All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through links in this article.
We are humbled and grateful to say that we’re able to offer you six.
Designed by Bella Geraci
If a picture is worth a thousand words, these portraits hold volumes.
And, whether cancer has touched your life or not, we know these survivors stories will inspire you.
Her friend embraced her as Trimbur went into a state of shock.
Courtesy of Emma Mead
“All the words sounded clinically long and echo-y,” Trimbur says.
“I have learned the importance of acceptance,” she says.
“I’m a different person now.
Courtesy of Ericka Hart
I am raw and sensitive, but in a strong, accepting way.
Trimbur recalls a moment of transition when she felt most beautiful.
“Honestly, looking back on the selfie, I think it is really beautiful: a metamorphosis.
Courtesy of Codilia Gopare
I also now feel an internal beauty I hadn’t felt before.
The emotional knowledge you gain although it’s tricky still feels deeply beautiful.”
Honestly, looking back on the selfie, I think it is really beautiful: ametamorphosis.
TheCOVID-19 pandemicand its isolation created a strong desire for Trimbur to connect with her fellow survivors.
It’s a lovely, safe way to be vulnerable, like major therapy.”
Trimbur’s journey with cancer, like so many, is far from over.
Courtesy of Danielle Doby
She advises those receiving a diagnosis to remember to breathe and avoid stress.
Ericka Hart
Sexuality educator, 34
Ericka Hartwas 28 when they received their diagnosis.
“I was pretty devastated and scared and in shock.
I also didn’t have health insurance at the time.
Even with the diagnosis, Hart like so many kept pushing through.
“I was on chemotherapy for a year and a half, in treatment, and working full time.
“I didn’t have that privilege.
I had my double mastectomy in June 2014 and went back to work two weeks later.
It wasn’t an option for me.
The whole process was incredibly challenging, humbling, and scary at times.”
Even after enduring hair loss and menopause as a result of treatment, they still had their wedding day.
That was challenging but also, thank you, God, I’m no longer in that relationship.
It just wasn’t serving me anymore.”
“Any gender can get breast cancer.It’s important we talk about it.”
Hart says the disease didnt necessarily impact their sense of self, other than when they lost their hair.
That was l devastating to me, they remember.
Dreadlocks have a spiritual meaning as well, especially the place where I started them.
As a Black person, there is a particular cultural connection we have to our hair.
I had long hair, and then it was gone.
It helped me feel sexy and beautiful.
Now, six years in remission, Hart works avidly as an activist and sex educator.
Hart wants to point out the importance oferasing gender from the conversation.
Any gender can get breast cancer.
Medical institutions don’t care; we have to expand how we talk about it.
Hart also recommends preparing yourself for how others react to your diagnosis.
Its important to set boundaries.
Be mindful that other people want to become your doctor; everybody has a doctorate degree on the internet.
“I remember I had just had my birthday,” she recalls.
When they told me, it was a shock.
I think that’s why I didn’t respond.
But instead of finding out more about my diagnosis, I just left.
I thought, ‘OK, fine.
I’ll come back another day to talk about it.’
Like many women, she thought of her responsibilities before herself.
“I was a single mom.
I had two boys to look after and bills to pay,” Gapare says.
“I was so far from home.
Looking back on it, she wishes she’d communicated more and reached out for help.
“Oh, communication with my kids: I should have told them.
I thought I would go through it and they would never find out.
Kids are very intuitive, observant, and always listening.
They knew I had cancer; I thought they didn’t.”
When Gapare got too ill to hide her diagnosis, she had to tell her children and her mother.
“My oldest son internalized a lot, which caused some problems later on,” she says.
you might’t do the cancer thing alone; you have to let people in.
It helps you, but it also helps them because youre all going through it together.
The more you shut people out, the harder it is for all of you.”
The first time Gapare saw her body post-lumpectomy was a transformative experience.
I hadn’t seen it, so I thought I would get myself a really nice dress.
I was in a changing room in Liverpool when I saw myself for the first time.
I think even now, I am stronger and I’m a lot more accepting of myself.
During treatment, she made a point to feel as good about herself as possible.
