Adesso owner Samantha in pieces from the Adesso for The Butterfly Project Collection (25% of proceeds from sales of this collection go to The Butterfly Project's Brenda L. Caplan Memorial Scholarship Fund to help individuals learn more about how to cope with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer through FORCE); Photo by Lisa Field-Elliot of Doorways Traveler

I am so excited and touched to have been interveiwed about a cause so dear to my heart today for a piece on the At Home Mom Blog in honor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Please see the piece in its entirety below. Thank you to the At Home Mom Blog Team!

Additionally  the Adesso team is really thrilled about recent attention on blogs and in the press for the Adesso for The Butterfly Project Collection.  I have always hoped that, as my company grew, it would give me the opportunity to share with others causes like this one that are so important to me.   I am so happy that this is happening!  Thank you to Good Day Dallas, SheSheMe.com, MyStyle.com, Cityist.com and the Examiner LA for covering this collection!  25% of any sales of the Adesso for The Butterfly Project are donated to the charity and go towards helping individuals learn more about coping with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer through the work of FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), a non-profit organization that is doing amazing work!

The Adesso for The Butterfly Project Necklace No. 1 (Thai Hill Tribe silver link chain necklace with moss aquamarine nugget, sterling silver butterfly & silver circle charm); available at adessoshop.com for $175.00

October Spotlight on Samantha Goldstone

October 11th, 2011

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and so today we have an interview with an amazing mom entrepreneur who struggled with a very big decision when she realized she was carrying the BRCA 1 genetic mutation. Meet Samantha Goldstone, a successful jeweler and an amazing woman.

1. You run a successful jewelry business, what was the inspiration to start that?

I gave birth to my daughter in May 2007 and had some major surgeries starting when she was only 7 months old. By the time she was in preschool and I was healed, I was ready to do something that I absolutely loved. I have made jewelry as a hobby for my whole life and finally decided to put my energy where my heart was. So, in July 2009, I founded Adesso Jewelry. In January 2011, I introduced the “little sister” line called Sorellina by Adesso.

2. One of your collections is particularly special, can you tell us more about the Butterfly Project?

When I had my double mastectomy down in Los Angeles, I learned of an incredible non-profit organization called FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered). I was put in touch with the mother of this amazing 13-year old, Molly, who had started The Butterfly Project to raise money for a scholarship fund in memory of her grandmother, Brenda L. Caplan, who their family lost to breast and ovarian cancer. I was in awe of this amazing young woman who was doing something so proactive to help people like myself who are faced with the beast of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Adesso for The Butterfly Project Bracelet No. 1 in brown (Tiger ebony wood beads with blue vintage glass & silver plate butterfly disc charm); available on adessoshop.com for $30.00

The Butterfly Project, through the Brenda L. Caplan Memorial Scholarship Fund, raises money to send women like myself to FORCE’s annual conference, which brings together the most knowledgeable and prestigious doctors and professionals in fields related to this topic. So, women who would not otherwise afford access to the most current information about prevention, treatments and support groups are given access to it all through The Butterfly Project and FORCE. It is pretty magical.
I contacted Molly and her mother, Dara, and told them I was going to design a collection of jewelry called the Adesso for the Butterfly Project collection to raise funds for this cause. All of the pieces in the collection have a butterfly and additionally I have used pink and blue vintage glass, wood, silver and aquamarine. I wanted to create a collection that was representative, but simple enough to be worked into people’s everyday accessorizing. I have now designed two collections for The Butterfly Project and love working with them! The collection can be purchased exclusively on our website and 25% of these sales go directly to The Butterfly Project.

The Adesso for the Butterfly Project Bracelet No. 2 in white (White wood beads with pink vintage glass & gold plate butterfly disc charm); available on adessoshop.com for $30.00

3. You were tested for the BRCA 1 genetic mutation. What made you decide to get tested?

My mom had breast cancer at age 31 and many other immediate family members of mine had breast and other cancers as well. After seeing my mom deal with cancer at such an early age and my own experience with thyroid cancer, I decided that I wanted to be empowered with the information of whether or not I was BRCA positive. I was advised by a genetic counselor that it was a good idea to have the testing.

