Caileigh’s Story

When Caileigh Scott was waiting for her biopsy results, she already sensed what was coming.

“The radiologist who performed the biopsy was gentle yet clear with me that it was giving malignancy,” she shared. “In the days waiting for results, I remember telling myself if this was happening, I needed to buckle up, lock in, and get on board.”

It was a moment of quiet clarity—one where fear and determination existed side by side.

Diagnosed on April 4, 2022, Caileigh stepped into treatment with that same mindset. She focused on what was in front of her, moving forward with intention, even when the path ahead felt uncertain.

But what she didn’t expect was how much of the emotional weight of cancer would come later.

“This is for diagnosed folks too,” she shared. “Often it is impossible for people to actively process cancer while in the thick of treatment. The processing happens once you’re re-released back into the wild. It is the first year or two of survivorship that are often the most challenging psychologically.”

It’s a perspective that resonates deeply—because while treatment is physically demanding, survivorship can bring its own kind of complexity. The structure of appointments fades, and what remains is the reality of everything that has happened.

During treatment, however, Caileigh made a conscious choice about how she wanted to live.

“My friends and family helped following surgery and during chemotherapy,” she said, “but luckily I was feeling well, so what was MOST helpful was anyone down to go on adventures, mini-trips, or fun outdoor activities. I didn’t want to convalesce when feeling well—I wanted to live!”

That mindset shaped her experience in powerful ways. Rather than putting her life on pause, she found ways to continue engaging with it—leaning into movement, connection, and joy wherever she could.

Even her care team supported that approach.

“I was surprised—in a good way—how my care team was so encouraging and helpful in me still living life while in treatment,” she shared. “My oncologist even let me start chemo a week early, on a day that isn’t his day, so that my chemo schedule didn’t interfere with a pre-planned beach trip later that summer.”

It was a small adjustment, but one that spoke volumes about the importance of preserving moments that matter.

Her advice to others reflects that same philosophy.

“Getting on the treatment conveyor belt is often the hardest part,” she said. “Once you get your care team set and understand your treatment plan, make sure you are prioritizing moments of joy.”

And sometimes, those moments come in unexpected ways.

“Honestly, people felt bad for me and kept offering to take me to Broadway shows,” she said. “And while I would have loved different circumstances, that was kind of a slay.”

There is a lightness in the way she shares that—an ability to find humor and appreciation even within a difficult chapter.

Breast cancer didn’t just change Caileigh’s life—it also reconnected her to parts of herself that had been waiting to be rediscovered.

“Breast cancer gave me permission to reconnect more fully with my creativity and reignited a passion for dance and movement,” she shared. “I’ve also met some of my closest friends through this community.”

Now, each year holds a different kind of meaning.

“This year is special because every trip around the sun is magical.”

Caileigh’s story is one of perspective—of choosing to live fully, even in the midst of uncertainty, and of recognizing that joy and difficulty can exist at the same time.

A reminder that while cancer may interrupt life, it doesn’t have to stop it—and that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is keep showing up for the moments that matter most.