OKLAHOMA CITY--Project Wo-man, a committee of the American Cancer Society (ACS)--has published a book depicting the experiences of Oklahoma women with breast cancer as expressed by the women themselves, their friends, children, and other loved ones through stories, photographs, and artwork (see illustrations at right and on page 1).
'To Hear Their Voices'
"This is the kind of book I wanted to read when I learned that I had breast cancer," said Roseanna D. Smith, who chaired the project. "I knew I could get answers to the medical questions from my physicians . . . but what I wanted most was to hear the voice of someone who had been there."
Project Woman consists of representatives of hospitals, mammography screening facilities, health care professionals, community volunteers, and breast cancer survivors. Oklahoma's First Lady, Cathy Keating, serves as honorary chair for the book project, which grew out of a 1995 photographic display honoring the lives of several Oklahoma women who had experienced breast cancer.
"The dream of Project Woman," Ms. Smith said, "is to encourage all women with breast cancer to tell their stories--keep a diary, write a poem, record a daily log of what happens and how you feel. And we trust that reading the stories and seeing the pictures in this book may serve as a balm to others."
All proceeds from the book, A Portrait of Breast Cancer--Expressions in Words and Art, will go to Project Woman, to further breast cancer education and provide free or reduced-cost mammography screening.
For more information about the Portraits book or to order a copy, contact the American Cancer Society--Heartland Division, at 1-800-733-9888.
