Dancer Alisa Savoretti was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38 and lived for several years with one breast after a mastectomy.
Following her treatment, she returned to her career as a Vegas performer and called herself "The Lopsided Showgirl" — a moniker that reflects Savoretti's sassy, self-deprecating humor.
Savoretti's undaunted persistence and experience led to her forming My Hope Chest, a nonprofit organization that helps uninsured women receive reconstructive surgery.
Though she eventually underwent reconstruction surgery herself, Savoretti didn't forget what it was like to be one of the uninsured women who fall through the cracks of medical care and wanted to start an organization that would help women in the same plight.
In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, My Hope Chest is involved with two major upcoming events: the Imagine fashion show this Saturday in downtown St. Petersburg and the B000obie Ball.
The following Q&A after the jump spotlights Savoretti and her efforts with My Hope Chest.
This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2010.