Ange Garofalo of Estee Lauder, The Bay, Oakville Place, at the recent Sparkle fo r Fashion, a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. Porter, who is married with two chil to keep people up-to-date, and her boss dren and has two grandchildren, says her at Bunzl in Oakville was in constant con family, friends and employer were a tact. "In a sad time, people around me strong support network during her strug gle. Friends brought her flowers and gave me encouragement." She ended up being off work for five gifts, her husband e-mailed her progress months and came back part time at first. Today, Porter is back working full time and has a renewed appreciation for her health. "My hair has grown back, I'm back to work, I have to make sure I look after myself and do breast self-exams," explains Porter. "I tend to rely on breast self-exams, mammograms and anything else from the medical community. I take everybody's advice." Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the sec ond most common cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, approx imately 200,000 women will be diag nosed with breast cancer this year, with just over a quarter dying from the dis ease. The good news is that years of research are paying off. Since 1993, the Canadian Cancer Society has con tributed more than $50 million to fund a broad range of research related both directly and indirectly to breast cancer. (See `Breast' page C4) Michael's Health & Beauty Spa M y nam e is Louise. I have accepted the position o f designer, colour technician and stylist at M ichael's in C larkson, (5 m in. from Oakville). I bring w ith me m ore than 20 years o f experi ence; from technical consul tant for major hair care com panies, training stylists on the latest trends in colour and Lo u ise P o itra s techniques, fashion show coordinating, corrective work, platform w ork for hair shows, stylist for the G enie Awards and more. I w ould like to invite new and existing clients to drop in for a coffee and free consultation. M y first priority and m ost im portant consideration is to ensure the very finest in individual, personalized service. O u r mission statem ent at M ichael' s is to create an atm osphere o f service, fulfillment and beauty, in a com m itm ent to our profession, our clients and our com m unity. Louise Poitras Essential Shoes and Accessories 1735 Lakeshore Rd. W. Mississauga, Ont. 1822-0112 Wake up with the SUN and SAVE! A Weekend o f Cashmere O ct. 31-Nov. 2 O nly # Meet Representative Steve Bobier and Preview a Select Collection of Cashmere Sport jackets & Sweaters bv Arnold Brant Receive a 100% Cashmere Scarf (a SI93 value)* FR E E with your purchase - A special group of all Cashmere Topcoats will also be available during this 1^ special presentation - TM V D I S T I N C T I V E L A D IE S F A S H I O N S P E C O Y 'S 3 0 % .OFF M O R N IN C M ADNESS SALE S A TU R D A Y , N O V . 2 nd 8 A M - tO A M t o A M - 1 J NOON entire stock 20% F Fsto c k 20 % .O Discounts a p p ly to R e g u la r Priced M erch and ise · N O E xte n sion s on Tim e Lim its A S S O R T E D F A L L F A S H IO N S U P T O 5 0 % O F F A ll Sales Final Hopedale M a ll · 9 0 5 -4 6 5 -3 4 9 9 M IN O L D % 1 IV ; ANT Laurie McLachlan J e w e l l e r y P A R V E Y 'C U N f M E N S W 1 A R V J 183 U k esh o re Road East. D ow ntow n Oakville. For general inquiries please (all ( M onday So W ednesday <wt( Saturday. 9:(N1 am to 6:00 pm, Thursday and Friday, 9K \J / Jf ii I * Tel/Fax 905-338-8475 Miller Mews, Unit 10, 129 Reynolds St., Oakville ·W ith m inimum purchase