DJ Dena: Love in the Club

At this point in her career, DJ Dena Cucci can step inside any club she damn pleases. But there's at least one that she would prefer to avoid.

"It feels like I'm in this secret club," says Cucci. Mind you, she's not referring to the VIP entrance of a warehouse party, but to the secret sorority of breast cancer survivors.

"Of course, it's not a club I want to be in," she adds. "But there are so many people out there who have had cancer, and they came out of the woodwork to tell me, 'I'm a six year survivor,' or 'I'm an eight year survivor.'"

Cucci can now add herself to the list of those who have faced breast cancer and beat it. Last August during a routine mammogram, her doctors saw what appeared to be small lumps in each of her breasts; a biopsy revealed a harmless cyst on her right side, but cancer on her left.

"From that point on, it was just crazy," says Cucci. "Hearing the word 'cancer' is a hard, hard thing."
But, she says, she surprised even herself with her reaction.

"I think I had a great attitude, which was shocking!" she laughs. "I normally freak out about anything I can't control."

It probably helped that Cucci had already witnessed family members tackle breast cancer head-on, including her uncle (yes, men get breast cancer, too). But there was one woman in her life that served as her utmost inspiration throughout: her mom, a two-time breast cancer survivor.

"She is the strongest woman I know, and she was my inspiration to get through this," says Cucci of her mother. "She's five-foot, two inches ... a little woman, but she's a spitfire! She doesn't stop."

"When she was going through her treatments, people at the radiation department would call her 'Twinkle Toes,'" she laughs. "Because even during all of that, she never stopped her swing and ballroom dancing."

A natural knack for hitting the dance floor seems to be another recurring family trait. And Cucci says that, just like her mom, she refused to let her cancer keep her from doing what she loves.

"I'm not going to stop, I'm just not that person," says Cucci. "I believe your attitude has a lot to do with it. You can't dwell on it."

In July, Cucci underwent a lumpectomy to remove the cancerous tissue from her breast. And talk about commitment: if it hadn't been for the painkillers, she never would have missed a gig.

"The surgery was on Wednesday, and I had a gig on Saturday night," she recalls. "I told them to put me on call. ... I didn't make it in, because truthfully, it was the Vicodin that knocked me on my ass!"

This weekend's "Divas for Dena" celebration, a breast cancer awareness event featuring the club world's biggest performers and organized by Chris Harris Presetns, also comes shortly after Dena's most recent and final treatment: two weeks ago, she went through her last radiation therapy and aside from being "a little tired," she's in complete recovery mode. Always a model for healthy living, she's back to her regular yoga sessions, eating vegetarian and organic, and continuing on her long commitment to avoid drugs and alcohol.

She's also hard at work in the studio, wrapping up work on "Bad, Bad Boy," the upcoming single by The Perry Twins and Niki Haris, and remixing Boston favorite Rachel Panay's latest, "Epic," among other projects.

Cucci is equally amazed, though, at all the work that has gone into "Divas for Dena," and the level of support she's received from the greater clubbing community.

"It's unbelievable," she says. "When Chris [Harris] told me about it, Isaid, 'I don't want it to be huge.' But I'm shocked by how many people responded to it."

She laughs. "I don't know how they're going to fit me in!"

Proceeds from the event will help to defray the DJs own substantial medical bills. "I have insurance, but the medical bills screwed me, financially," says Cucci. "I've blown through my savings... and I still owe bills."

Funds will also go to the Save the Ta-Tas Foundation, a new California-based organization that raises breast cancer awareness while employing a sense of humor and high spirit not unlike Dena's own.

"Chris was going to go with one of the more traditional organizations, you know, with the pink ribbon and all that," says Cucci. "But at one point he said, 'You know, I can't see your face on that.'"

But Save the Ta-Tas? Sign. Her. Up.

"That's exactly my attitude," she laughs. "I love my ta-tas!"

Chris Harris Presents hosts "Divas for Dena" on Saturday, October 18 at the Roxy (279 Tremont St,. Boston). Featured performers include Kristine W, Gioia Bruno, The Perry Twins and many more. For the full line-up and ticket info, visit chrisharrispresents.com