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Breast Cancer Survivors Share Their Stories

Women’s Center hosts panel as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

From left, Zoila Airall, Victoria Krebs, Colleen Scott and Li-Chen Chin pose together. The four Duke employees shared their stories of breast cancer at a recent Women’s Center event.
From left, Zoila Airall, Victoria Krebs, Colleen Scott and Li-Chen Chin pose together. The four Duke employees shared their stories of breast cancer at a recent Women’s Center event.

On a night when four Duke colleagues shared their individual stories, Colleen Scott summed up the common thread that brought her together with the three other female colleagues.

“I have an unfortunate expertise,” said Scott, director of Duke’s Baldwin Scholars Program.

For Scott and the other staff members, Oct. 26 offered a chance to share their personal takes on life after breast cancer. Hosted by the Duke Women’s Center, the panel of four employees shared what it was like to beat cancer during an event titled “Purpose, Pancakes and Pink!”

“I don’t identify as a cancer survivor, I identify as a badass,” said Scott, who received treatment at Duke in 2014. “The two are not always compatible.”

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Each year it’s estimated about 246,660 women in the United States are diagnosed. But there are also nearly 3 million breast cancer survivors in the country today, which is why several Duke employees decided to be part of the event to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“When I met with my doctor, they said to me, ‘you have tiny cancer cells in the ducts of your breast and I could go in and scrape and scrape and I will never get them all. All I have to do is miss one cell and it could return.’ As soon as she said that, I said, ‘take it, I like life.’

I believe it’s important to talk about my journey because there are so many women who are frightened at the idea of breast cancer. I want them to know there can be light at the end of the tunnel. Education is important.”

Zoila Airall
Associate vice president of student affairs, Campus Life
Diagnosed in 2010

“I typically do not talk about my experience, but I think about my experience every day.  I decided to keep my hair short, so every time I look in the mirror, I’m reminded.”

Colleen Scott
Director, Baldwin Scholars Program
Diagnosed in 2014

“When I was diagnosed, I felt pressure from my family, like there was something I did to get cancer. There’s an idea of self-blaming, that it’s something you brought onto yourself, that’s part of an identity as an Asian woman. It feels like you can bring shame to the family because you have cancer.

I feel we need to change that narrative and start a conversation to remove that shame factor. If more of us talked about it, we could normalize this process. It's important to raise awareness and to ensure that we get the services and support we need.”

Li-Chen Chin
Assistant vice president for intercultural programs, Student Affairs
Diagnosed in 2004

“This year is the first year I forgot my anniversary. Sept. 19 came and went, but October is always a reminder because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Then I remembered.

Most people I know who get breast cancer get reconstruction and I feel that the non-reconstruction option isn’t presented enough. It’s not the right decision for everyone, but it is a decision that people make and are happy with, like me. I don’t know one person that made the decision and regretted it.

These kinds of conversations are important and I’m glad when people want to listen to these stories.”

Victoria Krebs
Associate dean of students, Title IX outreach and response, Student Conduct
Diagnosed in 2003