Marisa Marchetto, Cancer Vixen, Director

Marisa Acocella Marchetto began her career as a cartoonist in 1994, when a character she created called SHE appeared in Mirabella magazine. In 1995, Marisa published her first graphic novel, Just Who the Hell is SHE, Anyway?

Since then Marisa has been a long time contributor to The New Yorker, New York Times and Glamour Magazine.

In addition Marisa has had ongoing cartoons in Talk, Advertising Age, Modern Bride, and ESPN magazines. In 2004 at the age of 43 , Marisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. When her Glamour editors found out, their second reaction was to ask Marisa to document her battle with the disease. This was the genesis of Cancer Vixen.
Marisa has donated a percentage of the proceeds of Cancer Vixen to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and to underprivileged women at the Comprehensive Cancer Center affiliated with St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan.
Recently Marisa established The Cancer Vixen Fund at St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Cancer vixen Fund is dedicated to help women who are uninsured receive the best breast care.
Today Marisa is grateful to be happily married and healthy. She is now working on her third graphic novel, which thankfully is fiction, and not about cancer.