2013 'Dans le Rose' Breast Cancer Awareness Gown

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for the third year in a row Montagne Noire is introducing a Special Edition gown, "Dans le Rose", a satin Victorian day gown with matching hat in pink, for just 100L!

In RL I'm a survivor of breast cancer. In 2010 I underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, and completed radiation therapy in January 2011. I'm currently on medication therapy for ten years to prevent the cancer from returning.

I created this gown, and the previous special edition gowns for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (in October of each year), with the hope of spreading awareness about breast cancer to younger women in SL -- I was 42 when I was diagnosed, but have met many women who were diagnosed in their 20s and 30s.

So here is my PSA: if you are over 40, please get that annual mammogram. If you are under 40, you are never too young to start monthly self exams.

I thought breast cancer was something that could never happen to me, but I've come to realize that a diagnosis does not mean a death sentence either.


This dress set is meant to celebrate the dreams, beauty and creativity of all women in SL, and I hope you enjoy it. Proceeds from this purchase benefit my continuing medical treatment.

There are many special events this month throughout Second Life to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research and treatment. One of my favorites is Boobiethon, going on now through the weekend in various locations. This is the final year for the event, so please do check it out -- organizers Eva Bellambi and Serra Anansi have put so much time and effort into this wonderful event for the last six years, and they deserve a round of applause.

Thank you for your support!

Boobiethon 2011 starts today!

This year is the fourth annual BoobieThon event in Second Life -- a week of events and fundraisers to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a charity near and dear to my heart -- I was the recipient of a grant by the Komen Foundation last year during my breast cancer treatment, which helped my family purchase groceries and other household necessities.

I've put my "Dans le Rose" Breast Cancer Awareness gown into a Boobiethon vendor in the entry alcove. All sales benefit the Komen Foundation.

The Boobiethon runs Oct. 1 through 7. For a complete schedule of events visit The Realm of the Red Rose blog.

Breast Cancer Awareness gown featured

Miss Dymphne has graciously featured my 100L Breast Cancer ball gown on her new blog, Dymphne's Album, here and here.

Thank you Miss Dymphne! You are absolutely lovely.

Getting back in the groove

March 2011 marks a year since I was diagnosed with breast cancer in RL. It's been a long haul, but my prognosis is excellent.

As you can see from the date of my last post on this blog, I had to stop posting last summer when I started chemotherapy. Treatment was a real struggle; I ended up going into the hospital twice, and eventually we decided to stop chemo treatment early, because it was making me so ill.

After some recuperation, I jumped head first into radiation treatment and that took a lot out of me too.

Throughout the last few months I've kept a low profile on SL, mostly focusing on maintaining the creative and business side of Montagne Noire. When I've felt well enough to sit in the computer chair for long periods of time, I've released some new outfits; when sitting was too tiring, I had to limit myself to addressing customer service issues.

So one of the things that fell by the wayside during the last few months was this blog. I simply couldn't justify the effort and time for it... but now I'm intending to make a re-commitment to it. While this blog has but a small following, I think it's an important exercise for me as a RL writer.

One of the lingering effects of treatment has been trouble with words... Word Amnesia would be a good term for it. There's a neurological condition the oncologists call "chemo brain" which affects different patients in different ways; it just so happens that it's affecting my ability to spell correctly and conjure the correct words for people, places and objects. What it hasn't affected fortunately is my ability to create clothing. That must go on in a different part of my brain.

My posts will likely be brief in nature, mostly announcing new releases, sales etc., as I did before. So please stay tuned!