New Castle fundraiser to help cancer research at UCLA

All money raised is going toward breast cancer research.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- JoAnn Esposito lived with unbearable, unexplainable pain for four years.
"It was in my face, shoulder and ear. I went to every doctor I could think of and I couldn't get relief," said the 58-year-old New Castle woman.
But finally, in March 2003, a biopsy of a lump on her neck was diagnosed as stage 4 breast cancer that had metastasized to other parts of her body.
"It gave me relief. It took the pain away. But then the whole reality of it hit me; I didn't know how long I had to live," Esposito said of the aggressive chemotherapy and surgery she underwent.
Now, four years later, her cancer is at bay and she credits the work of a renowned cancer researcher who just happens to have grown up in New Castle.
Dr. Dennis Slamon is a researcher at the University of California Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and he developed the breast cancer drug Herceptin, which targets a specific genetic alteration found in about 30 percent of breast cancer patients. Esposito has that genetic alteration known as HER-2.
Raising money
Since her diagnosis, Esposito and her family have raised 215,000 through fundraising for Dr. Slamon's research. Most of the money came from a celebrity golf tournament, Par for the Cure, that her son, Brian, organized in Las Vegas, where he lives and once worked as a golf professional.
Now, the Esposito family is bringing a bit of Las Vegas entertainment to New Castle to thank Dr. Slamon and raise more money for cancer research.
Called "A Vegas Style Tribute to the Masters of Love," the concert will feature two artists who perform the music of Luther Vandross and Barry White.
After last year's celebrity golf tournament and smaller fundraisers held in New Castle raised 150,000 for cancer research, Esposito said it was her dream to host something in New Castle and let people know about Dr. Slamon's work.
Brian Esposito knew the performers and helped set up the concert.
"We've always encouraged people from New Castle to come out to Las Vegas for Par for the Cure," he said. "It's great to invite people, but it's unreasonable to expect them to come."
Support in New Castle
Esposito said 45,000 has been raised for Dr. Slamon's research at different events in New Castle in the last few years.
"The support we received from New Castle has been amazing. We wanted to thank them for their support and bring Vegas back there so they can check out a little of what happens here," Brian Esposito said last week from Las Vegas.
Dr. Slamon is expected to make an appearance at the concerts. He was out of the country last week and could not be reached to comment.
JoAnn Esposito said they also intend to honor those who have had breast cancer, whether they've won or lost the battle, and are calling it a "Celebration of Life." Photographs and names of those effected by the disease are being collected.
Shortly after being diagnosed, Esposito quit her job as a pharmacy technician to focus fully on her recovery. Now she paints watercolor note cards, which are sold at area stores and on the Internet. All proceeds go to Dr. Slamon's research, as does any money raised at the other events.
"For now I'm cancer-free and I'm living my life and doing something I think it phenomenal," she said.
cioffi@vindy.com