Local musician working to 'drum out cancer'

As the lead singer of Rock Lobster and the drummer for Shirley's Temple, Stephanie "Foxx" Muscat is used to raising awareness of her two popular cover bands.

When Muscat was diagnosed with breast cancer in February, she took that same rockin' attitude, fought through her treatments and rallied the troops to raise money to find a cure.

The Phoenix Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure committee chose Muscat in August as this year's honorary race chair. Muscat sang the national anthem at the beginning of Sunday's 5K walk. She participated in a fashion show earlier this month at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, and she attended a luncheon held in her honor at the Capital Grille Phoenix restaurant.

"It was pretty surreal," said Muscat, 41, of Chandler. "It was overwhelming with my whole team there (at Sunday's event). I had a lot of support. Nobody should have to go through this alone."

Friends and family supported Muscat through the drumoutcancer.com team, and 144 people walked and raised money Sunday in her honor, carrying pink drumsticks and holding pink drum head signs.

The team included 20 women from the Arizona State University softball team, who were wearing pink "Sparky Says Save 2nd Base" T-shirts. Muscat is a former player.

So far, the Drum Out Cancer team has raised almost $8,500, far surpassing the original $1,000 goal, said Kim Collins Colombero, who organized the team. Kim's sister, Katie Collins, made the drumoutcancer.com Web site. Their mom, Bonnie Collins, is a 13-year breast cancer survivor.

"Stephanie is just grace under pressure," said Colombero, who lives in Oceanside, Calif. "She's just a true leader in all aspects of her life. It's no surprise that she took on the fight the way that she did when she was diagnosed with cancer. She didn't want people to feel sorry for her. This is how she was handling it.

"I always knew from the beginning it was going to be something bigger than her, because she has such an effect on the Valley through her bands," Colombero said. "She's just one of those natural leaders in joining people together, in bands, sports and even now, with breast cancer."

Muscat had her first mammogram in December, and two days after her biopsy, her doctor told her in February she had the most common form of breast cancer: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, also known as IDC.

After getting a second opinion and finding a doctor she loved, Muscat had a lumpectomy in March. Because the cancer had moved to her lymph nodes, she needed a second surgery.

She went through chemotherapy from April to August. Radiation began in September and ends on Monday.

A genetic test showed she didn't have the cancer gene, and no immediate family members have a history of breast cancer, so it was even more important that Muscat had a mammogram.

Sarah Padilla, a spokeswoman for the Phoenix affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, said Muscat is a "great ambassador" because "early detection is such a huge, key message for us."

"In Stephanie's case, because she had such a huge fan base because of her bands, she helped us spread the message about early detection, increase awareness about breast cancer and helped us raise awareness for the Phoenix Komen Race for the Cure," Padilla said.

After her cancer diagnosis, Muscat said her "entire foundation grew stronger." The moms in her Chandler neighborhood made dinner for her every night during her chemotherapy. She reunited with many old friends. Her mom was at every doctor's appointment and chemo session. And her husband of 14 years, Phil, and her two children, 3-year-old Shay and 7-year-old Payton, were always by her side.

"It's really been spectacular that I have had many positives come out of it," said Muscat, who was decked out Thursday in all pink, including pink flip-flops. "Who would have known it would end up this way?"

Although she took a break from her bands during her treatment, she is back to drumming with Shirley's Temple and will play her first show with Rock Lobster on Halloween at the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix.

To donate on behalf of Stephanie "Foxx" Muscat, visit www.drumoutcancer.com.