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Young professional finds purpose in devastating diagnosis: Looking ahead to VeloSano 2018

Maggiotto has worked in cancer care for ten years but during the last five she's been diagnosed with cancer three times.

Cleveland — CLEVELAND -- VeloSano, bike to cure fundraiser, is 100 days away.

It’s the 5th year for the event that’s raised more than $12 million in cancer research at Cleveland Clinic.

“Research is what’s so important to cancer patients and it’s important to me,” explains Program Manager for Cancer Programing with the Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Center, Amanda Maggiotto. “In order to do everything I want in my life we need to find ways to extend my life and to extend cancer patients’ lives, and we’re only going to do that through research.”

Maggiotto has worked in cancer care for 10 years, but during the last five she’s been diagnosed with cancer three times. The most recent diagnosis being the most serious.

In 2017, a routine scan showed she had metastatic breast cancer that traveled to her liver.

“If you look at the American Cancer Society’s statistics, at five years, only 22 percent of women who have metastatic breast cancer are still alive,” she says. “Five years isn’t enough, 10 years isn’t enough. I want to grow nice and old.”

Amanda will be 32 in April.

She says cancer changed her perspective, but it has not changed her personality.

“I am dating and trying to find that wonderful man, so I’m looking for those things but I’m happy with just enjoying the work I do, spending time with my friends and family.”

Maggiotto is undergoing endocrine therapy which is an anti-hormonal treatment. Her last scans were positive and showed “ no detectable cancer.”

Not only does she give back through her work at the Cleveland Clinic but also through fundraising and volunteering to mentor other cancer patients.

VeloSano is July 20-22. WKYC is a sponsor.

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