Carrie Cook was diagnosed with breast cancer twice – the first time in July of 2010 and the second time in August of 2014. She is proud to represent Beyond Boobs! as a calendar model for A Calendar to Live By 2016 and looks forward to promoting the group’s message of love and inspiration.
Carrie lives in Norfolk with her husband of 22 years, Troy, and their three children: sons Ray, 22, and Christopher, 19, and daughter Anna, 24. Carrie works for Norfolk Public Schools as a school nutrition manager.
Prior to the big calendar reveal at the Pink Carpet Gala in September, Carrie talks about how she discovered Beyond Boobs!, why it is important to take care of yourself first, and how other women can learn from her experiences.
What led to your diagnosis?
The first time I was diagnosed my husband found the lump. The second time I was diagnosed when my plastic surgeon found what he thought was a calcified stitch in my scar line during a revision to my reconstruction.
How did you find out about Beyond Boobs!?
I was given a bag of literature at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth when I was diagnosed and there was a card for Beyond Boobs! in the bag.
What is your favorite summer beach read?
Anything by Laurell Hamilton, Kim Harrison, or JD Robb.
What is the best advice you have received about living beyond breast cancer?
Take time for yourself. You can’t take care of anyone else if you don’t take care of yourself first.
Who was your celebrity teenage heartthrob?
I don’t think I ever actually had one. I was more wrapped up in the real people of my life.
What hobbies do you enjoy doing?
I love to sew and make jewelry.
What does being selected as a calendar model mean to you?
Being a calendar girl means two important things to me. First, it’s a chance to give back to this wonderful organization some of the love and inspiration they have given me. It also gives me a way to help spread the message of self-advocacy through my story of misdiagnoses.
What was the most impactful moment of your calendar model photo shoot?
It was awesome to have my husband there with me! He was deployed the first time I went through treatment, and he is now retired.