After being in remission for 27 months, Irondequoit resident Denise Viele recently learned that the ovarian cancer she was diagnosed with in November 2009 has returned.
To support her during the next six months of treatment, family and friends are hosting a benefit, sponsored by Golden Tans, from noon to 6 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 14, at the conference center at Camp Eastman, 1558 Lake Shore Blvd., Irondequoit.
Tickets, $20 per person, will include food, wine, beer and soft drinks.
There will also be a silent auction, raffles and prizes. Purchase tickets at any Golden Tans location or at the door.
Nearly three years ago, Denise Viele went to the doctor because she thought she had injured herself raking leaves. She had these “vague” symptoms including back pain and abdominal cramping.
Initially, her doctor was “stumped,” Viele said, but after several tests, ovarian cancer was confirmed the day before Thanksgiving 2009.
“I was shocked,” Viele admitted. “I’ve always gone for all my ‘well visit’ annual appointments.”
She ended up having surgery Dec. 1, 2009, and six months of chemotherapy from January to June 2010. She visited the doctor every six months.
Then in August this year, she started not to feel well again, Viele said, but since her son was getting married Aug. 25, she didn’t say anything right away.
Another test Sept. 13, however, confirmed what she already suspected: The cancer was back.
She didn’t let the diagnosis, however, stop her from participating, for the third year, in an Ovarian Cancer Walk and benefit three days later, Sept. 16, at Cobbs Hill Park in Rochester.
Chemotherapy treatments resumed Sept. 26, and she may be facing a second surgery, said her daughter, Venessa Viele.
Now friends and family, including ex-husband Rocco Viele, owner of Golden Tans, not only want to help Denise, who doesn’t expect to be able to return to work for another six months, but also to build awareness about ovarian cancer.
“We want to get the word out there,” said longtime friend Andrea Tarquinio of Irondequoit, who has helped gather a variety of donations from across the community for the Oct. 14 benefit. Proceeds will help with her friend’s medical bills and other expenses.
“You hear a lot about breast cancer awareness ... I want ovarian cancer to be just as big,” said Denise Viele, a mother of four and grandmother to five, with one (Venessa’s first child) on the way.
Her mom is known as “Mama D” to many, daughter Venessa said, adding that family is most important to her.
After being in remission for 27 months, Irondequoit resident Denise Viele recently learned that the ovarian cancer she was diagnosed with in November 2009 has returned.
To support her during the next six months of treatment, family and friends are hosting a benefit, sponsored by Golden Tans, from noon to 6 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 14, at the conference center at Camp Eastman, 1558 Lake Shore Blvd., Irondequoit.
Tickets, $20 per person, will include food, wine, beer and soft drinks.
There will also be a silent auction, raffles and prizes. Purchase tickets at any Golden Tans location or at the door.
Nearly three years ago, Denise Viele went to the doctor because she thought she had injured herself raking leaves. She had these “vague” symptoms including back pain and abdominal cramping.
Initially, her doctor was “stumped,” Viele said, but after several tests, ovarian cancer was confirmed the day before Thanksgiving 2009.
“I was shocked,” Viele admitted. “I’ve always gone for all my ‘well visit’ annual appointments.”
She ended up having surgery Dec. 1, 2009, and six months of chemotherapy from January to June 2010. She visited the doctor every six months.
Then in August this year, she started not to feel well again, Viele said, but since her son was getting married Aug. 25, she didn’t say anything right away.
Another test Sept. 13, however, confirmed what she already suspected: The cancer was back.
She didn’t let the diagnosis, however, stop her from participating, for the third year, in an Ovarian Cancer Walk and benefit three days later, Sept. 16, at Cobbs Hill Park in Rochester.
Chemotherapy treatments resumed Sept. 26, and she may be facing a second surgery, said her daughter, Venessa Viele.
Now friends and family, including ex-husband Rocco Viele, owner of Golden Tans, not only want to help Denise, who doesn’t expect to be able to return to work for another six months, but also to build awareness about ovarian cancer.
“We want to get the word out there,” said longtime friend Andrea Tarquinio of Irondequoit, who has helped gather a variety of donations from across the community for the Oct. 14 benefit. Proceeds will help with her friend’s medical bills and other expenses.
“You hear a lot about breast cancer awareness ... I want ovarian cancer to be just as big,” said Denise Viele, a mother of four and grandmother to five, with one (Venessa’s first child) on the way.
Her mom is known as “Mama D” to many, daughter Venessa said, adding that family is most important to her.
“She was everyone’s second mother; even the grandkids call her that (Mama D) now,” said Venessa, a nurse.
As she faces another round of cancer treatment, Denise Viele says she has a lot of faith in her doctors.
“I’m a very positive person; there’s no room for negative anything,” she said. “I always feel there’s someone worse off than me, no matter what ... And, I have a wonderful support system of family and friends.”
Besides family, her hobbies and interests include cooking and gardening.
She can’t do the gardening when she’s going through chemotherapy, however, Andrea said, because she has to be careful of germs.
If she has advice for others, Denise Viele added, it’s not to skip annual tests, and to be aware of ovarian cancer symptoms, which can include abdominal pain, constipation, frequent urination, nausea, bloating, weight gain or loss, and back pain.
“Ovarian cancer is such a silent killer,” she said. “Just be aware of it.”
For anyone who can’t attend Sunday’s benefit, donations are also being accepted for Denise Viele in care of Rocco Viele, P.O. Box 90660, Rochester, NY 14609; or online until Nov. 14 at www.giveforward.com/fundraiserfordeniseviele.
