Wendi Fox Pedicone became a cancer statistic in August 2004 when she was diagnosed with advanced stage
breast cancer. She had no known breast cancer risk factors and did not perform monthly BSEs
(breast self-examinations). Her tumor was found during an annual clinical exam at her place of
employment where they offer exams and regular mammograms as part of their breast cancer program.
With a tremendous amount of support, she triumphed over the disease. Her book, Hanging Out With Lab Coats,
chronicles her journey; in it, Ms. Pedicone shares her personal story and passes along helpful resource
information she gathered along the way.
Ms. Pedicone and her husband are lifelong Delawareans.
They live in Hockessin with their three daughters, ages 18 to 21, six-year-old son, and
three cats.
A communications specialist in the Corporate Affairs department of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Ms. Pedicone has expanded her career to include public speaking as a way to “give back” to the oncology, cancer, and pharmaceutical communities, and motivate people to improve their health and wellness.
In September 2005, she experienced a recurrence. She is passionate about helping others to know that it is indeed possible to live well with stage IV metastatic disease (she is living proof of this) and is working on her second book about this topic. She surprises audiences when she discloses that she is a stage IV cancer patient who is getting close to “terminal”, as she is energetic and exudes an appearance of excellent health. She believes that she is part of a community of people who are changing the face of cancer.
She is a recipient of a 2007 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteers award, 2006 honoree of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, recipient of the 2006 AstraZeneca Diversity Award in the category of Flexibility and Engagement, and has been featured in numerous magazines, radio shows, television features and newspapers (including USA Today).
Ms Pedicone continues to hang out with lab coats during visits to the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center.
