At 22, Paige More (The Breasties) got a preventative double mastectomy before ever being diagnosed with cancer. At the time, she was working as a producer for Good Morning America and felt on top of the world, but she had just discovered she carried the BRCA 1 gene mutation that indicates a higher risk for developing breast, ovarian, and other types of cancer. While seeking resources, support, and guidance online, she was discouraged to find only stories of nightmare experiences and worst-case scenarios.
But Paige’s experience was different from those stories. After her surgery, she felt strong and sexy, so she started sharing her story on Instagram and co-founded a hopeful, empowering community for other “previvors” and women affected by breast and gynecological cancers. This community, called The Breasties, is a nonprofit organization that hosts events and retreats and offers a positive alternative to the nightmarish stories for others facing similar situations. The Breasties is on a mission to increase access to reliable information, provide a safe and empowering community, and help women feel less alone.
In this episode, Paige explains how sharing your story, giving yourself permission to be yourself, and showing up imperfectly but authentically are the keys to making an impact. Most importantly, when we work together in community, we have the power to make an even bigger difference.
Guest: Paige More, co-founder of The Breasties
Follow @paige_previvor and @the_breasties on Instagram and visit their site at thebreasties.org
