A Memphis breast cancer survivor has received the Stop Breast Cancer for Life Hero Award from Lifetime Television. Carolyn Whitney was one of 10 people across the country chosen for the national honor. The former Memphis city school teacher walked the pink carpet at the Landmark Theatre in Los Angeles October 16 before accepting the award in front of a star-studded audience, which included Mary Hart, Ricki Lake and Holly Robinson Peete.

“This was one of most rewarding and memorable experiences of my life,” says Whitney.

Another memorable day in Whitney’s life was in September of 2000—the day she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She noticed a lump and strange marks on her right breast. Doctors found four lumps in her left breast and performed a double lumpectomy. The masses in her left breast were benign; however, the tumor in her right breast was malignant as were four of the 18 lymph nodes doctors removed from the right side of her body.
 
Whitney did some research and learned about a breast cancer survivorship organization for African American women called the Sisters Network Inc. and contacted the national chapter. In February of 2005, she started the Sisters Network Memphis Chapter. Under her leadership it has grown from 20 to 75 members.

"So many African American women are affected by breast cancer," Whitney says. "Our goal is to reach as many as we can to give as much information as we can about the importance of mammograms, breast self-exams and clinical breast exams."

Whitney is also a member of the American Business Women's Association (ABWA), NAWBO, Memphis Regional Chamber, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the Crescent Club’s Women on the Move.
In 2006 she published her first book, "Wrapped in God's Blessings." On the cover is photo of Whitney taken by her son Marlon in one of the many colorful head wraps she started wearing after losing her hair.

Whitney considers her role as President of the Sisters Network Memphis Chapter a blessing. For her it’s not just a job. Despite her own health issues, she always makes time to provide support and encouragement to other cancer victims.

"We try to let them know we are as close as the telephone," Whitney explains, "and they don't have to wait until we meet if they need to talk to someone. We're a family. We try to celebrate life as often as we can together."

And in 2007, Whitney is celebrating 7 years of life as a cancer survivor.

For more information on the local Sisters Network, check out sistersnetworkmemphis.org.

Appeared in:

• Commercial Appeal
• Memphis Daily News