TV anchor heightens breast cancer awareness
Mouton's public battle with disease inspires others
By Bethany Broadwell
iCan News Service, staff writer April 3, 2001

Facing breast cancer is scary, but San Antonio, Texas, newscaster Leslie Mouton had the courage to face her diagnosis and treatment in a public way. Not only did she document the different stages of her treatment in a journal on her TV station's Web site, she also anchored a newscast without her wig to heighten breast cancer awareness.

Sharing her story turned out to be "a huge blessing," Mouton said. "So many people poured open their hearts and offered me support and encouragement!" While she has written about grueling rounds of chemotherapy and some frightening emotions, Mouton recognizes that plenty of good has resulted from her becoming a part of cancer statistics. By her being one of the 180,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year, Mouton says, "It has forced me to look at myself -- and love myself -- hairless and all! It has changed me, and for the better. I'm a more positive, spiritual and self-confident person than I was before. I have stared fear and death in the face and overcome both," she said.

Reaching others with the same emotions
Of all of the changes she felt for her experience with cancer, Mouton said she was most surprised at how emotional she felt about losing her hair. "It was the only time I cried," she said. Her hope is that showing off her baldness will help other women realize hair is "nothing more than a warmer for your head."

Sandi Stanford, of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation in San Antonio, saw Mouton's memorable broadcast and said she admires her openness. Whether people with cancer lose their hair depends on the type of treatment they have, but about 98 percent of patients experience some hair loss. Stanford said of Mouton, "She showed that it isn't the hair that makes a person, but what's inside."

Message serves as motivation
Based on calls they receive to their 24-hour help line, the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation has seen an increase in young women with breast cancer, said the organization's president, Eileen Mueller. While the National Cancer Institute says most cancers occur in women older than 50, Mouton did fall into the late-childbearing risk category. The NCI says, "Women who have their first child late (after about age 30) have a greater chance of developing breast cancer than women who have a child at a younger age."

Mueller believes Mouton's message will motivate women to do self-exams and get regular checkups. "Leslie Mouton has taken a negative situation and turned it into a positive one," Mueller said. She thinks it would be a helpful education tool if the newscaster's experience could be put on video and made available to newly diagnosed women.

Mouton does plan to continue her outreach activities. She has already accepted some speaking engagements and is considering writing a book about her experience. For now, Mouton is concentrating on the present rather than distant goals. "I realize 'this' is what's important … this moment in time. I will relish it, treasure it and embrace it," she said.

Fear is greatest test
Overcoming fear was Mouton's greatest challenge. "I overcame it by facing it, keeping a positive attitude and putting my faith in God," she said. She encourages people with breast cancer to share their experience with others, volunteer at cancer centers and get involved. From personal observations and conversations with oncologists, Mueller believes the number of patients in support groups is small; she estimates between 10 percent and 25 percent. Mouton can speak with authority on the value of sharing a health situation, because she has been there. "You will be surprised at how your positive attitude can touch lives -- and also improve your own!"

source:www.ican.com/index.cfm