The Elixir Profiles: Jenny Saldaña

BY Eileen Z. Fuentes (@theSPEACHgal)

Jenny Saldaña is a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed on January 4th, 2006. She now works with the Latino community as Women At Risk’s Community Program and Outreach Coordinator at New York Presbyterian Hospital. I was introduced to Jenny 3 years ago by my Breast Surgeon, Sheldon Feldman, MD, after she performed a segment from “Pink: The Chronicles of BC Jenny” at a breast cancer symposium I attended the day after receiving my own diagnosis. My head spun as the Physicians spoke in their scientific lingo which I hardly understood. That day Jenny sat with me held my hand, cried and laughed with me and has never let it go. It is truly an honor to sit down with my dear friend Jenny and let our audience into the heart and mind of an extraordinary woman.

Q. Your play Pink: The Chronicles of BC Jenny will be taking place this Thursday night at Columbia University Medical Center where you work as a Patient Navigator in the Department of Breast Surgery. You’ve toured the country doing this show. How does it make you feel to do this in the neighborhood you serve?

A. I feel so blessed to finally have a chance to bring my show to the Heights. I am a little nervous that so many people who treated me during my cancer journey and now work with will be watching!  

Q. Without giving away too much from the play, can you tell me a little bit about your life before your breast cancer diagnosis?

A. I was a corporate drone! I have a degree in theatre, but I really wasn’t acting or writing because I got all caught up in the 9-5. Cancer helped me get back to my craft, and helped me help others.  

Q. I know from personal experience how I felt receiving the devastating diagnosis. I thought this was something that only affected older women or those with a family history. How did you feel receiving that news?  

A. Like you, I thought that only older women got breast cancer so when I heard the news I thought I was going to die. I thought I’d never have a normal life ever again.

Q. At the time of your diagnosis you were not even eligible for a mammogram because you were too young. Do you feel there are unique issues young survivors face as compared to our older counterparts?

A. There are SO many issues that younger survivors have to deal with that older women just don’t have to deal with. Just the fact that younger women will be ‘survivors’ longer that their older counterparts. There are dating, fertility, and body issues too. I wish there was better screening for women under 40 but the truth is that the more exposure you get to radiation the higher your risks of getting cancer so we shouldn’t really be getting anything done unless there is a concern until there is something specifically for us.

Q. Are you working on any other projects? Is there anything else you’d like our audience to know about you?

A. I’m allegedly working on a book! HAHA! So be on the look out for that. Also I will be co-starring in a MAJOR motion picture coming out on 5/12/12. I can’t tell you the name or who’s in it YET, but soon I’ll be able to let everyone know about it. I’m back trying to act more so you’ll be seeing a lot of me. 

Alright girl, I got all kinds of emotional thinking back to our (divine) meeting and where we are today. I love more than you know…

Check out Jenny’s site: http://jennysaldana.com/

Pink: The Chronicles of BC Jenny is a humorous, emotional and very real

window into the life of a woman when diagnosed with breast cancer.

 The playwright, Jenny Saldaña, has toured venues around the country sharing her journey. The show is played out through a series of hysterical dream sequences and moments that reveal the world of a cancer patient.

 Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 7 PM

 Mailman School of Public Heath.

722 West 168th Street 8th Floor (btwn Ft. Wash and Haven)

 *Complimentary Wine & Cheese Reception to Follow Event*

 Tickets: $20 Individual, $15 Student/Senior/Groups (over 10)

 For tickets please call Eric Dubinsky at 212-305-4486

or email edubinsky@womenatrisknyc.org

This play has adult content and language and is appropriate for those ages 16 and over.