Former Steelers Cook Healthy Meals for Cancer Patients at Magee

Two Super Bowl-winning former Steelers prepared meals for breast cancer patients and survivors Tuesday at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Oakland, joining team chefs and dietitians for a cooking demonstration held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nose tackle Chris Hoke and McKeesport native safety Mike Logan grilled chicken for an angel hair pasta dish alongside Steelers executive chef Kevin Blinn.

Research published by the American Cancer Society in 2025 indicates that roughly 30% of postmenopausal breast cancer diagnoses may be linked in part to lifestyle-related risk factors, including diet, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption. The report estimates that 50% to 70% of invasive breast cancers might potentially be prevented through timely lifestyle modifications.

A study published in JAMA found that cancer survivors carrying excess weight had a 40% higher risk of developing a second obesity-related cancer, including breast cancer. That risk rose to 78% for people with obesity.

Hoke drew a line between the nutrition of athletes and the needs of cancer patients. "There's a lot of overlap," Hoke said. "It's all about recovery. It's all about healing. One of the greatest things you can do is feed your body good food, healthy nutrition that helps promote healthy recovery and healing." Hoke announced in January 2025 that his wife, Jaimee, had passed away from breast cancer. She was diagnosed at age 36, shortly after Hoke's retirement from the NFL in 2012.

"I know what each and every one of you are going through .. the treatment and the struggle, mental, emotional and physical," Hoke said. "That's why I'm so grateful to be here, because I've sat in this chair where you're sitting right now."

UPMC registered dietitian Angela Fullerton addressed the audience on the role patients can play in their own care. "I can't stress the importance enough of (nutrition)," Fullerton said. "It's something that's within (patients') control. A lot of the other things are not within their control, unfortunately."

Logan described the emotional side of the gathering. "When we're cooking, emotion comes out," Logan said. "We're going to take all of this emotion and food and love and put it into combination of dishes. And hopefully what we come out serving is good and takes their minds off of anything else that they're dealing with and just enjoy." Logan's cousin battled a breast cancer diagnosis and later became an advocate.

Chris Vista, vice president of operations at the hospital, addressed the group in attendance. "We talk about warriors. We talk about the warriors on the field. We talk about the guys that are playing football on the gridiron, but today we've got a couple of Super Bowl champions here really to focus on the real warriors," Vista said. "That's everyone in this room."

Keena Pettiford, 36, of South Park, has managed metastatic breast cancer since her diagnosis at age 27 in 2018. She said she changed her eating habits after gaining 100 pounds from hormone treatments. "I lost 80 to 100 pounds in the last year and a half from just eating different and watching the things that I consume," Pettiford said. She said she hoped to learn to prepare meals and to serve as an advocate for other young women facing similar diagnoses.

Marcie Newman, 48, of West Newton, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021. Her cancer returned in metastatic form this year. "I definitely notice the better I eat, the better I feel," Newman said. "And if I eat junk food or if I have a high soda type of day, that I definitely don't feel as good."

The menu served at the event included grilled chicken angel hair pasta, cabbage crunch salad, stuffed mushrooms and a dessert made with sugar-free ingredients and fruit.