Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The long road to recovery

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Dolores Persky, of Wantagh, and Pat Goodovitch, of Seaford, believe their battles with breast cancer have made them stronger. Although each woman has taken a different path, both are alive to share their story.

Dolores, a two-time survivor, said the cancer has taught her how to be a fighter and how to advocate for herself and other women suffering from the disease. “This is my body,” she said. “I won’t give up. I will kick cancer’s ass again and again.”

It’s that fighting spirit that led Dolores to create a website, LongIslandBreastCancer.com, and a Facebook page, Long Island Breast Cancer, to advocate for other patients. “I think women need to know that we have the right to get the kind of care we need,” she said.

The website is designed to educate people about early detection, self-awareness, nutrition, exercise, meditation and the Japanese relaxation technique Reiki. The Facebook page sells breast cancer pins and uses the money it raises to help purchase wigs for women. It also delivers nutritionally balanced meals to local women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Pat, meanwhile, said that her faith in God made her stronger during her illness. “There is this fear, when you are diagnosed, that is unlike anything I had experienced before,” she said. “But my faith, my devotion to the Blessed Mother helped me. I was in her hands and I knew I would be OK.”

Monsignor Tom Hartmann, a family friend, provided Pat with a miraculous medal from Mother Theresa while she was ill. Another friend brought her communion every day during her months of treatment. “Faith heals,” said Pat, who passed the miraculous medal on to other friends with serious illnesses.

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