Breast Cancer in my 30’s
Alanna’s Story
Returning to the runway this February, Alanna brings with her a depth of strength forged across two diagnoses. She modeled in a previous SoCal show, but her story continues—marked by perseverance, deep reflection, and a powerful desire to uplift others walking a similar path.“You don’t think it will happen to you.”
Read MoreJeannette’s Story
“At 33, hearing the words ‘breast cancer’ felt like the end of the world as I knew it.”
On August 25, 2009, Jeannette received a diagnosis that mirrored her mother’s—invasive ductal carcinoma, stage IIb, grade 3, triple negative. She was BRCA negative, but it didn’t ease the weight of what was ahead.
Read MorePayal’s Story
For Payal, the journey to the runway began not with a diagnosis, but with a decision. A physician and a mother of twin daughters, she chose to take control of her health before illness could make the choice for her.
Read MoreRina’s Story
When Rina Hawkins felt a lump in early 2024, she trusted her instincts and went to the doctor. Her gynecologist, trying to offer reassurance, suggested it might resolve on its own. But as the mass grew, so did Rina’s concern—and when she returned for a follow-up, the tone shifted. Soon she was navigating mammograms, biopsies, and what she describes as “a wild ride” into the world of breast cancer.
Read MoreCara’s Story
At just 30 years old, Cara Wright was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in March of 2023. What followed was not only a fight for her health, but a grueling battle with insurance—two life-altering wars waged in parallel. For over a year, she navigated a system that often made healing harder.
Read MoreAlicia’s Story
Alicia Fisher’s breast cancer journey has been marked by both unimaginable hardship and profound personal growth. Diagnosed for the first time at age 34, she found the lump herself and learned the news on New Year’s Eve in 2020—a brutal ending to an already difficult year.
Read MoreShannon’s Story
When Shannon Bernhart received her diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma on September 2, 2022, she was in the midst of planning for a joyful chapter in her life—she had just received the green light to pursue embryo adoption. The news of her cancer hit hard and fast, clouding a moment that was meant to be filled with hope and possibility. “I was pretty numb at first,” she recalls. “And then I got angry. It took time to digest it all.”
Read MoreLauren’s Story
On April 7, 2022, at 10:51am, Lauren Yerkes received the call that would change her life. She was preparing for a work meeting when the radiologist told her she had invasive ductal carcinoma. “I remember only hearing the word ‘carcinoma’—I knew what that meant,” she recalls. Overcome with fear and confusion, she rushed to find her husband and handed him the phone. The two stood in their kitchen, hugging and crying, before beginning the painful process of sharing the news with loved ones.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Melissa Dupuis
When Melissa Dupuis heard the words “you have cancer,” her world closed in. It was January 5th, 2022 at 4:00 p.m., and the diagnosis came through her online patient portal. As she sat on the couch and read the results, her one-year-old daughter was calling from the other room. Paralyzed by fear, Melissa turned to her husband and asked the only question she could manage: “Am I going to die?”
Read MoreKathryn & Savannah’s Story 2025
Director of Program & Completed Treatment and Legacy Model
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