Louise Webb
Three-time Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner Ann Jillian was the keynote speaker at a Breast Health Awareness Forum presented at the San Jose Fairmont Hotel. Volunteers from the Junior League of San Jose and the American Cancer Society have been working a year on this project. They call their combined group SmartWoman.
Jillian had breast cancer in l985 and shared her courageous triumph over the disease. Her speech, titled "The Winner in You," was upbeat. She told the audience that sometimes we forget how important we are as mothers, and it is up to us to take good care of ourselves and do the best we can because no one is going to do it for us. Jillian recalled her mother always telling her, "You get your checkups. If something is wrong, it can be fixed."
The star emphasized self-examination. Early detection is the best protection, according to Jillian, and if every woman would discover the cancer early, it will change the course of the disease. She hopes that someday future generations will not have to go through what she did. Jillian said that just because you don't have a history of cancer in your family doesn't mean you are exempt from the disease.
Several audience members were surprised when Jillian said she chose not to have reconstructive surgery. She said she feels the inner self is more important than the outer.
Jillian told the audience that friends and family want to be there for you and should not be shut out. Since becoming a cancer survivor, Jillian has had a son and still has an active acting career.
Another impressive speaker was Dr. Margaret Deanesly, a cancer survivor for 28 years. She emphasized the importance of knowing your own body. A wealth of breast-health information was provided in the form of booklets and pamphlets at the talk.
Saratogan Brookes Brown was instrumental in having the U.S. Postal Service issue its national Breast Cancer Awareness stamp on June 15. San Jose Postmaster Suzanne Chaille unveiled the stamp early and presented a framed stamp to Jillian for her active participation in fighting breast cancer.
About 800 people attended the Breast Health Information Forum. SmartWoman volunteers from Saratoga were: Zoe Alameda, Evelyn Crane-Oliver, Adrienne Gemberling, Pam Robbin, Tina Pidwell, Debbie Simon, and Gay Crawford.
For further infomation, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or the Junior League of San Jose at 264-3058.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, June 19, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved