My Doan’s Story

When you think about your breast cancer story, where does it begin?

For My Doan, breast cancer has shaped her life in many ways.

When she was first diagnosed, she was single and living independently. Now, 16 years in remission, her life looks different. She is a mother of two daughters and a sister to Lynne, who is living with metastatic breast cancer.

“It’s all-encompassing,” My says. “It’s such a pivotal point, such a huge part of who I am.”

But not only in a painful way.

“It’s really helped to embrace the positive in our lives,” she says. “And to really remind us to be present and really cherish the moments that we have together.”

 

What does survivorship feel like 16 years later?

“There’s a sense of relief,” My says. Of being healthy. Of watching her daughters grow. “But there’s also that unknown.”

That unknown is especially present because My and Lynne’s diagnoses began in similar ways. 

“We had expected her outcome to be like my outcome,” My says.

But Lynne’s cancer progressed.

Because of that, My knows remission is something to celebrate, but not something she takes for granted.

 

What was it like to finish treatment?

When My completed treatment, the transition back into regular life felt more complicated than she expected.

“I remember my last Tamoxifen,” she says. “I said to my doctor, so nothing’s protecting me now from the cancer coming back?”

Her doctor told her that now, she would go back to living her life.

That sounded simple, but it felt strange.

Even now, years later, My carries both the gratitude of remission and the awareness that breast cancer can return or advance. 

“Yes, I am in remission,” she says. “But having a sister with metastatic breast cancer, I know that there’s a possibility that maybe down the line, that might be my reality.”

How has breast cancer shaped motherhood?

My has two young daughters, and breast cancer is already part of what they know, even if they do not yet understand the full magnitude of it.

They have seen photos of their mother without hair. They have seen their aunt Lynne in and out of hospitals. They understand that both women have been sick, even if they are still too young to fully understand what breast cancer means.

“My daughters are really young,” My says. “I’m still trying to figure out what’s an age-appropriate time for me to really delve into letting them know about my journey and my story.”

As a mother, My also thinks about genetics and the future. She wonders whether she has passed on the BRCA2 gene to her daughters and what that could mean for them one day.

“It weighs very heavily,” she says.

Still, My tries to stay grounded in the present.

“I really, really, really try to stay present,” she says. “I really try to stay focused on the here and now.”

Who has helped you keep going through the hardest seasons?

For My, family has always been at the center of her resilience. 

When asked what was getting her through back in 2020, she declared, “My saint of a husband! Without his love, support, patience, and general calm, I would be a wreck.”

That kind of support has shaped the way My understands love, caregiving, and what it means to be held through uncertainty.

“He continues to be my safety net,” My says.

What is it like to celebrate your survivorship while your sister is

living with metastatic breast cancer?

For My, this is one of the hardest parts of her story.

“It’s that juxtaposition of celebrating my survivorship, but also being there and holding space for my sister, who will never get to that point,” My says.

She is in remission. Lynne will never be in remission. My can celebrate her health, and Lynne celebrates it too, but there is still a grief and guilt that comes with living on different sides of the disease.

“Anybody who has a sister knows that incredible bond,” My says. “There’s a lot of guilt as well that I’m on this side, and she’s on that side.”

My has learned that both truths can exist at once. She can celebrate her health and still grieve what Lynne is facing. She can feel joy and sadness. She can honor completing her treatment while holding space for metastatic breast cancer.

“I can celebrate my health, and she celebrates my health,” My says. “But there’s a dark cloud that looms above all of our family’s lives because she’s living scan to scan.”

 

How has Runway supported your family?

Through all of it, Runway has been a source of light for My and her family.

“Runway for Recovery has been like a beacon of hope and a beacon of light for our families,” she says.

Some of My’s most cherished memories with Lynne have happened through Runway. They look back at photos and videos from shows, retreats, and shared moments with joy.

“Some of my most cherished moments are with Lynne at Runway,” My says.

Those memories are something My knows she will always carry.

“One day, I’ll look back and I’ll always have those memories with her,” she says. “That’s a priceless gift that Runway has given me.”

For My, Runway has always felt like more than an event. It is a reunion, a family, and a night centered on love, life, and the kind of connection that stays with you.

“I look forward to seeing the family that Runway for Recovery has built,” she has shared. “It feels like a heartwarming reunion every year, and I look forward to celebrating love and life with all the models and their families.”

She especially cherishes the warmth of being back together — the hugs, the shared memories, and the feeling of being surrounded by people who understand.

“It’s truly a magical night,” she says.

 

Why is it important for you to share your story?

When My was first diagnosed, her instinct was not to hide.

But in her family, that was not necessarily the expectation. My remembers telling her parents last. After their initial devastation and grief, they encouraged her to keep the diagnosis private.

“They were like, try to keep this under wraps,” My says.

She understands that within some Asian families and communities, there can be stigma, shame, or pressure to keep painful things private. But that was not who My was.

“That’s not my personality,” she says. “That’s not who I am.”

My chose to use her voice. And she is glad she did.

“I want people to know that breast cancer impacts all communities,” she says. “It is okay for you to use your voice in this way to share your story. You don’t have to do this alone.”

What does Runway’s 20th year mean to you?

My joined the Runway community in its second year, after being encouraged by her colleague Helen Anderson, who had walked in the first Runway show.

At the time, Runway was still small. Since then, My has watched the organization grow into something much larger, reaching more families, more cities, and more stories.

“To see it become this big is just so incredible,” she says.

She is especially moved by how Runway has grown to include and support people living with metastatic breast cancer. My remembers a time when metastatic breast cancer was not as visible within the broader breast cancer community.

“I think Lynne was the first person to be on that Runway stage with metastatic breast cancer,” My says.

Now, Runway raises funds and awareness for families living with metastatic breast cancer and gives children and families meaningful support.

“To see the money that is being fundraised for families living with metastatic breast cancer, and to just give kids a normal life, is so profoundly inspiring,” My says.

As the organization marks its 20th year, My is proud to be part of the community that has grown from a small show into a national source of support, joy, and tangible help for families.

“I’m just so proud to be a part of the organization,” she says.

What will you be celebrating when you step onto the Runway stage?

“All the things,” My says. “I will be celebrating my survivorship. I will be honoring my sister. I’ll be honoring those who’ve gone before us, and just feeling super hopeful that one day, hopefully, we won’t have so many families impacted by breast cancer.”

On the Runway stage, we look forward to celebrating My’s 16 years of survivorship, her love for Lynne, and the hope, memory, and sisterhood she continues to bring to this community.