Dear Talula is screening around the country. Here are some reactions Lori has received about the film.

breast cancer survivors
support groups
family and friends
medical students

breast cancer survivors

As I watched your film Dear Talula, my experiences, feelings, and fears unfolded. Your face preparing for breast surgery could have been my face. Your child being taken away from you could have been my child. Your body was not a seventy-year-old body it was a 30-year-old body, it could have been my body.

This was the first time I was able to look at a piece about breast cancer and see myself. When the media talks about breast cancer they rarely talk about or pictures young women. I was 39 years old my husband Eric was 35, we had an 15-month-old baby boy, Matthew, and I was 13 weeks pregnant.

By documenting your experience you will help young women. Women who are faced with a breast cancer diagnosis will be comforted knowing that they are not alone. At the same time by putting a young face on breast cancer you will be able to educate women about the disease in a modern way. Young women are at risk and they do not know it. You can change that.
~ Claudia, Norwalk, Connecticut

…Dear Talula touched us [seen with a friend] both deeply, as we have both have had breast cancer. I could relate to Lori on a lot of levels, as I was pregnant and underwent both surgery and chemotherapy while carrying my fourth baby. I know the tremendous benefits of self-examination, as this is how we both found our breast lumps. Thank you for showing Dear Talula at your festival. It is films like this remind us how important it is for all women to do their self breast exams.
~ Dawna, Ontario, Canada, Lunafest attendee

…I feel so grateful for what you put together and shared, because it told me right away that I am not alone. I can just imagine that for young women who are also mothers, what you present will be even more meaningful…
~ Phalana, Los Angeles, CA

support groups

I work at Gilda's Club Metro Detroit and facilitate a support group for young adults with cancer. Your film was so poignant and so beautifully done. Thank you for sharing your experience with us-I hope your film reaches the many who need to see they are not alone in this experience.
~ Sandy, Detroit, Michigan

Some of the women from WomenCARE went to the LunaFest Screening last night and saw Dear Talula and thought it would so wonderful and helpful for women diagnosed to see your film. We would love to have a copy or two in our library.
~ Tanya, San Diego, California

family and friends

My name is Jacqueline and I am a sophomore at Boston. I went to an event put on by the university, Lunafest, and I saw your documentary, Dear Talula. I cannot even begin to explain how much watching your story affected me.

My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer just months after my cousin, her son, Thomas was born. It was then that my family (my mom's side) found out that we had the gene and that my mom had inherited it too. From that point on, my mom was proactive and took every precaution... Even with countless mammograms, doctor visits, and genetic counseling, just two years after my aunt's diagnosis, a lump was discovered in my mom's breast and proved to be cancerous.

Until your film, I didn't think twice about how my mom's cancer has proven her to be a much stronger character than I ever gave her credit for. I see the strength and spirit you had now in my mom. There were so many worries and fears that you depicted in the film that relates to all those who deal with this disease.

During and after your film, I cried for the first time about breast cancer. I cried about my aunt, my mom, and the network of women we have gotten to know who are affected by the disease. I also cried for myself and I realized that I am a lot more affected by this disease than I thought. I found that I was afraid, but that I shouldn't be. It is people like you that are inspirational examples of what kind of attitude to hold. I hope to find the same strength and positive perspective as you did if ever I have to face the disease.

You really did a wonderful job depicting the hardships and struggles as well as bringing a light of hope to it all. I loved, LOVED your film and just wanted to compliment you on it. Thank you so much.
~ Jacqueline, daughter of a breast cancer survivor, Boston

... I saw your documentary and I wanted to tell you how much I loved it. You really let the audience in and made it a very personal, intimate and loving experience. It was really helpful to me to see what you went through, because it has helped me understand what my sister is going through.
~ Wendy, sister of a breast cancer survivor, Los Angeles

I just had to send you an email to tell you how much your film touched me! I wanted to thank you for being so courageous and sharing your story. It was very difficult for me to watch (I cried for 34 mins) since I am a mother of two small children and I lost my father to cancer last year. It was a beautiful film and it made me realize how blessed I am with a great family and friends. Thank you again for sharing your story.
~ Melissa, Boulder, Colorado

medical students, downstate university

Today's lecture was amazing. Many of my colleagues have agreed that it was the most impactful hour and a half of medical school to date. We, as a student body, are all intelligent individuals. We have aced science classes and performed exceptionally well on standardized exams, neither of which will make us world-class doctors. ECM readings and lectures have tried to expose us to the actions and behaviors that will make people comfortable in our presence; however reading about being empathetic or being told how to communicate with patients can only get so deep. Today's film took it to another level. We were able to see, to hear and to feel what it is like to be a patient with breast cancer from day one. Having this experience and being able to empathize with our patients on this higher level will make us world-class doctors. This will stay with me throughout medical school and my time as a doctor. I cannot speak highly enough about the need for every medical student in the country to see this video and hopefully have the luxury of speaking with Lori after the screening.
~ Dan

I thoroughly enjoyed today's screening of Lori Benson's film. I found her to be an extremely forthright and engaging speaker. As a future physician, it was very beneficial for me to be able to watch Ms. Benson's battle with cancer from a patient perspective. To then be given the opportunity to hear her in person, and about her life after the film only further enhanced my appreciation for the struggles of a person battling breast cancer. The movie was beautifully filmed and amazingly frank.
~ Eric

It was nice to finally have a different type of lecture (I didn't fall asleep at all!!). I think documentaries and personal appearances such as today's really hit home and help us remember such important messages clearly. I know I won't ever forget the message in today's lecture since it brought tears to my eyes! We should have more of these as a reminder of what medicine is truly about and as a motivational factor in our lives as medical students.
~ Elena

Hearing Lori's story had a profound impact on my views towards practicing medicine and my sentiments toward the field of oncology. I myself have an extensive history of cancer in my family, and I am giving serious consideration towards specializing in the filed of oncology. It is important that medical students who are constantly engrossed in the scientific aspect of medicine come to terms with the reality of practicing medicine. Thank you for presenting Dear Talula in our class, it was very much appreciated by both myself and my classmates.
~ Pat

...The lecture today was remarkable. Ms. Benson gave me a great deal to think about. I thought her film was powerful and exactly the kind of thing that should remind present and future physicians that there is always more to a person than what it says on a chart. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to hear her.
~ David

I very much enjoyed the movie presentation and speaking with Ms. Benson afterwards. The movie was phenomenally beautiful, describing her experience with perfectly juxtaposed images and honest dialogue. She followed it up with such a real voice; not holding anything back and making us all feel like we too can have the heroic courage that she displays through our own individual experiences whatever they may be. Her voice was touching and admirable. Please thank her for her time and honesty in sharing with us.
~ Kelly