I taught myself to do makeup, started experimenting with different wigs; nothing was too much for me.
I didn’t need anybody to tell me I’m beautiful.
I remember one day this guy walked up to me and said, ‘You really look beautiful.’
Without thinking, I turned around and said, ‘Yeah, I know.’
I wasn’t bragging.
Literally, I knew I looked beautiful.”
“I’m going to drive this life until the wheels come off.
I may be here for two years, 10, or 50.But I would rather live.”
(AllurecoveredC-Lashs wave-making launchin September.)
Forging a partnership with Eylure London led to international success and a2020AllureBest of Beauty Award.
“I’m going to drive this life until the wheels come off,” she says.
“I may be here for two years, 10, or 50 I don’t know.
But I would rather live.”
To anyone dealing with a diagnosis, Gapare says to be strong and ask for help.
You’ve survived cancer.
Why are you scared of skydiving?
Why are you scared of taking that holiday?
Why are you scared of asking that guy out in the office that you’ve always wanted to?
Surely it can’t be harder than going through chemotherapy.
You’ve survived cancer.Why are you scared of skydiving?
Why are you scared of taking that holiday?
Why are you scared of asking that guy out?
Surely it can’t be harder than going through chemotherapy.
After beating the disease once, it returned again at age 22.
She says shell be under active surveillance for the rest of her life.
Muniz has never really known life without cancer.
“I feel like it’s shaped who I am as a person.
It’s completely altered my perspective on life and the way I live.”
Like so many, she feels for the countless others who lost their battle with the disease.
I feel like Im strong, but I’ve felt survivors' guilt.
You think, Why me?
“[In the beginning], I really tried to hide it,” she recalls.
That’s when my songwriting style turned into a form of music therapy.
It’s the biggest compliment I could ever receive, that my music heals.
It’s all I’ve ever wanted."
As Muniz shares her journey and strength through her music, she encourages others to do the same.
“It’s so beautiful to use this obstacle you ultimately got over to help others overcome theirs.”
It is so important to get genetic testing done.
Danielle Doby
Danielle Dobyremembers the surreal nature of learning about her diagnosis.
Doby’s entire world stopped.
“My life and the lives of my parents as we knew them had been interrupted.
All my goals and dreams whittled down to one focus surviving cancer.”
Cancer changed Doby’s perspective on life.
“There is a sense of clarity that came with my cancer diagnosis.
Given the unique opportunity to stare mortality in the face, everything simplified,” she says.
Doby focused on joy to get through the journey, a tactic she advises.
She believes we should reset our expectations of post-treatment life.
We can both grieve and rejoice.
Be brave and fearful.
Say ‘survivor’ while we continue the work of healing."
“The deeper we step intoour truths, the clearer others can see themselves mirrored in our stories.”
Pain, struggle, and resilience they live in everyone, proving we are never alone."
Doby advises everyone to monitor their bodies, regardless of age or gender.
“You know your body better than anyone including your doctors,” she says.
“If something isn’t sitting well, ask questions even ones that feel unimportant.
Things shifted about a year later.
So many women in your family have passed away from breast or ovarian cancer.
We need to start doing surveillance immediately.'
That’s when my whole life changed.”
This isolation led her to seek other previvors online.
“I felt very alone and very afraid,” More says.
More became the inspiration and support she desired.
She also found her best/breast friend, Bianca Muniz, who is also featured in this story.
She acknowledges relationships do, indeed, change as a result of diagnosis and treatment.
“You’re changed overnight: you instantly see the world differently,” she explains.
“You try so hard to go back to that person you were, but you’re somebody new.
I think the sooner you embrace who you’ve become, you welcome everyone else to do so.”
“You try so hard to go back to that person you were, butyou’re somebody new.
The sooner you embrace who you’ve become, you welcome everyone else to do so.”
The end of a long-term relationship post-surgery taught her a valuable lesson.
I finally love my body, I love who I am."
But with time is self-doubt.
You’re never going to feel 100 percent ready; do everything you’re free to to prepare.
Read the rest of our Survivor’s Guide to breast cancer.