4. A double mastectomy seems rather extreme at your age, could you explain more about this decision?

I had thyroid cancer at age 21. Thankfully this was a curable cancer, but it resulted in the need for continuous follow-up appointments and monitoring to make sure that the cancer was gone for good. It also triggered some other health issues that I had not experienced prior to getting diagnosed and treated (thyroidectomy and two rounds of radiation), such as debilitating migraines.
So, once I had tested positive for the BRCA 1 mutation and started to follow the monitoring protocol, I realized that my tolerance for all of the medical testing was not high. I found it very anxiety provoking to have to go in for mammograms every six months, MRI’s, blood work, etc. on top of what I already had to do as follow up for the thyroid cancer. After I had my daughter in 2007, I realized that I did not want that added stress in my life.
I found great relief in minimizing my risk of breast cancer to nearly 0 versus living in fear. It is a VERY personal decision. I am an advocate of personal empowerment, which this surgery gave to me, but do not advocate one-way of dealing with this genetic mutation. I believe every woman faced with the possibility to get tested or not and then with the options of how to deal with the results deserves as much knowledge as is available to make the best and most empowering decision for herself. I will say that I have not had one regret about my decision to have a preventive double mastectomy.

5. You are also at higher risk for ovarian cancer, what can be done to stay on top of that?

A gynecological oncologist has monitored me every 6 months with blood work to test my CA-125 levels and also done an ultrasound of my ovaries since I turned 30. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is rather sneaky and not the most easily detected. At some point in the relatively near future, I will have a preventive hysterectomy for the same reason that I decided to have a preventive double mastectomy. I am hopeful and firmly believe that the next generation of women will benefit greatly from improved technology advances in screening, detection and treatment of both breast and ovarian cancers. I have participated in many different studies to help make this possible for the women who will one day be in my shoes.
Additionally, I eat well (mainly local, seasonal and organic foods with a heavy focus on vegetables and grains) and try to avoid anything with chemicals and preservatives. I do my best to keep my stress level down, but as a mother of a four year old and the owner of my own business, that is sometimes difficult! I try to laugh a lot and spend time with my dear friends doing the things I love. I practice yoga and meditate when I can. I also sing really loudly when I am driving and listening to music in the car!

6. Would you recommend genetic testing to other women?

I would but with the caveat that it is an intense process. I think that any woman who does this type of genetic testing (or any genetic testing for that matter) should first seek the guidance of a professional genetic counselor to understand as much as possible about the information they will be finding out and if this type of testing makes sense given their personal and family medical history. This genetic testing is expensive and also emotionally taxing. It is crucial to obtain proper guidance before doing it so that you follow the right path for oneself.
I also firmly believe that it is important to consider why you are doing the testing and how you will react to and act on the various potential outcomes. If you know what you are getting into, this type of information is extremely empowering in my opinion. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
FORCE offers some wonderful information and research on assessing one’s risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

7. How would they go about finding a place to be tested?

Again, a first step is to seek the help of a professional genetic counselor to find out if testing is appropriate. The FORCE helpline is a great resource to start with to find someone to speak with in your area. FORCE’s helpline number is 1-866-288-RISK (7475). FORCE’s helpline page on their site also includes information on how to reach a genetic counselor directly for questions.

8. How have you stayed positive through all of this? I really admire your courage and strength!

My four-year old daughter keeps me smiling all the time! She is amazingly witty, spunky and so darn cute. And, like I said, I love creating and find great joy through the process of designing and making jewelry. It is very calming for me to get lost in my design process. I also have amazing friends and family that keep me laughing and offer wonderful support.
I also talk about my experiences to other people and find great relief in helping others by sharing what I have learned first hand. One big part of that sharing is honesty. I am able to stay positive in the long run by allowing myself to sometimes feel overwhelmed by what is going on. By facing the reality of these experiences, I feel them fully, recognize them for what they are and realize how best to cope. I do not believe in faking a smile. However, I do believe that by being honest with ourselves and experiencing what life hands us truthfully, we come to a place of deep and sincere joy.

Learn more about Samantha’s business or check out her amazing jewelry at Adesso.