Survivor and business owner marks 15 years of supporting breast cancer care

Dawn Panfil, owner of Hair Solutions Salon & Spa in New Berlin, WI, was diagnosed with stage 2 ductal breast cancer after a routine mammogram in 2008. She was 47.

“I was so shocked,” she admitted. “I never felt a lump; I didn’t feel sick. But that mammogram saved my life.”

Dawn underwent chemotherapy and radiation at Aurora West Allis Medical Center. She also received a targeted type of treatment because her cancer was HER2 positive, which means it produces a protein that promotes the growth of cancer cells. HER2-positive cancer tends to be more aggressive than other types of cancer.

“After the third chemo treatment, I was feeling really sick, and I met another survivor, who helped me cope. She also told me to keep an eye out for all the blessings that would come. I thought she was crazy, but she turned out to be right.”

After successfully completing treatment, Dawn wanted to help other breast cancer patients and survivors. She met with Dr. Julie Kepple, a breast surgeon at Aurora West Allis.

“Dr. Kepple wasn’t my doctor – mine had moved to another state – but we connected and shared our ideas about raising money to help women in our community,” said Dawn. “I told her I own a hair salon, and I wanted to raise funds by selling pink hair extensions in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”

The first year, Dawn’s salon raised $10K for the Pink Possible Breast Health fund at Aurora West Allis.

"Women share their stories with us about why they're getting pink hair extensions, whether it’s in honor of someone close to them or in memory of a loved one. Some return every year with a group of family as a tradition."

The pink hair extensions became a conversation starter among family, friends and customers.

“People would ask, ‘What’s with the pink hair?’ and we told them we were extending awareness for breast cancer and raising funds for local breast cancer patients,” explained Dawn. “It was also a reminder for women to get their mammograms.”

Dawn added raffle baskets and pink postcards that her customers could hang on the salon wall for a cash donation. The goal was to “turn the wall pink.” For many years, she held a large fundraiser at a local bar and restaurant.

“It was a huge event, and we’d raise between $12-18K per year. Unfortunately, we stopped hosting it during COVID.”

Living Well Beyond Cancer

There was another side of cancer care where Dawn wanted to make a difference, and for her, it was also very personal. Three years after finishing her own treatment, she was still experiencing extreme fatigue.

“I had such a hard time getting back into my normal life. I could barely work past 1 p.m. I was sure I wasn’t the only survivor still experiencing fatigue and other side effects,” shared Dawn. “There had to be something missing in the cancer care process. I didn’t want to accept that this was my new normal.”

Dawn met with a group of leaders at Aurora West Allis, including Dr. Kepple, and they came up with Living Well Beyond Cancer, a 9-week program that includes classes and information on how to create a new healthy lifestyle after cancer treatment. Led by a registered dietician and an exercise specialist, the program includes educational presentations on topics such as managing fatigue as a survivor and understanding how the treatments and continued medications affect a person’s quality of health. It also provides personal training sessions with access to the Wisconsin Athletic Club.

“It was hard to imagine when you’re suffering from fatigue how important exercise can be in your recovery until you begin the program.”

This is paired with nutritional guidance and a complimentary copy of “Eat Right for Life,” a cookbook filled with healthy recipes tailored to survivors.

“Living Well Beyond Cancer is truly the crown jewel of my cancer journey. Each component of the program empowers survivors to gain strength, enhance fitness and create a healthy lifestyle, and it’s open to any Aurora breast cancer patient, not just those receiving care at Aurora West Allis,” said Dawn. “It was a game changer for me because the journey does not end when treatment does.”

Dawn often thinks about the cancer survivor who told her years earlier to look for the blessings that would come along her journey.

“There have been so many blessings – the wonderful oncology nurses and doctors at Aurora; the women who share their stories with me when they get a pink hair extension in honor of or in memory of a friend or loved one; the Living Well Beyond Cancer program; and all the ways I’ve gotten stronger and healthier over the past 15 years." 

How you can help

Since 2008, Dawn has raised more than $160,000 to support breast cancer patients and programs like Living Well Beyond Cancer.

"I will always be passionate about supporting breast cancer care," shared Dawn. "And I’m so grateful to be able to make a difference in our community." 

To support breast cancer patients and survivors like Dawn, please make a gift today.