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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday October 27, 2007 - 39 Young breast cancer role models take action By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Always listen to your inner voice -- just don't answer it out loud. Oakville's 43-year-old Laura Andrews and Marie Borges listened and have, as a result, overcome breast cancer. They'll share their experience with others at the Canada National Conference for Young Women with Breast Cancer Nov. 24 at Toronto's Sheraton Centre. The conference, organized by Tracey Guthrie, another young woman battling breast cancer in Toronto, is for young women with breast cancer, under age 45. Speakers will include Dr. Marla Shapiro, broadcasters Beverly Thomson and Libby Znaimer as well as workshops and activities meant to inspire including The Fashion Journey: Bringing Sexy Back on Nov. 2. All models in the show are young breast cancer survivors -- among them will be Andrews and Borges. Fashions will include those for weddings, sports and the beach -- important life experiences when you're young or have young children, and bear extensive scars. Giggling about the riot that was a recent "tasteful" photo shoot to promote the conference, Andrews and Borges epitomize the modern breast cancer survivor. They speak freely of their ordeal, the emotional roller coaster ride it is, the fears they must confront for themselves, and their young children, their need for support, coping with medical treatments, family responsibilities, returning to work, taking responsibility for their medical treatment, feeling the toll on their appearance -- and the need to deal with it all head on and then move on, wiser, and richer emotionally, for the experience. It's far from what used to happen when breast cancer patients weren't encouraged to speak of what was happening to them. For Borges, an Oakville resident who attended St. James Catholic School and the former Gordon E. Perdue High School, breast cancer has been scary. She's a single parent of 12-year-old Christopher. "He's my strength. My life is not my own, he is my strength and he's why I'm fighting this twice as hard," said Borges, a legal assistant at a local law firm. Diagnosed before Christmas last year, Borges had surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation. She is also been angry about having breast cancer. I believe this is something I have to go through, as we all have challenges in our lives," said Borges. "Having had breast cancer has certainly opened my eyes to what is really important in this world ­ those we love unconditionally and the beauty that surrounds us," said Andrews. Sharing the journey is at the heart of the conference. "Early detection and taking control of one's life is so very important," said Andrews. The conference will tackle issues such as on which date of a budding romance do you inform that special person DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER that, due to a bilateral or radical mastectomy, you have no breasts? How you can cope with relating to a 30-year-old friend's wedding when you are worried about possibly having to plan your own funeral? How might you windsurf with prostheses?" In 2004 the Canadian Breast Cancer Network started a research project focusing on young women with breast cancer and published a report called Nothing Fit Me. A national committee was struck and the conference is a result. For conference details visit www.youngwomensconference.ca or call 1-800-685-8820. BREAST OF FRIENDS: Marie Borges, left, and Laura Andrews are young breast cancer survivors involved in the first ever in Canada National Conference For Young Women with Breast Cancer to be held in Toronto Nov. 2-4. among the 20 per cent of the population that has a higher risk for cancer cell growth so she receives a chemotherapy drug treatment every three weeks. It was at her annual physical that Borges pursued getting a mammogram. Two weeks later she was diagnosed. "You've got to always listen to that inner voice ... just don't answer it out loud or everyone will look at you funny," smiles Andrews. "I lost a friend at age 40. I watched her battle breast cancer. It went to her bones and she had a bone marrow transplant. I watched what cancer can do and it was a real kick in the stomach when I got it," said Andrews. Andrews, too, had a mammogram and she, too, was diagnosed. She didn't need chemotherapy, but had extensive surgery. Andrews and her husband, Gary, have a 10-year-old daughter Victoria and eightyear-old son Brendan. She was diagnosed in November of 2005, not long after her 41st birthday, had her surgery in December and returned to work in January. Now, as the ordeal of breast cancer moves behind them, if only recently, Andrews and Borges want to help others. That's why they're involved in the upcoming conference and they speak of a local support group for young breast cancer patients -- where topics can include concerns of younger women. "Every person who gave me a bit of their time, made me feel better," said Borges. "People think of cancer as a death sentence, but cancer can be beaten. People live with it, too," said Andrews. Andrews said after five years of being cancer free, life expectancy rises to 80 per cent. Borges said she has an 87 per cent survival expectation. "That's pretty sweet," said Andrews, adding diet can be managed and noting, "The mind can do a lot for your body." 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