Episod #39: Facing the Worst. Preparing for the Best

The Growth and Resilience Network® with Steve Piscitelli

Episode #39 of The Growth and Resilience Network® podcast channel explores the interconnections of community, resilience, relationships, and breast cancer. You will hear from two Jacksonville, Florida community activists who have been voices for the countless women facing a breast cancer diagnosis. One as a survivor, and one as an organizer for survivors. Both helped those diagnosed with breast cancer develop their own voice.

Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks was enjoying life as a bass guitar player, magazine editor, and newlywed, when she got the news in 1986 that she had breast cancer. In 1988 she formed the support group “Bosom Buddies.”

Jeannie Blaylock, co-anchor of the evening news for First Coast News (Channel 12) in Jacksonville, Florida, was not a cancer survivor. Nor was she living with a diagnosis. She was grappling, however, with the sudden and tragic death of her twenty-nine-year-old friend to breast cancer. In 1993, Jeannie used her visibility as a news reporter to shed light on the topic. She initiated “Buddy Check 12,” encouraging women to connect and remind one another, on the 12th of each month, to conduct a breast self-exam. With her persistence the station aired segments showing actual models conducting breast exams in the shower, lying down, and sitting up. This was unheard of for the time and market. And most definitely needed. The first night, the station received 234 calls from women.

Thanks to these two forces of nature, a door had been opened and once the conversation started, no one was going to stop it.

Music (“T2D”) by ©Billy Bowers. Used with permission. www.billybowersjax.com

©Steve Piscitelli. 2018 The Growth and Resilience Network® www.stevepiscitelli.com