Outer Beauty Tips Lead to Inner Strength for Women with Breast Cancer

Resources for women fighting breast cancer that your doctor doesn't offer.

By the nature of its side effects, cancer treatment can make a private battle a very public affair. For a woman with cancer, having a bald head, pale skin or a missing breast can make her feel like she's being targeted by a bright spotlight and a banner that says, "Cancer patient." But now more than ever, there are resources that will put the spotlight back on their work, their accomplishments and their life—and change that banner to simply read, "Woman." The Cancer Support Center has wig boutiques at its offices at 2028 Elm Road in Homewood and 19250 Everett Lane in Mokena. "Patients involved with any of our programs can come in to the Wendy Lark wig boutique in Homewood or the Hometown Hoedown wig boutique in Mokena and be fitted with a …

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Southland Stories

Burros Ban on Pink Has a Lot of People Talking

You see a lot of pink on the football field for Breast Cancer Awareness month. But not on the boys who play youth football in Mokena. A clueless call? Or overreaction?

The boys who play tackle football for the Mokena Burros can no longer garb themselves in shades of pink if they want to remain on the gridiron. So says Burros Athletic Director Sal Della Fave. In an e-mail at the onset of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to his players and coaches, Della Fave laid down the law: Only small, pink stickers can be affixed to helmets. "This is the only approved addition to our uniform," he wrote. "No other pink item is to be added to the uniform ie. socks, laces, duct tape etc. I am holding each of you accountable to ensure compliance." Patch's story about the decision and the ensuing displeasure felt by moms prompted much conversation among Patch's south suburban Facebook fans and followers of Patch sites.  Here'…

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Think Pink: Lots of Breast Cancer Awareness Events in the Area

From galas to walks to shopping, here's how you can participate, pledge support and donate to the cause in your area. If we missed and effort, please let us know what else is going on in the comments.

The Long Walk for Awareness

A Mother's Day marathon. Supporters in the fight against breast cancer started early yesterday morning, in what turned out to be a day of festivities and awareness.

Shortly after my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995, she stood along the edge of our back porch and combed her hair in the afternoon sun. Reddish-brown strands from a woman who'd married, taught most of her life and raised two boys, now in their 20s, fell into her hands. “I loved my hair,” said my mother Eileen Klinkert. “It was one of the things I really loved about myself.” It was a sacrifice she had to make, however, so she let each strand go. Eventually, her thick head of hair disappeared completely from chemotherapy, drugs used to reduce her cancer so she could have her breast removed then treated with radiation. “As time went on,” she said, “I'd look up into the trees [in our backyard], and I could see my hair mixed into…

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