Lisa
Barreto began her search for support from Ventura College in 2002. At 42, she was
diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) breast cancer after a routine annual mammogram. While provided with much love  During the summer, fall, winter and spring, Lisa planned four surgeries
during college breaks and juggled her studies, doctor's appointments, medical tests, treatments with her every day activities. Lisa started and became the co-facilitator for Ventura College's first breast cancer education and advocacy group with the first meeting being held in September 2002. Programs and special events held at the college soon had the group turning into the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation, in 2007. Education Breast cancer was not going to get Lisa down. In 2004, she earned an associate degree from Ventura College, and soon after, transferred as a Regents Scholar to the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). On weekends, Lisa attended UCSB's Professional Extension Program earning a certificate in Negotiation and Mediation in 2006 after undergoing yet another breast cancer related surgery. In 2007, Lisa received her bachelor's degree from UCSB in interdisciplinary studies, focusing on English, sociology and anthropology.
Selected as Student Marshal for her Arts
& Humanities commencement, Lisa carried UCSB's blue banner with four gilded words: "Let There Be Light!" Lisa applies her life experiences, numerous
leadership roles, and academic knowledge to better understand the
various ways individuals face the subject of breast cancer. Experienced networkers, Lisa and Bob Barreto can be seen greeting people throughout Ventura County and other communities, gathering and sharing resources to assist all who are affected by breast cancer. Both of them have studied "therapeutic listening care" with the Adventures in Caring Foundation in Santa Barbara. Attending Saturday Breast Fests, and other special events, Bob makes himself available to men to help them open up and discuss how breast cancer is affecting their life through the care of their loved ones. Lisa claims her breast cancer was not a death sentence, but a life sentence. caused her to
focus more on living life than dreading death. "My academic studies came at a time in my life when it was certainly welcome." Lisa says.  Breast Cancer: One Word at a Time As a way to cope, Lisa reached out to her local and internet community. Her nephew, Erik, helped her create a "One Word" website to update her family and friends on her progress. She handed out postcards and in her website had "A Plea for One Word," asking people to contribute one word along with a personal definition or brief statement about the particular word selected. Words poured in and Lisa has vowed to publish a book entitled: Breast Cancer: One Word at a Time. This book houses not only includes Lisa's thoughts about her experiences, but also the contributions of others who have also faced their adversities head on. The wisdom gained has turned Lisa's definition of "success" to one of "significance". Since Lisa has received hundreds of words, she is now paring them down, along with her One Word essays to fit in to one easy to carry book providing words that support effective coping techniques to help those living with breast cancer through each phase of their cancer. Using her One-Word concept, which she created when she was newly diagnosed to the present, she addresses the many "phases" of breast cancer from a newly diagnosed perspective and beyond. Coping with Breast Cancer While a student in a speech class at Ventura College, Lisa wrote a speech entitled "Staying Alive", which she now calls, "The History of My Breasts." Lisa was also invited by her Women's Health professor to teach a class on her experiences of having breast cancer. Soon after this presentation and delivering her speech, Lisa created her presentation, "Coping with Breast Cancer" to be given to other students in Women's Health and Human Sexuality classes as well as to organizations. Using unusual hand-outs (her adult version of "Show and Tell") Lisa wants the learning experience to be "real" and identifiable for her students. Lisa opens her presentation with a short DVD, "Blue Jay," starring Cindy Dickson, whose name adorns the first breast cancer library in Ventura County started by the education & advocacy group Lisa founded. She passes around her mammogram films, evidencing her breast cancer and delivers the speech she wrote while attending college during her bout with breast cancer to provide a deeper awareness to all so they may learn to understand those who live with breast cancer each day. Lisa's focus is to teach the public how to become their own advocates for health. She believes it is especially important when many who become patients appear lost in a mirage of managed health care systems that all too often are either unskilled in listening and understanding or are unable to spend time understanding the "social" illnesses caused by breast cancer and the media. Working with Middle School ChildrenIn addition to speaking to students and organizations throughout Ventura County communities, Lisa has also given presentations and classes as far as Chelmsford, Massachusetts to the "Kids for a Cure" group at The Chelmsford Middle School. Her experience in working with middle school children whose mothers, aunts, grandmothers and cousins have struggled or are struggling with female cancers raises another concern Lisa has--to focus on assisting the youth in better coping with the illnesses within their families and the community. Ten Years 2012 marks Lisa's 10th year working as a volunteer for breast cancer awareness and support. Since her 2002 diagnosis, she has met and worked with amazing people along her journey with results that have gone beyond her dreams. She thanks each and every person who has made it possible to reach out to so many in our community and the world. |