Meet the Models: Emily Lewis
Meet the Models: Emily’s Story – A Brave Choice to Live
Emily isn’t walking the runway because she had breast cancer. She’s walking it because she made a powerful, preventative decision after learning she was at high genetic risk. As a BRCA1 previvor, Emily carries the weight of a future that never happened—because she bravely chose to change her present.
The Diagnosis Before the Disease
“When I found out I was BRCA1 positive, I was alone in a 325-square-foot apartment during COVID. The doctor told me I had an 87–90% chance of breast cancer and a 60% chance of ovarian cancer. My world came crashing down.”
Her thoughts immediately turned to her grandmother—a two-time breast cancer warrior who ultimately passed away at age 59. The genetic legacy was real. The fear was overwhelming. And yet, the decisions Emily made in the months that followed were anything but passive.
A mammogram and MRI soon revealed an atypical lesion. It required a biopsy and lumpectomy, and suddenly the risk was no longer theoretical. Just four months later, Emily made the choice to undergo a double mastectomy with reconstruction.
“I walked into the OR alone. I slept in the hospital alone. I made every decision alone. COVID meant no one could come with me—not even my mom. She had to drop me off on the curb.”
At just 31, Emily had altered her body permanently to save her life.
Healing in Isolation
Being young and BRCA positive can be an isolating experience. Emily didn’t know anyone else her age who had been through this. She was surrounded by people who wanted to help but didn’t understand how to show up for someone whose story looked different from the norm.
“I wish I’d had more support. I wish someone had just sat with me and said, ‘This is hard, and I see you.’ I didn’t need them to fix it. I just didn’t want to feel so alone.”
Today, Emily is grateful to have found connection through organizations like The Breasties and other local communities in Boston. These spaces—filled with other previvors and survivors—help her feel seen.
A Shift in Perspective
“After going through all of this, I realized how much life can change in an instant. Now, if something is causing me stress, I walk away. I’ve learned how to slow down, how to reprioritize, and how to listen to what I truly need.”
Emily also went back to school—something she may not have done without this wake-up call. She decided her future needed to reflect the strength and clarity she fought so hard to reclaim.
Why She Walks
“I walk because I want others to know that being BRCA positive is its own kind of journey. That being a previvor is brave. And that making hard choices for your future doesn’t make you less strong—it makes you powerful.”
The Runway represents joy, celebration, and connection—exactly what Emily lacked during her initial journey. Now she’s walking not just for herself, but for others who may be silently navigating the same path.
What to Know
“If someone in your life is a previvor or facing genetic risk, don’t try to minimize it. Don’t say, ‘Well, you don’t have cancer.’ Just sit with them. Let them feel what they feel. Listen. Be present. That’s the most healing thing you can do.”
