In 2015, everything was going well for Mitzi Antonio. She was the mother of a 5-year-old and a newlywed, Ph.D. student and real-life NCIS (Naval Crime Investigation Service) agent.
The family just moved from Italy to Hawaii. Her skies were blue and horizons were clear, until a routine doctor’s visit changed everything.
“I turned 40, and we just moved to Hawaii. I finally found a doctor I loved. My mom is a nurse here, so I’ve been told all my life that when you turn 40, you go for a mammogram. When I mentioned it, the doctor said we can wait because the guidelines have changed,” she said. “But during the examination she found a lump and that’s when I felt it.”
From there it was straight to the biopsy, which turned out to be a harrowing experience. And the results were even greater – it was cancer. Even with Antonio’s optimistic attitude, it was – of course – an incredibly difficult time.
She endured six months of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor so it could be removed. After that, she went for radiation every week for an entire year. It took a huge toll on her, physically, mentally and emotionally.
“I think the hardest thing was that I still wanted to have more children … and after a lot of testing and discussions, I couldn’t do it,” she said. “Losing my hair was also difficult for me. I had waist-length hair. My son was crying and asking if he was going to lose his hair.”
During treatment, Antonio updated friends and family, who lived 1,000 miles away, through CaringBridge and Facebook accounts. One of the reasons she felt compelled to share her journey was to help other women who may be walking the same path.
“I have always been open about my cancer journey. I wanted to share what I was going through so they wouldn’t be scared. Many people have contacted me to say that my story touched them. Some of them have made appointments with their doctor because a lot of people don’t go every year like we should,” she said.
As someone looking for answers, Antonio decided to undergo testing to try to better understand how the cancer developed.
“I mean, I had no family history of it. “After I was diagnosed, I did genetic testing and discovered that I had a rare immune system gene that was dormant,” she said.
“But as a special agent I went to many toxic places in Italy. In fact, I was one of seven agents who came from Italy with some form of cancer. An environmental hazard triggered this gene.”
Fortunately, Antonio crossed over to the other side. After treatment, work brought her back home to the Golden Islands. There she ran into one of her high school teachers, Rhonda Barlow, also a breast cancer survivor.
“I ran into her and Peggy Tuten on First Friday. Then they asked me if I would like to be at the (American Cancer Society) fashion show,” she said. “I said sure, I’ll do anything to help raise awareness.”
She will join eight other local survivors this year at the American Breast Cancer Society’s annual fashion show. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. Feb. 11 at Sea Palms, 515 N. Windward Drive,
Lunch will be served along with silent auctions and a raffle. But the main event is cheering on the models.
For Joy Cook, event manager, it’s the best part of the day.
“I feel that a fashion show is a celebration of life. I think that’s certainly true for models, but they also give hope to so many other people who may be going through cancer … not just breast cancer,” she said.
A cancer survivor herself, Cook knows how important that can be. That is why she has invested all her energy in organizing the event since she joined in 2013.
“I started volunteering at the American Cancer Society office. I was asked if I could chair the event in 2013 … I’ve done it every year since then,” Cook said.
“We start planning it at least six months in advance. We decide when we will have it and start looking for donations and sponsorships. We are so blessed to have Glynn County help us every year.”