May 05, 2006  |  By: KATHERINE VOLIN  | COMMENTS     

A breast cancer diagnosis at age 21 isn’t common, but it can happen. Breast cancer at 30 is also a relatively rare occurrence. But for one woman to face the disease at both ages is like lightning striking twice — rare and tragic.

Nonetheless, lesbian Tania Katan, now 34, has survived the ignominy of just such a freak double whammy and has written a book to share her story.

"My One-Night Stand with Cancer," a comedic memoir about Katan’s experiences, originated when Katan, ill from chemotherapy, went to a local bookstore to examine their offerings for national breast cancer awareness month.

"All of the covers were sort of pink in that way that is really maudlin," Katan says. "The pinkness was that pink ribbon embossed on the cover and it’d be really glossy. Not only did my memoir not exist on that table, but nothing was even close."

Katan’s book cover is blue, with a red-iced cupcake in the center.

"I decided a cupcake was the perfect metaphor for a one-night stand," Katan says. "It’s this desirous, sexy luxurious thing that I want to eat and then I do and realize that the pink frosting stains my teeth and it has all those empty calories."

THE LUMPS IN her breasts were both discovered by women she had toxic relationships with, she says.

"I was young both times, 21 and 30, I wouldn’t have been scouting out my boobs," Katan, who is now cancer-free, says. "I’m glad that they stepped up to the plate and touched my boobies."

"My One-Night Stand with Cancer" is nominated for a Lambda Literary Award, Stonewall Book Award and is a finalist for the Publishing Triangle award.

"I think that’s what they call a triple threat in theater," Katan says. "Seriously, though, I was freaked out [by the nominations]."

The Human Rights Campaign’s Action Store in Dupont Circle will host a reading by Katan on May 13 when she comes to town for the Lambda Literary Awards

Lita Grossman, general manager of the Action Store, says the decision to host Katan was a "no-brainer."

The Mautner Project, a national lesbian health organization, will receive a portion of the proceeds from book sales at the event.

"We’re proud to be joining with these groups in promoting breast cancer awareness among young women, a demographic that often doesn’t consider themselves to be at risk," Grossman says.

KATAN OFTEN SPEAKS to groups at colleges across the country, a task she says she particularly enjoys.

"That’s my favorite population," Katan says. "Regardless of sexual orientation, that population is really important for me and for this book to reach out to. They’re really disconnected from their bodies and hate their bodies and struggle with body image."

After both her mastectomies, Katan had the option of reconstructive surgery to replace her breasts, an option she chose not to take.

"To me reconstruction wasn’t offering to save my life, it was offering to make other people’s lives better," Katan says.

Katan feels so fine with her lack of breasts that she runs 10Ks topless.

"The impetus for me running was meeting a pretty lady," Katan says. "Seriously."

The pretty lady is Katan’s partner, Angela, with whom she enjoys a non-toxic relationship in Arizona. There are legal perks to having one’s breasts removed, Katan discovered.

"I run a topless race because I don’t have boobies and legally, I can do that," Katan says.