Franklin Park resident Maria Laskowski participated in a #PinkOut event at the United Center at the Chicago Bulls game on Oct. 10.
Q: Where did you grow up and go to school?
A: I grew up in Schiller Park. I went to East Leyden High School. I currently live in Franklin Park. All of my kids went to East Leyden.
Q: When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
A: In October of last year, I was three months overdue on my annual mammogram. I made my appointment at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. I was notified that there was something suspicious and there needed to be a followup. I went back, and they did a biopsy. The biopsy came up cancerous.
More Top Picks Best Cycling Kits For Senior Riders
Q: What happened next?
A: The mammogram showed one mass and some speckles. The MRI picked up a second mass. I had a mastectomy. It was considered Stage 3 breast cancer.
Q: When did you start chemotherapy?
A: I started chemo the week after Christmas. I did eight rounds of chemotherapy treatments and 28 daily rounds of radiation. One thing that kept me going is I did the chemo cold cap that let me keep my hair during chemo. That helped me stay positive.
Q: How did your family help you through it?
A: I had a great support system. My family, co-workers and community and the team of doctors that I have at Advocate have helped me. Being a cancer coach, I show others that I don’t let it knock me down.
Q: How did you get involved with #PinkOut at the United Center on Oct. 10?
A: My oncologist surgeon recommended me, so the marketing and public relations team from Advocate reached out to me. I’ve been an inspiration, and everybody knows me at Advocate. Advocate did a day of pampering for my friend, my three daughters and myself. They picked me up in a limo and we went for lunch, makeovers and shopping.
Q: What is #PinkOut?
A: It is an Advocate Health Care event. It is the sixth year that they’ve done it. They have profiled fighters and survivors.
Q: Tell me about the game.
A: I was there with my daughters and my friend and a bunch of other survivors. I was on the court when the Bulls came out and when they started practicing. They signed a basketball for me. We wore pink ribbons and pink bracelets. Everywhere I looked, it was pink. It was nice to be able to talk to others who were going through the same journey.
Q: What inspires you to keep going?
A: I have to show my three daughters that I’m strong and I want to be there for them. I want them to know that I’m going to beat this.