Sally Wolf: Thrilled to share my first Cosmopolitan piece

Sally Wolf, CEO and Founder of LightWorks, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Especially thrilled to share my first Cosmopolitan piece:

This essay was a year in the making, and almost a decade in the living. It’s a different kind of breast cancer awareness month story, one I wish I’d seen years ago.

I’d love to know how it resonates for you when you read.

And, while I am incredibly proud of the piece itself, my excitement extends much further: way back to 1997.

After a mentor and I ran into Helen Gurley Brown, he promised to staff me on our next Cosmo project. He kept his word, and Cosmo fast became a favorite client.

All these years later, it’s surreal: I’m a Cosmo Girl myself!

I hope this essay helps expand the conversation for the many of us, including early stage survivors and MBC thrivers alike, who wish October were a bit less pink.

My goal is for this piece to impact many, so after you read, please engage here and/or repost. It truly helps!

Special thank you to Hannah Chubb at Cosmo for this incredible opportunity – you are truly extraordinary.

Link.”

Vicki Durston shared this post on LinkedIn adding:

“Beyond the Pink: A Deeper Look at Breast Cancer

As we move through Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s important to acknowledge the diverse experiences of those living with breast cancer. Sally Wolf, based in the US, shares a powerful perspective that has deeply resonated with many.

‘It’s easy to think, ‘Ah, another breast cancer story. We’ve got that handled by now, don’t we?’ And when messaging focuses on early detection and those who’ve been cured, it leaves out the considerable challenges that exist between diagnosis and ‘done’ (a word many of us don’t use or feel, even if we are technically cured).’

Sally highlights a critical issue: ‘Language about recurrence, metastasis (when cancer cells spread), and death is often relegated to a figurative footnote almost no one reads. Why worry anyone about late-stage, after all, when we can be vigilant, catch it early, and live happily ever after?’

‘By ignoring the less-than-pleasant realities of breast cancer in favor of general ‘awareness,’ we’re skewing the story. It can leave anyone dealing with their diagnoses wondering why things are so much harder for them than they look on TV.’

Reading Sally’s story really caught my eye and attention due to her honesty and raw articulation of what it means to live with breast cancer, from early-stage to metastatic. She poignantly notes, ‘While the pink ribbons, runs, and glamorous photos create awareness, they often overshadow the real struggles behind the scenes—the scars, pain, and emotional toll.’

These stories remind us that our support and understanding need to extend beyond awareness, embracing the full spectrum of experiences. The Lancet Commission Breast Cancer Report has echoed these sentiments, emphasising that while we’ve made strides, we have much more work to do. Breast Cancer has not been solved.

Thank you, Sally, for sharing your experience and helping us understand the deeper layers of breast cancer diagnosis reality.”

Vicki Durston serves as Strategic Board Advisor at Specialist Direct Pty Ltd and is the President of the General Assembly and Board Member of ABC Global Alliance. She is also a Board Director for the Victorian Amateur Football Association and Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Support Services at Breast Cancer Network Australia.