Meet the Models, SoCal: Alanna de Vlugt
Alanna de Vlugt is a two time breast cancer survivor. Her first diagnosis came when she was 34 after she found a lump. The biopsy revealed cancer. Genetic testing later confirmed she was positive for BRCA1. It would lead to the realization that much of her family carried the gene, including her cousins and fellow models, Liz & Rainee.
Alanna would go on to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction, 16 rounds of chemo, 4 rounds of the “red devil” and 12 rounds of further medication. Alanna also suffers from an autoimmune disease, which made treatment and recovery difficult. She was required to stop autoimmune meds during cancer treatment, which meant she was wheelchair bound for much of that time. It also allowed the autoimmune disease to progress, which meant she needed a double hip replacement on the heels of the cancer treatment.
The entirety of treatment felt like “survival mode” and was particularly difficult because she needed caretakers round the clock. She credits her mom, whom she moved in with during this time, for all of her help, but also her “care team,” which consisted of her dad, sister, cousins and aunt who stepped in to help. Despite their care, Alanna notes how difficult mentally that period was saying, “my mental heath was not very good because I couldn’t go out and get away from it. I wasn’t able to take my mind off the treatment. It was tough for my mom too.”
Unfortunately, five years later, in 2020, Alanna had a recurrence. She entered treatment, losing her hair again after four rounds of chemo. Today, when reflecting on her cancer journey, she is honest about the process of healing: “I still feel kind of damaged. Obviously physically, but also emotionally.”
For Alanna, connecting with other women who have been through this has been key. She notes that she “doesn’t want to be the sick person,” but having women who understand how unique a journey cancer is proves helpful. One such friend, Sheila Coleman-Fry was a massive support. Sadly, Sheila passed away from stage 4 breast cancer in 2021. It’s why Alanna connected with Runway, to make bonds with other women who understand what she has gone through, while also having a space to honor Sheila’s journey.