Dawne Vetzel sees survival every day.
An oncology nurse who regularly deals with cancer patients, she puts a special emphasis on her supportive role.
She's lived it herself. She was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer 17 years ago.
"It was devastating," Vetzel, 57, said when doctors told her of her diagnosis. "When you work with it every day, you don't expect it to happen to you."
Vetzel, who lives in Holiday, brings both credibility and sensitivity. Her patients appreciate her.
So do her friends and colleagues who see each other at support group meetings and work together at fundraisers.
On Saturday, Vetzel joined some of them as she strutted down the catwalk during Fall into Fall -- a New York-style runway fashion show at Silverthorn Country Club.
She discussed her story while getting prepped for the show that was about to go on in less than an hour. There were 12 models total -- four of them were breast cancer survivors and one was an oncology doctor.
Lana Sloots and her two daughters -- ages 27 and 22 -- also were among the models. Sloots has been cancer-free for more than three years.
They were getting their hair done while their mother talked about what drove her to participate in Saturday's fashion show.
"Nobody knows breast cancer until you have it," she said. "It's not fun to go through the radiation, the chemotherapy ... I don't want to go through it again and I do this because I have two daughters and I don't want them to go through what I went through."
Cathy Montgomery, 56, of New Port Richey, and Stacey Horan, 54, of Spring Hill, also were models. They have been cancer-free for one and two years, respectively.
"I'm a little nervous about it, especially now that I won't be wearing my glasses," Montgomery said.
Horan had a packed schedule during recent months, during which she had to turn down invites to participate in charity events.
She was determined not to miss Saturday's fashion show.
"At least I can do this and get out there and do something," she said. "These people have been so good to me ... This is going to be a ball. I definitely want to do it again."
The event benefited the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer team of the Cancer Institute in New Port Richey. The proceeds went toward the American Cancer Society.
The clothes were provided by Dillard's, which also was one of the show's sponsors.
Dr. Mary Li is an oncology doctor in Spring Hill. On Saturday she doubled as a runway model.
From her patients and others she has met along the way who have survived the disease, she sees a unique level of camaraderie and support among them, she said.
"They are always very strong," Li said. "There are a lot of patients who help other patients go through this ... There is tremendous emotional support. They get out together and they support each other. That's extremely important."
Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.
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