Annual TCB fundraiser targets breast cancer research.

Byline: Elaine Thompson

SHREWSBURY - Tomorrow night at the TCB fundraiser at White Cliffs in Northboro, Tammy Cardillo said she will be on a mission just like she was after being diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago.

"I want to raise the bar Friday night to $100,000," said Ms. Cardillo, who started the Tammy Cardillo Benefit four years ago, after her cancer went into remission. "This is a milestone. There's no reason we can't raise $100,000."

Tomorrow, beginning at 6:30 p.m., the fifth annual TCB event, which Ms. Cardillo says, also stands for Taking Care of Business, will be held at the White Cliffs on Route 20. The ticket price - $50 per person for a full buffet dinner, silent auction and dancing - will go toward breast cancer research at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, part of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The first four TCB events generated a total of $265,000 for research.

Ms. Cardillo said while her focus is on raising money for breast cancer research, her biggest goal is to build awareness and to emphasize the life-saving importance of women doing a monthly breast self-examination.

The 1990 Algonquin graduate was on top of the world with a big sales manager job with Hewlett-Packard Co. in North Carolina in 2000. She was the company's service and sales manager for half of the country. She was single, attractive, successful, and in great physical shape. Since her mother, Carol Schwab, was a breast cancer survivor, doctors had told Ms. Cardillo that she should have her first baseline mammogram by age 35.

In February 2003, at age 31, Ms. Cardillo was doing a self-examination of her breast when she found a lump.

"I didn't second-guess my body. When I knew something felt wrong, I immediately took action and showed up at my doctor's doorstep and said, `You have to feel this,'" Ms. Cardillo said. "If I had waited until 35, which I am today, I don't think I would be here right now."

Once she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Ms. Cardillo said, she embarked on a mission to beat cancer and to continue living. She contacted her mother, who drove to North Carolina and brought her daughter back to Massachusetts, known for superior medical and cancer care.

"I was determined that cancer was not going to change my lifestyle and my career path," she said. "Continuing to work actually kept my mind off the things that were happening. It really increased my determination and positive outlook that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. We're going to get through this. This is just a bump in the road."

Ms. Cardillo underwent a couple of surgeries, four months of chemotherapy and eight weeks of radiation. Four years ago this month, she was deemed cancer free and she began a five-year maintenance of daily doses of Tamoxifen and quarterly injections of Zoladex.

"A lot of times, when people are diagnosed with cancer, they want to turn it over to the doctors and say, `You tell me what to do. You're the expert,'" said Ms. Cardillo. "Doctors can guide you, but you have to be your own advocate. You have to be in the driver's seat and educate yourself around what's the best path for you, whether surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Make your decision. Stick to the plan. Stay positive and you'll get through this."

Ms. Cardillo said her life is better after cancer. She met her fiance, Ted Wolf, two years ago. They are planning to get married in September.

"I never thought someone would love me like he does, after all that I've gone through," she said.

At tomorrow night's function, a silent auction will be held for items, including a week time-share in West Palm Beach, four tickets to any 2008 Red Sox game, four VIP tickets to the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers game Dec. 9;The Police, Bruce Springsteen and Van Halen concert tickets at the TD Banknorth Center in Boston; Patriots and Red Sox memorabilia and gifts; wine and movie gift baskets. Attendees can also purchase $20 chances to win a pair of diamond earrings or a 37-inch flat-screen TV. For more information, visit www.tcbannual.com.

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Ms. Cardillo