email print

Geralyn Lucas

Executive Director of Public Affairs, Lifetime TV, New York City, author, and mother of Skye, (pictured), now seven. BCRF Note:
Since this profile was received, Geralyn and her husband, Tyler, are the proud parents of Hayden, born in 2006, a brother for Skye.

Q. Tell us a little about yourself and your lifestyle.

A. My name is Geralyn Lucas, I am 36, married for 11 years to Tyler Lucas, and have a four-year-old daughter named Skye. I work at Lifetime Television in NYC on programming and public affairs. I have also just completed a book called "Why I Wore Lipstick" which is a memoir about my breast cancer experience. The book is due out in the Fall.

Q. Describe how you found your cancer, were you on 'watch' or did it sneak up on you?

A. I found my lump doing a self exam in the shower. I was only 27 and had no family history of the disease. I credit my life being saved to groups like BCRF, for creating so much awareness about self-exam. When I told my doctors about the lump everyone told me not to worry because I was too young and had no family history. I think it is so important for young women especially to do breast self exams: my own lump was so deep that at first my doctor could not even feel it. But, my doctor I first showed the lump to insisted that I get a sonogram, which looked bad, and then I got a mammogram.

Q. Following diagnosis, what helped you cope the most, and gave you strength?

A. My family (they came with me to all my treatments), friends (they also came to treatments and took care of me by cooking for me), and co-workers (they were such cheerleaders in the office and my bosses promoted me during chemo even)! Also, my doctors were incredibly supportive (always reassuring me that I was doing a great job with treatment). And, therapy (I saw an amazing therapist who specializes in treating cancer patients and their families), and hypnotherapy (I found hypnotherapy to be so relaxing and took away so much pain). Speaking to other survivors was incredibly helpful: that is why I wrote my book...to be there for other women.

Q. How has breast cancer changed your outlook on life?

A. I try to make myself worry less about the little things and feel very appreciative of life. Yesterday was parent's day at my daughter's ballet and I cried through the whole class...absolute tears of joy. I could not believe how lucky I was to be watching my daughter Skye leap through the air. She looked so beautiful in her pink tutu and leotard and tights and with a pink ribbon in her hair. I realized that my life has gone on, but there is always an homage to how lucky I am to be living, an appreciation that pink ribbons have such a complex meaning to me.

Q. What advice would you give to someone who is newly diagnosed with breast cancer?

A. Do your homework and get involved in your treatment options because it will make you feel so much more in control. Get a 4th opinion if you need to (I got 9)!

Q. How has The Breast Cancer Research Foundation been helpful to you?

A. The research that your foundation is doing is making me feel that the world will be a better, safer place for my daughter. And, I know that feeling the power of your organization, the power of your community, makes me feel that I am not alone in this fight. Recently, at The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Gala I felt like I was part of a huge team in fighting this disease. Also, my daughter and husband were profiled in a campaign for the Foundation. I think that was an amazing campaign because it made people realize how much the families are changed by breast cancer, and the ripple effect of a breast cancer diagnosis on a family. I also really admire Evelyn Lauder because I think she has shown me how much can be done in the fight against this disease: breast cancer often leaves us feeling so powerless. Her organization is an example of how much can be done, and how much hope there can be in ending this terrible disease.