Lillian, my character of 18 years, on Guiding Light had breast cancer. The story was done with dignity and realism. The writers followed a woman my age through her process and wrote a true and lovely tribute. For months my character felt great fear. For months she showed great bravery. Through all the processes – finding the lump, having a mammogram, sonogram, biopsy, removal of the cancer, radiation, and support therapy – Lillian underwent the emotional merry-go-round. After each show I would talk to the audience and urge them to check for breast cancer. The response was phenomenal. Lives were saved. Phone calls and letters poured in. The American Cancer Society had the largest turnout for mammograms ever. I was given awards all over the country and in Italy. People would phone the studio before their operations just to talk to me. The 10,000,000 people who watch the show worldwide had been helped. Young women who didn’t know the reach of this disease now know it kills young women too and are armed. Italian women who have a very high incidence of death from breast cancer have been warned to catch it early. Normal women were altered by seeing, Lillian, a nurse and mother, get sick. Women who had breast cancer were finally able to cry for themselves by crying for Lillian. They were too busy before taking care of their families to wail or too brave or scared. At last the experience that left them without a breast or with a scar on their breast can be mourned as they watch on TV over a long period of time their crisis enacted and fought. It was easy for me. I could go home at night and forget it. I did paint a scar on my breast during that time to salute the real victims. That painted scar reminded me at the gym, in the tub what it really was like to live with the reality of breast cancer.

I also did an incest story on Guiding Light which like the breast cancer story was dramatic and educational. To be able to help the young girls who have been or are being molested and show them there are answers felt wonderful. Daytime delivered some answers and we who acted them were delighted.

By Tina