High Tea Event Brings Cancer Survivors Together for Celebration

On October 22nd, The Elliot Breast Health Center hosted its 12th annual Breast Cancer Survivor High Tea event. The event was held at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, NH to bring together breast cancer survivors who received treatment at The Elliot.

There were nearly 130 people in attendance who connected with other attendees about their shared experiences. Dr. Emese Kalnoki-Kis with Elliot Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery spoke about breast cancer through history including more recent advancements in reconstructive surgery. Jodi Hanley, CSW, LCSW spoke about the benefits of journaling and gave attendees a few minutes to journal about what brought them to the event. Breast cancer survivors were also given the opportunity to share their personal stories and experiences with breast cancer, provide words of encouragement to those in attendance who are still in treatment, and moments to celebrate together.

Alice Max, a 20-year breast cancer survivor who attended, shared that this spring she learned that her breast cancer had returned. “I’m seventy-nine years old, I decided I wasn’t going to do anything as far as treatment goes. But recently, I also learned that my daughter has breast cancer. If she is going to fight then I am going to fight,” Alice said.

Alice Max

“Breast cancer touches the lives of so many and this event gives us the opportunity to celebrate survivorship. I was honored to be a part of this event. Words cannot describe the emotion, determination, support, and love that this group of survivors displayed. The women who shared their stories were incredibly brave and inspiring and their words touched everyone in the room,” said Sue Nicholls, Elliot Health System Ambulatory Clinical Nurse Manager.