Carolyn Aziz has survived breast cancer and heart problems.

Seven years after being diagnosed with cancer, she visited the hospital for what she believed was a minor body ache.

I thought, “I was having stomach problems,” said the 53-year-old. “The chemotheraphy drugs damaged my heart. My heart muscle was wearing out.”

Today, Aziz is in cancer remission and her heart is on the mend.

“I’m on regulated medicine and a no-salt diet,” she said. “You live everyday and hope for the best. You do what you have to do to stay here.”

Aziz is one of 100 women, some who have been touched by heart disease, who attended last week’s Cardiac Chic, a first-ever collaboration of River Region Medical Center and the H.C. Porter Gallery. The focus was to raise awareness of heart disease in women while offering the chance to showcase works by a local artist.

Porter, owner of the gallery on Washington Street, has been personally affected by heart disease. “My mother (Harriet Porter) had undiagnosed hypertension at 55. She went into cardiac failure.”

Doctors “told us she wouldn’t make it through the night, but she did,” Porter said. “Now (at age 70) she’s as healthy as she can be. That little bit of information on high blood pressure could have helped her.”

Event organizer Diane Gawronski found out last year she had been living with a heart defect. After complaining to her doctor of fatigue, tests were ordered. They found blood was not flowing from her left artery to her heart.

“I’m fine,” said Gawronski, who is River Region’s vice president of marketing and business development. “ I just have to monitor my stress activity.”

Eating well is part of warding off heart problems.

Cardiac Chic featured heart-healthy fare such as Snappy Spinach Dip and vegetables and chicken salad sandwiches.

“It’s just a matter of making better choices,” said Marie Claire Ledlow, assistant director of food services at River Region.

Lakesha Jimmerson, River Region assistant chief executive officer, said, “It’s never too early to start taking care of yourself.” Two weeks ago, her friend died of a heart attack.

“I would definitely encourage women to take advantage of the hospital’s Healthy Woman program,” Jimmerson said. “There are information sessions and cooking demonstrations women can participate in.”

The next Healthy Woman event is at noon March 16 at the hospital. Gawronski hopes to continue the Cardiac Chic event next year.

Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com