From Counselor to Cancer Advocate: Arlene Kutoroff’s Journey of Strength, Intuition, and Impact

Advocate Spotlight: Arlene Kutoroff

When Arlene Kutoroff woke up the morning after her double mastectomy, she quietly made her way to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee before her friend stirred awake. It was a small, almost ordinary act, but for Arlene, it spoke volumes. “I describe myself as pathologically independent,” she says with a smile. That independence would carry her through one of the most difficult periods of her life and ultimately lead her to become a dedicated voice in cancer survivorship advocacy.

A Life of Service, Then a Life-Changing Diagnosis

Before cancer entered her life, Arlene had already built a career around supporting others. For 15 years, she served as a school counselor. Prior to that, she worked as a case manager with individuals with developmental disabilities and in child protective services. “Helping and guiding others was just who I was,” she says.

Arlene was 59 and preparing for retirement when a routine mammogram changed everything. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 bilateral breast cancer. “Initially, only my right breast showed confirmed cancer,” she recalls. “The left breast was inconclusive on the MRI, but something told me not to trust that.” Trusting her gut — what she calls a counselor’s intuition — Arlene made the decision to undergo a bilateral mastectomy. That decision turned out to be lifesaving. Post-surgical pathology revealed cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in her left breast.

“That moment validated everything,” she says. “I felt like I was chasing a ghost, and I was right.”

Facing Cancer Alone, Yet Never Truly Alone

Arlene had been divorced for 15 years and had no family nearby when she was diagnosed. Her son was away at college during her treatment. “That was the hardest part — telling him,” she reflects. “He was just starting his life, and I didn’t want cancer to overshadow it.”

Still, Arlene wasn’t alone. A strong circle of friends stepped up to offer support in whatever ways she needed. And while she accepted their help, her fierce independence meant she often took matters into her own hands — like that pot of coffee on post-op day one.

The road to recovery included eight rounds of chemotherapy and radiation to the left breast. She credits her oncologist (and NCCS Board Member), Dr. Ana María López, with providing exceptional care. But not everything was easy, especially when it came to reconstruction. Arlene had to travel from Tucson to Phoenix to find a surgeon willing to perform implants on both breasts due to prior radiation. “It was a challenge, but he was the best, and I knew I deserved the best care.”

From Survivor to Advocate

Arlene’s transition into advocacy wasn’t planned — it was born from a desire to understand. “I began attending conferences and workshops just to learn more about cancer and treatment,” she says. That quest for knowledge quickly evolved into leadership. She became a founding member of Tucson Cancer Conquerors, helped organize local survivorship conferences, and was accepted into the Escape to Thrive advocacy training program.

It was at Escape to Thrive that her advocacy journey took a national turn. There, she met Betsy Glosik, who introduced her to the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), and Shelley Fuld Nasso, CEO of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), who inspired her to apply to the Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) program.

Since then, Arlene has attended CPAT both in person and virtually, using the training to deepen her understanding of policy and survivorship. “The most meaningful part was learning how to communicate policy to legislators,” she says. “It showed me how powerful our voices can be.”

The Quiet Wins That Matter Most

For Arlene, advocacy isn’t about accolades, it’s about moments. “It’s meeting people — leaders in treatment, integrative therapy, and advocacy,” she explains. “But most of all, it’s the small moments. Helping a survivor find a resource or feel seen and supported. Those are the best.”

She admits there are challenges, particularly when resources are lacking or when she can’t help someone in need. “Those are the hardest moments, especially when it’s someone close to me who loses their battle.” Yet even then, she keeps going. “You just keep pushing forward.”

Now retired, Arlene has the freedom to choose where and how she invests her time. That doesn’t mean the work is without sacrifice. “Sometimes, finances keep me from attending conferences I’d love to go to,” she says. “But I participate in what I can, and I make it count.”

Shaping the Future of Advocacy Through NCCS

Arlene’s involvement with NCCS has helped sharpen her focus as an advocate. “It inspires me not to stop and not to give up,” she says. “NCCS is fighting for the rights of survivors and pushing for legislation that meets our real needs. That work is essential.”

She encourages other survivors to get involved, not just to give back, but to grow. “There’s so much to learn. Advocacy helps you discover your own strength and use your voice in ways you never imagined.”

Paying It Forward, One Survivor at a Time

“Years ago, when I started, it was about paying it forward,” Arlene says. “The help and support I received — I want everyone to have that.”

That simple philosophy has fueled her quiet persistence and unwavering dedication to others. Through every conversation, every connection, and every hard-earned insight, Arlene continues to light the way for others navigating life after cancer, offering guidance, encouragement, and a sense of community to those who need it most.

“Trust yourself. Ask questions. Get second or third opinions. You know more than you think you do,” she says.

In Arlene’s case, that deep trust in her own intuition didn’t just save her life. It became the foundation of a legacy of compassion, advocacy, and impact.

Learn more about NCCS’s CPAT program for advocates and join for free.