About this project

STORY:
Fifty people cram into a tiny living room wearing love, strength and fear on their faces. They watch as Rochelle cuts off all of her hair and proceeds to shave her head. In truth, she is shedding her old reality and opening her life and heart to the joy and pain of an uncertain future.

This is just one scene in Cancerpants—a story told through the eyes of Rochelle “Ro” Poulson; a story about life, love and a young woman’s journey with breast cancer.

Never one to sit still or take her health for granted, Ro maintained a vibrant massage business, ate a vegan diet, practiced yoga regularly and was an avid runner. Life was great. Then, on September 16, 2009, at the age of 36, she was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer, the mass measuring 7 cm. Cancerpants commenced shooting ten days later.

After months of chemo, a (failed) lumpectomy, a double mastectomy and radiation, Ro tells the audience, “This isn’t the hardest thing I’ll do in my life.” As friend and filmmaker, I cannot help but wonder, what, then, is? Is Ro super woman, completely delusional or perhaps a little of both? I learn that she is none of the above. “If I have learned anything in my life,” she says, “from being a missionary, a partner, a political activist, to working with Planned Parenthood—it’s that, if you don’t make a lot of noise and tell people you need help then you aren’t going to get your goals accomplished. So, that is just what I am going to do with cancer.” She was a take-charge, get-involved kind of woman before cancer and so that’s who she is with cancer.

Despite being poked, prodded and pumped full of the “Red Devil,” Ro remains determined to not allow cancer to dictate her life. During her first chemo treatment, for example, she reads aloud all the possible side effects: “…allergic reactions like skin rash or hives…swelling of the face, lips or tongue…increased risk for infections…bleeding, fever and chills…bruising fainting, breathing problems…mouth sores, nausea…bone pain, complete hair loss, numbness in hands and feet, and weight gain…” “We’ll see about that!” she says, with nervous eyes and shaky grin.

In Cancerpants, not only do we follow Rochelle in her daily cancer routine of aches and pains, pills and doctor appointments, we experience in a very real way treatment milestones that inevitably reveal her new life’s plan, rhythms and curiosities. Sit down interviews, whether in her massage studio, kitchen or garden, reveal more than the enduring spirit of a woman, lesbian and cancer patient; they reveal an approach to life that is entertaining and unique; a lesson in how to involve a community in one’s fight and how the power of numbers can help in enduring treatment. With the help of her partner and community, Ro faces each day as it comes, and is grateful for the lessons she learns along the way. Cancerpants shows how the struggles, losses, triumphs and joys of breast cancer affect not only those diagnosed but their family and friends as well.

While breast cancer will be a part of Ro’s life for the rest of her life, she doesn’t see cancer as a curse. “I want women to see the value in telling their story,” she says. “And to choose to learn from the experience.” Although there are no finite answers when it comes to cancer, Ro hopes Cancerpants will help in generating awareness and finding a cure.

YOU:
You may be asking, "Wow, $15,000 is a lot of money?" And YES, it is and that is exactly why we need your help. As with most independent productions, we will be negotiating great deals while still working in-kind trades with our vendors; but to ensure we are able to bring together top notch resources, we need your monetary support. Your donations will primarily go towards post-production, and these funds will specifically be allocated to: color correction, graphics and titles, music rights and the final sound mix. It is our hope that you join the CP team! We have set up a series of unique "rewards" to show our appreciation for your generosity.

For more information please visit:
http://www.cancerpants.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cancerpants/132554423451274

Ro's blog:
http://www.navigatorgaia.blogspot.com