Summer Soiree to Benefit AIBH


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by Kathy Shocket AZCentral.com August 15, 2006 - Polly and Scott Larsen of the Larsen Gallery are expecting 600 for dessert and drinks Aug. 26. You're invited. So, let's paint the picture of the Summer Soiree benefiting the Scottsdale-based Arizona Institute for Breast Health. The gallery's walls are adorned with artwork such as the etchings and lithographs of Fritz Scholder, the whimsical animal paintings of Anne Coe, and Linda Ingraham's naturescapes. You will also find a beautiful display of Pink Ribbon items, including jewelry and gifts provided by Beaux Tie Designs. In between the gallery's aluminum and metal sculptures, guests will be mingling and munching on sweets from the pastry table, candy table and the table boasting chocolate confections. Amid the sounds of Doc Jones & Company, featuring Nayo, revelers also will be sipping libations and browsing through the silent auction items. Yes, in this picture, you'll be able to bid on an array of artsy items, including original artwork from a range of artists including Christopher Pelley and culinary delights created by Tammie Coe. A culinary artist, Tammie's famous fanciful cakes are quite the artistic showpieces, not to mention pleasing to the palate. Last year's first Summer Soiree hosted by the gallery was such a sweet success that Polly and Scott decided to organize the bash again, with the institute as its beneficiary. "We chose AIBH because of one of our family member's experience with the organization in her recent battle with breast cancer," Scott says. "Our consortium of breast health experts offer women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer a second opinion for free," says Dr. Coral Quiet who co-founded the institute 12 years ago. The institute's medical experts have specialties in breast radiology, breast surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, reconstructive surgery, breast pathology, oncology rehabilitation, counseling, nutrition, exercise and stress management. "We were distressed that there wasn't a multidisciplinary team here that took women from the initial diagnosis through treatment discussing all their options," Quiet says. "At that time the mastectomy rate here was higher than anywhere else in the country. About 80 percent of those newly diagnosed were treated with a mastectomy. The rest of the country was 20 percent and opting more often for a lumpectomy as treatment," she says. She adds that the percentage has changed to about 50 percent in part because of improved screening techniques, which find smaller cancers earlier, and women becoming more educated about their options. Dr. Deborah White, a plastic surgeon, is one of the institute's professionals who meet every Wednesday to review the clients' diagnosis and treatment options. Following the reviews, one of the group's professionals will present their opinions to the patient. Although White no longer performs breast reconstruction, because she doesn't accept insurance, she was trained in reconstruction. "Breast cancer is not a narrow field and there are so many different things to consider when a woman first learns she has breast cancer," she says. "This is a place a woman can find out if what she read on the Internet or heard is fact or fiction." White adds that the institute's group approach enables the professionals to pool their knowledge in one place. "A patient's different doctors don't often communicate and there's often disagreement among them," she points out. And quite appropriate for the Aug. 26 benefit of art advocates and artists, she adds, "If there was one way to treat someone - we would all do it the same, but there's not. That's why medicine is an art." The party at the Larsen Gallery from 4 to 7 p.m. is free. Details: (480) 941-0900.