Stroudsburg woman represents breast cancer survivors ...

Her battle with breast cancer earned Michelle Bruzzese a spot on The Gallery of Hope, a collection of photographs and personal stories of area breast cancer survivors. Michelle lives in Stroudsburg with her husband and two children.David Kidwell/Pocono Record

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By VINNY VELLA

July 02, 2011

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Michelle Bruzzese knows firsthand how difficult dealing with breast cancer can be, and she wants other women to know that they don't have to suffer alone.

"Cancer is life-changing, but it's not a death sentence," she said. "Sometimes you need to ask for help, to lean on the right people to help you get through."

The 37-year-old mother of two was diagnosed with breast cancer last March. She relied on friends, the students she teaches in her Spanish class at Pocono Mountain East High School and the staff at Pocono Medical Center in her time of need. For her strength and confidence, they nominated her to be Monroe County's representative in the Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania's Gallery of Hope.

For the past 11 years, the Gallery has honored breast cancer survivors in 13 counties. The display, which tours hospitals, community centers and other locations, raises breast cancer awareness through the stories and pictures of the nominated survivors.

"The idea is to spread the message of early detection and treatment," Anthony Matrisciano, a spokesman for the Blue Cross, said. "We want to give people hope that breast cancer is beatable."

The gallery particularly stresses the importance of proper diet and exercise as a means of helping maintain good health. But, as Bruzzese can attest to, nothing can completely prevent cancer.

"It was frustrating for me, initially," she said. "I worked out and ate right; I thought I had those risk factors taken care of."

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After her diagnosis, Bruzzese didn't get discouraged and stuck with her healthy habits. She found support through her gym mates at Core Awareness, a Pilates studio in Sciota, and her husband Matt, who cooked the family healthy meals from scratch.

"You need to take care of yourself; you can't just lie down and take it," she said. "I truly believe that staying healthy and active helped me get through the treatments as well as I did."

Though her own fight with cancer is over, Bruzzese said that she will always think of herself as a survivor and reflects on her experience every day.

She urges women currently dealing with cancer to never give up.

"It's important to maintain normalcy in your life," she said. "If you can celebrate those glimmers of hope when you feel like yourself again, you can get through anything."

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Source: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110702/NEWS/107020337/-1/rss01

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