Oct. 18 — Showcasing awareness is fashionable

A Puyallup woman beats breast cancer and takes part in Macy’s 11th annual Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show

Chris Albert / of the Herald

When Marie Rapoza found a lump on her breast she wasn’t sure what it was.

The Puyallup resident was 34 years old and cancer wasn’t the first thing to come to her mind. Maybe she had bruised it while gardening or doing a number of things that a busy single mother of two boys does. But she wasn’t going to take a chance and set up an appointment with her doctor. Within a week treatments had been scheduled to begin her battle against breast cancer.

After undergoing two mastectomies and a year of chemotherapy she beat the disease — all while raising her two sons and working full-time as a service writer at a local Ford dealership.

Recently she celebrated her fifth year of being cancer free.

“That was a big thing,” Rapoza said.

To celebrate her victory against cancer and raise awareness of the disease Rapoza took part in Macy’s 11th annual Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion show on Oct. 13 at Macy’s in Seattle. She was one of 16 women selected to take part in the show. Proceeds from the show and in-store promotions help raise money for cancer research and awareness. Last year, $45,000 was raised in western Washington with a portion benefitting the fight against breast cancer at Valley Medical Center in Seattle.

“I think it’s great that Macy’s does this,” Rapoza said.

October is breast cancer awareness month. The knowledge and people talking about breast cancer has increased greatly since Rapoza underwent treatment, she said.

“It’s kind of neat that everywhere you look you get to see pink,” she said.

Pink is the color that is used to raise awareness about breast cancer and “Think Pink “ campaigns have helped greatly, Rapoza said.

“You can get anything from pink M&M’s to pink laundry detergent,” she said. “I was never a pink girl until I went through this.”

Rapoza has been a part of the Susan B. Coleman Race for the Cure every year since she was diagnosed. The number of people she has seen participate in the annual fund raiser and awareness walk has been inspiring.

“Seeing the number of people out there it’s just ‘Hey you can do this,’’” Rapoza said.

The fashion show was another way for her to increase awareness and celebrate the victories of cancer survivors.

Throughout the show’s 11 years, more than 170 survivors have participated, including two men, said Ann McKenzie, Macy’s senior event manager.

“I think once upon a time women who were diagnosed with cancer didn’t even tell their families,” McKenzie said. “It’s not a dirty word anymore. I think there has been tremendous strides made in the last decade. It’s not a death sentence any more.”

In August, Rapoza and the other fashion show participants took part in a full photo shoot, with professional makeup artists, hair stylists, a fashion stylist, an art director and a professional photographer. Each wore two out of three outfits that highlight active, business casual or evening attire.

“When you feel like you look great you feel better inside and you radiate good health,” McKenzie said.

Rapoza is a motorcycle enthusiast. For the photo shoot they found a pink Vespa for her to pose with.

“That was fun,” she said.

The photos will be on display throughout the month in store windows at the Seattle Macy’s.

“How could you resist supporting women who have gone through, in some cases, very serious treatments,” McKenzie said.

During the first fashion show in 1996 about 170 people attended. At this year’s event about 400 people attended, with tickets going fast.

“I’d gladly sell 500 tickets if I could,” McKenzie said, but capacity at the store doesn’t allow it. “Now it’s part of a large charge for a change.”

The fashion show participants were selected from 80 essays that were submitted to McKenzie and her staff. From there they selected 16 to take part in the show.

“That really is the toughest thing,” McKenzie said. “Because how do you decide?”

Most of the essays are submitted by friends and family of survivors. In July, the 16 were informed that they had been selected. In 11 years of running the fashion show only one person felt they weren’t comfortable taking part in the show and declined, McKenzie said.

Rapoza’s essay was submitted by a friend and highlighted her positive attitude while taking on a life threatening disease. Even through all the treatments she never asked “why me,” she just kept fighting. During her battle she walked two races after getting chemotherapy two days before and spent free time passing the time playing board games with other patients at the cancer center at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup.

In the essay her friend shared that if she knew she could beat breast cancer again she would gladly take it on if it meant someone who couldn’t beat it wouldn’t get cancer.

The support Rapoza felt from friends, family and breast cancer survivors during her treatment was a great help, she said.

“When it happens it’s just overwhelming,” she said. “It is the big key you have to have support.”

Being able to talk to breast cancer survivors helped calm her nerves and strengthen her diligence in fighting the cancer. She likes to give some of her own knowledge to people fighting cancer, so it may give them the strength that it brought to her.

“Although no one’s experience is the same at least you can give them a heads up or an edge on what to expect,” Rapoza said.

Her two sons helped her the most, she said, but it was hard to explain to her elementary school-age children what was going on.

They associated cancer with death, Rapoza said and beating that was a huge challenge.

“Those two were the biggest inspiration through this,” she said.

While she was getting their support she wished there were more support groups for children with family members fighting cancer.

“I think that there needs to be something for them.” Rapoza said.

Reach Reporter Chris Albert at 253-841-2481 ext. 313 or by e-mail at chris.albert@puyallupherald.com.