Symposium addresses breast cancer

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation sponsored a breast health symposium and luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. More than 350 people supported the event, which featured two speakers who addressed both the science and the psychology of breast cancer. Dr. Lisa D. Curcio, a breast cancer survivor and a surgical oncologist, told the crowd why medicine must treat the whole person, not just the disease. Curcio, who happens to be the only female surgical oncologist practicing in South Orange County, is the founder of Advanced Breast Care Specialists, serving patients in all aspects of breast care and breast cancer. Dr. Merry Tetef, author of some 70 publications on the subject, delivered the keynote address.

Marie Blash chaired the event for the fifth year. Organizers working with Blash billed the gathering as "Life In Bloom," a day-long symposium on the myriad issues surrounding breast cancer. Curcio told the audience, "It is important to understand and address the emotional issues that accompany a diagnosis of breast cancer."

Following lunch, a fashion show presented by Talbot's included 12 models, all breast cancer survivors. The Orange County affiliate of the Komen Foundation has granted $1.1 million to local nonprofit organizations working to cure or to assist breast cancer patients and their families.

Assisting dedicated Chair Blash was a committee including Lisa Wolter, Sandra Rose, Deb Carver, C.J. Calderon, Sally Coombe, Leslie Whitfield and Michelle Pantanella. Also fighting breast cancer were Lili Curran, Cece Landise, Sandy Firestone, Sherry Birtley, Heather Gilbert and Jane Hill, to name only a few.

Share Our Selves, a Costa Mesa-based organization dedicated to the humanitarian pursuit of assisting those in need once again threw their annual Wild and Crazy Taco night. Some 650 Newport-Mesa residents went to the Save Our Selves Superior Avenue facility to sample the tacos prepared by 18 celebrity chefs. Inspiration was the theme of the night as tacos included "drunken" lobster chile verde, Peking duck taco with hoisin barbecue tomato salsa, and a deep-fried tortilla filled with cheesecake and salsa.