Breast Cancer in my 40’s
Meet the Models: Amy Collette
Twelve years after her breast cancer diagnosis, Amy has a powerful perspective that only time and experience can provide. She lives with gratitude, boldness, and a deep appreciation for the small and sacred acts of support that carried her through the darkest days—and she’s walking this year to honor all of it.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Jillian Black
I am not the same person. But the new person I am – is stronger. The person I am now is more focused. More aware. I love more deeply and openly. I invest heavily in the people who I love, and who love me – and tune out everything else. My kids see my strength, I hope – and I try to help them see their own strength, power and resiliency, too. Cancer takes a lot. But somehow, through all of it, I somehow gained, as well.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Lori Labedz
When Lori was diagnosed with breast cancer on August 4, 2021, her first thought wasn’t about herself—it was about her daughters. The fear was immediate and deep.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Stefanie Ennis
When Stefanie received her breast cancer diagnosis, she wasn’t entirely surprised—yet nothing could have fully prepared her for how much it would change everything. At 40, attending her first mammogram, she was told they’d found a few calcifications. “No big deal,” the doctors said. But within days, “no big deal” had become a diagnosis: ER/PR-positive breast cancer with three tumors, lymph node involvement, and a full treatment plan that began with chemotherapy on October 1—the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Anya Huston
When Anya was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was blindsided. She had convinced herself it was nothing—just a precautionary visit, not something serious. But then she heard the word: cancer.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Christina Muratore
Meet the Models: Christina’s Story – For Katie. Last year, Christina almost didn’t walk the runway. She had just undergone her mastectomy. Her reconstruction was still healing, and she wasn’t…
Read MoreMeet the Models: Sabrina Baloun
Before her own diagnosis, Sabrina spent her career as a Physician Assistant in oncology. She diagnosed cancer, discussed treatment options, and supported patients through the hardest moments of their lives.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Erin Erler
This year is the beginning, the year I am claiming myself back. I had reconstruction in January and it’s been a slow process for now but I’m finally getting back on my feet physically and starting to find myself again. She’s not the same woman, she’s definitely changed, but she’s better, braver, stronger, and most importantly thankful and grateful.
Read MoreMeet the Models: Erika Hodnett
There was no lump. I felt absolutely normal. I went in for my yearly mammogram in January 2022 and that’s when the doctors found calcium deposits. After an MRI and a biopsy, I got the call saying I had HER2 negative invasive lobular carcinoma of the right breast. I broke down immediately. I thought, ‘I can’t die, I have my little ones to take care of and I’m not going to leave them.’”
Read MoreMeet the Models: Cheryl Durand
Breast cancer has impacted my life in both positive and negative ways. I now try to live life to the fullest, I don’t take anything for granted. I focus on the important things. However, I also live my life in the face of uncertainty everyday with an underlying lingering fear and ache in my heart. I have to overcome this fear everyday.
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