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Making a Difference: Smiles for Survivors
The ripple effect of breast cancer on a person’s life, their family and loved-ones, is only masked by the severe and detrimental result it can have on the person’s overall health and appearance. The brutal truth survivors must face is that even the means to fight the disease can have terrible and lasting side effects. One of the more conspicuous, yet little discussed consequence is the degeneration of survivors’ teeth as they are taken through chemotherapy. A local non-profit is on a mission to raise awareness of this specific byproduct of chemo, and bring smiles and joy back to a cancer survivor’s life by restoring the damage.
The Smiles for Survivors Foundation ™ held its 3rd Annual Blow Out Breast Cancer event at Square Colour Salon + Spa in Summerlin, raising over $26,000 to provide preventative and restorative dental treatment and education for cancer patients going through chemotherapy. More than 350 people attended the event sponsored by Square Colour Salon + Spa, By Dzign Furniture, Rob Jensen Company – Guard Gated Real Estate, Park Place Infiniti and Couture Dermatology and Plastic Surgery.
“Receiving the gift of a smile allows me to share my story with others who are affected by this disease,” said survivor and patient, Lilly Gill. “I can never thank Drs. Olya Banchik, Bradley Strong and Mark Degen enough for the wonderful new smile they have provided for me.” The team of volunteers replaced Gill’s missing teeth and restored her remaining teeth. No longer self-conscious about her mouth’s appearance, Gill explained that the dentists also restored her joyful spirit. For information on Smiles for Survivors, visit www.smilesforsurvivors.org.
