Jessie Stern, 70, Franklin

I have a file on spirituality that has helped me. I found the breast cancer
myself during a self-examination. My mother died of breast cancer at age 43
when I was 17. I was very good about mammograms and doing everything I
thought I should. Once I missed a few months of self-examinations, I had a
sense of terror, and I felt a good-size lump. I had a needle biopsy, which was
negative, but my surgeon, Dr. William Kestenberg, knew he needed to do an
open biopsy. It was a malignant, aggressive tumor that had gone beyond the
margins. I had a team at Sinai — Dr. Robert Bloom, an oncologist, Dr. Nathan
Kaufman, a radiation oncologist, and a few others who decided I should have a
mastectomy and chemotherapy. My breast cancer opened the door for more
personal growth. I'm talking about reading and meditation. The doctors sug-
gested that I go see oncologist social worker Linda Diaz, and she told me
about a support group where I've made new friends. Personal relationships
become more important. I had been doing transcendental meditation for
almost 20 years, and then I learned about mindfulness meditation that teaches
you to live in the moment. Once you get past the shock, the anger and the
fear —if you can— you appreciate every moment.

Meet five

breast cancer

survivors

with inspiring

stories.

Their
Words

BY CARLA SCHWARTZ

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTA HUSA

Pola Friedman, 59, Farmington Hills

I had a neurotic fear of breast cancer even though there was no family history. I was
educated and vigilant. I got a mammogram every year, and I saw a surgeon every six
months. I ate healthy and exercised. I had a thickness in my right breast for 20 years,
but nothing ever showed up. One day it didn't feel right. I went to my surgeon, Dr.
Paul Neufeld. I had a mammogram on Monday, and Tuesday I was in the operating
room. I\/Iy Sinai doctors saved my life. That began my journey of overwhelming ter-
ror, because I had an aggressive tumor diagnosed on June 3, 1998. Unfortunately,
when you get breast cancer, there is no one treatment. With the encouragement of
Dr. Robert Bloom, I opted for stem cell treatment that I believe is now in disfavor. I
had chemo and lost all my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. I had radiation, too. I got
through the terror with meditation, visualization and by taking tranquilizers. I saw
the cancer as the Nazis and the treatment as the Israeli Air Force. I believe it was
karma that I am now working at Hospice of Michigan in outreach with the Jewish
community. At first I blamed myself for this cancer because I was under so much
stress. To others my messages are: Don't be so afraid, there is hope out there. There
is a longer survival rate. Don't blame yourself. Don't despair. Use your friends to
help. I got through this because of my wonderful family, friends and the women I
have met. I value each and every day. It made me recognize what's really important in
life — my husband, my daughters, my grandsons and my friends who rallied for me.

STYLE AT THE JN • OCTOBER 2001

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