Life is a Carnival 14-Month Calendar
View the news articles/media on our Life is a Carnival Calendar!
Breast Cancer Calendar
Smart Women Series, as appeared on WPTV, Palm Beach, Fl
January 11, 2008
FORCE staff and members meet and discuss Life is a Carnival Calendar and how it benefits women who need to make decisions about mastectomy and reconstruction.
Leawood woman makes a pre-emptive strike.
Kansas City Star, Nov. 07
FORCE member and calendar model Kelly Braun's moving story about how hereditary breast cancer claimed her mother and then came after her, and about her decisions for managing her cancer risk.
You Can't Top This Calendar
The Health Show, radio show, October 21, 2007
FORCE Founder and Director Sue Friedman discusses her story, why she founded FORCE, and the Life is a Carnival Calendar
Why Genetic Testing Can Tell You If You're at High Risk for Breast Cancer
Sue Friedman and FORCE volunteer Linee Zajic are interviewed in New Orleans in a piece about genetic testing, prophylactic surgery, reconstruction, and FORCE's Life is a Carnival calendar.
Breast Cancer Calendar Girls Give Others Hope
WFOR Channel 4, Miami, October 8, 2007
Anchor Laurie Stein interviews Sue Friedman and FORCE member Florence Schweitzer about Life is a Carnival Calendar
Breast Cancer Survivors' Calendar Sends Message That 'Your Life's Not Over'
Tampa Tribune, September 13, 2007
Article about Life is a Carnival Calendar and interviews with calendar models Sue Friedman and Marcia Petersen
Mastectomy Patients Mark This Calendar
USA Today, August 27, 2007
Article about "Life is a Carnival", FORCEs 14-month topless calendar
Life is a Carnival Calendar
This 2008 14-month calendar features photos from FORCE members who have undergone bilateral mastectomy; with and without reconstruction. To retain the anonymity of our models, they are wearing mardi gras masks in the photos. This project is meant to celebrate life after mastectomy, to showcase many types of reconstruction and nonreconstruction options in a nonthreatening and positive light, and to educate people about the different types of mastectomy and reconstruction. The calendar contains information about each models surgery with references included to the chapters in the Breast Reconstruction Guidebook which explain each procedure. A secondary goal of this calendar is to raise needed funds for FORCE programs.
Why this calendar?
There’s nothing unusual about a non-profit organization publishing a calendar. But there’s something very unique about this one. “Life is a Carnival” is a bold approach to mastectomy and reconstruction education. Most post-mastectomy photographs feature faceless torsos. We put faces—although festively masked—to the mastectomy and reconstruction experience. More than just a calendar, this is an intimate collection of real women who courageously volunteered to share their bodies and their experiences to help others understand their choices. We chose Mardi Gras as a theme because it celebrates life. Our calendar celebrates life after mastectomy. As these photos attest, life after mastectomy—with or without reconstruction—does go on.
FORCE encourages decisions based on information. Mastectomy is a difficult decision, and a critical issue for any individual with a BRCA mutation or a hereditary cancer syndrome. Those who have been diagnosed may face mastectomy as treatment, especially since they have a 65 percent chance of developing the disease again. Others choose prophylactic bilateral mastectomy to reduce their lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, which can be as high as 85 percent.
You should choose the surgery, with or without reconstruction, only after you’ve consulted qualified experts and you’ve carefully considered the benefits and limitations of all available risk-reducing options.
Whether you’re a cancer survivor or you’re exploring options to manage your risk, whether you’re considering mastectomy or have already had the surgery, we hope you find this calendar enlightening, inspiring and a reminder that you’re not alone. Explore your options, consider different techniques and make informed decisions. We wish you well.
The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook
The description of each model’s surgery includes chapter references from The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook, an objective and comprehensive resource for women facing mastectomy. Easy to read, the book is punctuated with real-life quotes from women who have had mastectomies. For many of us considering mastectomy and reconstruction, The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook has been our guide, our resource, our reassurance, and our companion into surgery. The Table of Contents is listed on page 32 of the calendar.
Other Resources
For more information and links to resources view the FORCE informational section on mastectomy and reconstruction. Our Joining FORCEs Newlsetter has featured articles on mastectomy with and without reconstruction in the following issues:
- Fall, 2005
- Summer, 2006 (Special Conference Recap)
- Winter, 2007
Calendar Sponsors
FORCE gratefully acknowledges the following donations that made this calendar possible:
PERSEVERANCE
($10,000 and above)
Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, LLC
Scott Sullivan, MD and Frank DellaCroce, MD
PO Box 8664, Metairie, LA 70011
www.breastcenter.com
Phone: 888-899-2288
STRENGTH
($5,000 and above)
The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction
James E. Craigie, MD
PO Box 446, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465
www.naturalbreastreconstruction.com
Phone: 866-374-2627
COURAGE
($2,500 and above)
Dr. Matt L. Leavitt
Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Centers
Multiple locations
www.advancedderm.com
Phone: 1-866-400-DERM.
Jason J. Rosenberg, M.D, F.A.C.S.
4500 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32607
www.floridaDIEP.com
Phone: 352-336-6037
Fax: 352-336-6039
Dr. Aldona J. Spiegel and Dr. Jeffrey Friedman
Center for Breast Restoration, The Methodist Hospital
6560 Fannin, Suite 800 , Houston, Texas 77005
www.breastrestoration.org
Phone: 713 441 6102
HOPE
($1,000 and above)
Frederick J. Duffy, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S.
7777 Forest Ln, Suite C504
Dallas, TX 75230
www.duffybreastreconstruction.com
Phone: 972-566-3939
Dr. Levine and Dr. Allen
The Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction
1776 Broadway, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10019
http://www.diepflap.com/
Phone: 212-245-8140
PRMA Plastic Surgery
9635 Huebner Road
San Antonio, TX 78240
www.prma-enhance.com
Phone: 210-692-1181
Dr. Andrew Salzberg
New York Group for Plastic Surgery LLP
155 White Plains Road, Suite 105, Tarrytown, NY 10591
http://www.mybreastreconstruction.com./index.html
Phone: 800-433-7410