Meet community member Brookyn! You might recognize Brooklyn from our website! Brooklyn modeled for us for our recent molded bra shoot but she been a part of the AnaOno community for some time now! Read along to hear all about Brookyln's breast cancer story, her Never Alone experience and much more!
What was your diagnosis?
"I was diagnosed on March 9, 2020 with IDC Stage 1b."
Tell us a bit about your current stage of diagnosis.
"I am a fighter."
What and when was your treatment/surgery?
"I started my cancer treatment with my double mastectomy in 2020 and over the next 9 months I completed 4 months of chemotherapy, breast implant reconstruction, and 28 rounds of radiation."
What's your passion?
"Teaching others how to advocate for themselves."
What makes you happiest?
"Seeing others especially young adults get proactive with their breast health."
What do you do to feel confident and embrace your body?
"I spend time looking at myself in truest form out of the shower, appreciating every scar, and how strong my body is for what it got me through."
What does "Never Alone" mean to you?
"As often as I may feel like something is only happening to me, it realizing it isn't. Someone else is going through exactly what I'm going through and they feel what I feel. This community has and will be there for each other in whatever way we need and that has made me feel never alone."
Which is your favorite AnaOno bra? Why?
"The Delilah Soft Cup Bra! It's sexy, can give full coverage, but can also be worn as a cute bralette with high waisted jeans. I find it so versatile and it is SO soft and incredibly comfortable."
If you were to give advice to someone diagnosed with breast cancer or having a preventative surgery, what would you say?
"It is ok to have an occasional pity party and cry it out. What you are about to go through will be life changing in so many ways and change along with the unknown can be so scary. Bottling up emotions is a recipe for disaster, so I encourage you to get a good cry out and take it one day at a time, but you can do this and your body will continue to show up for you and demonstrate how strong it is."
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
"I have a twin sister who is a previvor! She found out she was BRCA2+ first which encouraged me to seek testing and begin annual screening."
What's your guilty pleasure?
"With food, it is 100% corndogs! With tv, I love HGTV and could watch it 24/7."
