Considered cured from cancer 22 years ago, Ms. Wallace said early detection spared her life. In addition to giving plenty of laughs, the comedian said she hopes to encourage other women to prioritize mammograms and self-examination.
“I just wanted to share my story in hopes it would resonate with someone and one woman would go in for her first mammogram,” Ms. Wallace said. “If it saved one woman’s life, it would be well worth it.”
Ms. Wallace, who continues her role as Mrs. Krabappel on The Simpsons, will speak Saturday, April 19, at “A Day Just for Women.” Sponsored by the Temple Daily Telegram and King’s Daughters Hospital, the fourth annual event will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple.
Following the speech, women will have an opportunity to meet Ms. Wallace from 1-1:30 p.m. when she signs copies of her book, “Don’t Look Back, We’re Not Going that Way: How I Overcame a Rocky Childhood, a Nervous Breakdown, Breast Cancer, Widowhood, Fat, Fire and Menopausal Motherhood and Still Managed to Count My Lucky Chickens.”
Like the book, which is $15, Ms. Wallace’s speech is an often-humorous look at her life, she said.
“I’ve had a wonderful life and I certainly hope it’s not over anytime soon,” said Ms. Wallace, who lives in Los Angeles. “I’ve had work. I’ve had love. I’ve had cancer. I’ve been a widow.
“It’s an interesting life. I hope it resonates with someone,” she added. “I like to think I put all the information in a narrative. You come away with some good hints.”
General admission tickets are $7, or $20 for general admission and lunch. Tickets are sold at the Telegram, 10 S. Third St., or online at www.temple-telegram.com.
Lunch is 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and includes maple-seared chicken breast on a bed of mashed sweet potatoes. Steamed spinach will garnish the dish, which will be accompanied by a house salad, mini crème brulee and chocolate biscotti, along with tea or coffee.
King’s Daughters Hospital staff will be onsite during the day, offering health screenings and seminars. Ladies also can browse booths offering exhibits, shopping and door prizes. Booths are still available.
Ms. Wallace said people often remark that they’re surprised at her talks.
“People always say, ‘It’s so honest!’” said Ms. Wallace, who is Buddhist. “Why would you want to lie?
“People think that nobody feels like this – only me. It’s so encouraging to discover other people share those same fears or frustrations or whatever.”
She said laughter helped her during tough events in her life, like losing her husband to pancreatic cancer.
“I’ve got the humor gene, which makes it easier to get through,” she said. “It’s very easy to laugh when everything’s going well, but you need humor for healing, too. It’s part of the healing process.”
cwaits@temple-telegram.com
