CANCER QUILT BEGINS JOURNEY : WORK HONORS SURVIVORS.Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer Honoring the thousands of women in Ventura County who have beat breast cancer, a Quilt of Hope began its inaugural tour Wednesday at Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Library. Stitched together to form the pastel patches decorated by 62 breast cancer survivors Cancer survivors are those individuals with cancer of any type, current or past, who are still living. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) pioneered the definition of survivor as from the time of diagnosis and for the balance of life, a person diagnosed with from all parts of Ventura County, the 5-foot square quilt will travel to community centers, cancer institutes and churches to celebrate survival and to give hope to women fighting their own battles against breast cancer. ``It's a sisterhood sisterhood: see monasticism. . That's the way I feel about it,'' said Carol-Ann Cavalluzzi, a breast cancer survivor and Simi Valley resident who contributed a simple white patch to the quilt bearing her first name. Cavalluzzi, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago, said she wanted to contribute to the quilt to let others know that women can and do survive breast cancer. ``This is something we can be proud of - we are survivors,'' she said. ``And it's good for other women to know that we have gone through that same struggle, too.'' The quilt is part of the American Cancer Society's Breast Health Awareness Month and a project organized by the Breast Cancer Early Detection Partnership, a statewide program to provide free breast examinations to low-income, uninsured women. Funded by a 2-cent state tobacco tax levied in 1994, the program is administered through most of California's counties, including Ventura. The quilt will tour the county throughout October in addition to the month's schedule of rallies and walkathons aimed at raising awareness Raising awareness is a common phrase advocacy groups use to justify a particular event, brochure or even the entire organization. Raising awareness refers to alerting the general public that a certain issue exists and should be approached the way the group desires. of the importance of early detection and treatment. ``We were trying to think of a large campaign to involve lots of women,'' said Nan Waltman, senior health educator with the county department of public health and a representative of the early detection program in Ventura County. ``Our main purpose is to let women know that you can survive this,'' said Waltman. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the California Registry of Cancer, 420 women in Ventura County will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. However, Waltman said, early detection and early treatment boost a woman's chance for survival. Leah Pickman contributed a patch for the Quilt of Hope to celebrate her own successful bout with breast cancer as well as her sister's. ``This disease affects all of us,'' said Pickman, a 54-year-old Westlake Village resident. Pickman said she was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago during a routine mammogram mammogram /mam·mo·gram/ (mam´o-gram) a radiograph of the breast. mam·mo·gram n. An x-ray image of the breast produced by mammography. and breast examination. ``Early detection is so important,'' she said. ``And I am evidence that women can survive breast cancer.'' QUILT DISPLAY DATES The Quilt of Hope will be on display at the following locations: Oct. 1-7: Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley Oct. 8: Nancy Reagan Breast Center, 2750 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley Oct. 14: The Wellness Community, 530 Hampshire Road, Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. Oct. 27-Nov. 1: Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. Bank and Trust, 2310 E. Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1) The Quilt of Hope contains the names of Ventura County breast cancer (2) Vickie LoBello is the community services coordinator for the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, . Michael Owen
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