ERLANGER — From Erlanger to L.A., Janet Chambers is celebrated as a hero. Chosen from more than 100 candidates across the nation to be part of Lifetime Television's Hero Project, Mrs. Chambers and seven other women were flown to L.A. on Oct. 17 to rub elbows with musicians such as the Dixie Chicks and Mary J. Blige at Lifetime Television's “Women Rock! Girls and Guitars” concert.

Janet Chambers (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        The inaugural Hero Project and the second annual concert, which also featured Pat Benatar, Emmylou Harris and Nelly Furtado, are components of Lifetime's Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign.

        Mrs. Chambers, 42, was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 1999. Within 17 days of her diagnosis, Mrs. Chambers underwent a lumpectomy and had 12 lymph nodes removed.

        “Cancer is a mind game to say the least,” said Mrs. Chambers, the mother of three daughters.

        “There were funny moments and sad ones as well. I always laughed and I always cried. That's how you get through.

BREAST CANCER FACTS

• 192,200 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001   • Being overweight is linked with risks for breast cancer   • Use of alcohol is linked with breast cancer   • Moderate exercise can reduce risk for breast cancer   • Breast cancer treatment does not always result in a total mastectomy   • There is no known preventive measure for breast cancer

BREAST CANCER SIGNS

• A swelling of part of the breast   • Skin irritation or dimpling   • Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward   • Redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin   • A nipple discharge other than breast milk   • A lump in the underarm area

IF YOU GO

On-site registration for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer starts at 8 a.m. Sunday at Yeatman's Cove, Sawyer Point. There is no fee to enter. For information, call (888) 227-6446.

        “One day at dinner, a (daughter's) boyfriend came to the door. Kelsey, the youngest, said, "Don't worry mom, I'll take care of it!'

        "While one daughter held off the boyfriend in the entry hall, I ran into the bathroom and here comes Kelsey running my wig to my rescue, right past the boyfriend and into the kitchen. It was very chaotic and we laughed about it later.”

        During the four-day trip to L.A., Mrs. Chambers and the other women were given the red carpet treatment with dinner at Linq's, limo rides to and from the Women Rock! concert, third row seats and an after-concert party at Cindy Crawford's Sky Bar.

        Segments of interviews with Mrs. Chambers and the others were shown during Friday's broadcast of the concert.

        Before she was diagnosed, Mrs. Chambers was newly remarried, worked full-time and was working to get her undergraduate degree. After being told she had cancer, Mrs. Chambers made taking control of her life a priority.

        She has made breast cancer awareness a large part of her life. She spoke to students at Notre Dame Academy and presented photographs of the mammogram process with her talk.

        A local salesperson for Insight Media Advertising, Mrs. Chambers has lived in the Erlanger area for almost 40 years. When she hears a local woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she often calls with words of encouragement or sends flowers and a card.

        Her most public contribution to raising local awareness about breast cancer is her work with the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

        In 2000, Mrs. Chambers organized 45 people to participate in the walk, the largest group from Northern Kentucky.

        The group raised $5,000 for breast cancer research and treatment. She said that this year she gathered at least 10 more people for the Sunday event.

        “I feel that it is important to have a passion about something,” Mrs. Chambers said. “This is my passion and I will do whatever it takes to find a cure. I will not tire as long as I live and breathe, to fight this unmerciful disease.

        “Remember, I have three girls of my own.”

        Mrs. Chambers said that she did regular self-checks for breast cancer, visited her gynecologist regularly, had a baseline mammogram at age 36 and was not in a high-risk group for the disease.

        For other women, her advice is to be proactive. “You know your body better than anyone,” Mrs. Chambers said. “If you need peace of mind and cannot get it from your doctor, persist.”

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