WLIB SPOTLIGHT: Diane Lucianna

Past President, WLIB — Honoring Her Sister Susan and 19 Years of the Susan Lucianna Breast Cancer Fund

As WLIB looks ahead to October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are proud to spotlight Past President Diane Lucianna and the extraordinary work she has carried out for nearly two decades on behalf of her late sister, Susan. In her own words, Diane shares the story behind the Susan Lucianna Breast Cancer Fund — a charity born from personal loss and sisterly love that continues to change lives today.

In 1998 my beautiful sister and coworker Susan, at age 38, was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. She was a paralegal for many years in my office and Nancy’s. She went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation while working with us. She did well for six years but then it recurred in lungs, liver and brain. At about that time I also was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer and was mother to a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old. I also went through major surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and later ovary removal.

Susan was brave, optimistic, selfless, and when the recurrence occurred, got herself a beautiful King Charles Cavalier puppy “Molly” to be her therapy dog. Molly came home sick with pneumonia, and the pet shop was willing to refund her money and euthanize Molly. Instead, Susan spent $3,000 curing Molly and then as good lawyers do, we sued the pet shop to recover the money. Susan fought for Molly and Molly provided love and support for Susan as only dogs can do. My sister Nancy and I helped Susan through more radiation, chemotherapy, and many indignities for three years until her death at age 48 in 2007. At that point, Molly became my family dog and continued her job as therapy dog for my sick husband.

As a Breast Cancer survivor, I thank God every day that I have lived to raise my children. In 2007 I created the Susan Lucianna Breast Cancer Fund as we would meet various people in waiting rooms who not only had cancer, but who could not pay their bills, double indignity.

I run this charity out of my law office, and it provides grants to breast cancer patients with quality-of-life needs. In the last 19 years we have paid out over $250,000 to approximately 200 women. That may not sound like much compared to the big national charities but to these 200 women it has meant everything.

Most importantly the charity does not have any overhead expenses, salaries, rent, director fees or expenses of any kind. I even file the yearly taxes myself and the charity is 501(c)(3) approved. We help women mainly from Englewood Hospital and Hackensack Medical Center as their patient navigators have them fill out applications which they then email to me, and I send them the grant. I make it very easy for them as I know they are legitimately sick and in need.