3 Survivors Share Their Remission Stories

• The American Cancer Society reports that early onset breast cancer in females under 50 is on the rise.
• Three younger women share their breast cancer journeys and the actions they take to stay in remission.
• Experts explain why breast cancer is occurring in younger women and how healthy habits may help reduce the risk of recurrence.

Despite this, the ACS reports that more young women under 50 are being diagnosed with breast cancer than ever before.

“The diagnosis of breast cancer in women less than 50 is related to multiple factors such as lifestyle changes, including obesity, changed reproductive patterns such as delayed childbirth, breast density, genetic predisposition, and environmental exposures,” Ellen Early, MD, medical oncologist at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center, told Healthline.

Regardless of age, the most common type of breast cancer is estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. However, younger females are more susceptible to HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer than older females, according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Tumors associated with HER2-positive breast cancer contain high levels of the protein HER2, which results in rapid cancer cell growth and spread. These tumors are also more likely to respond to treatments targeting the HER2 protein.

Starr Mautner, MD, breast surgical oncologist at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, told Healthline that the reason why these breast cancer types are more likely in younger females is likely due to multiple factors, including:

“We know these are all risk factors for breast cancer, but there are also young women being diagnosed with breast cancer who do not have these risk factors, so there is likely an environmental exposure or component that is adding to this risk,” Mautner told Healthline.

“The combination of lifestyle changes and environmental exposures has produced a cohort effect that may help explain why women born in later decades have an increased risk of breast cancer.”

Breast cancer is often treatable when detected early. Despite this, it is a long journey through treatment and recovery.

When breast cancer is in remission, experts say that following a healthy lifestyle should be a top priority.

“Exercise is helpful for overall physical health, mental health, and heart health, and decreases breast cancer recurrence,” Mautner said.

As more young women are diagnosed with breast cancer, they may also face unique challenges.

Those with families may have to manage work-life balance and child care while navigating the physical and emotional toll of treatment, which may include chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or a combination.

“Treatment may affect all aspects of their lives,” Early said. “As primary caregivers, women are not accustomed to placing themselves first.”

Early noted that navigating early onset breast cancer may also interrupt decisions around family planning. The side effects of certain treatments may also lead to early menopause.

To learn more about the impacts of early onset breast cancer, Healthline talked to three survivors about their experiences and the healthy habits they practice that help them stay in remission.

Linder was 48 when she found a lump in her breast that led to a stage 1A breast cancer diagnosis. At the time, she was running a preschool and raising two daughters.

After undergoing a lumpectomy and radiation, she realized she had to prioritize herself.

“So, in came what I liked to call ‘The Cancer Coupon.’ If I was going to need a year to get healthy so I could be around for my family and business, I was going to use that coupon to ask for help, take some time for me, and really focus on getting cured,” Lindner said.

Today, she continues to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

“I don’t eat a lot of processed foods or foods with high sugar or corn syrup and mostly it’s just important to keep an active lifestyle,” she said.

“[It’s] also about living your best life! Spending time with friends, spending time with family, working on things you love, and exploring the world. For me, travel adds to my mental and physical well-being.”

Masterson was 28, newly married, and working as a pediatric nurse when she felt an unusual pain under her armpit. After an ultrasound, she was diagnosed with stage 4 invasive ductal carcinoma.

Before starting treatment, which included chemotherapy, double mastectomy, liver ablation, and radiation, she froze her eggs. Now cancer-free and the mother of a baby girl through surrogacy, she is grateful for fertility preservation.

“It’s because of modern medicine and advancement in research and technology that all of this is even possible,” she said. “In the middle of a cancer diagnosis, when so much feels out of your control, this can be one thing that helps protect your future and gives you hope for life after treatment.”

In addition to eating healthy and staying active, cultivating her personal relationships helps her maintain a positive mindset.

“My healthiest habit is honestly stepping away from social media and focusing on what’s right in front of me. Building friendships in person, having meaningful conversations, and experiencing life through my own lens rather than a screen,” said Rico Masterson.

“[Because] so many parts of [my life] were once taken away from me, I now make it a point to live life fully. That’s the best way to keep your mind and body in remission after cancer.”

Socorro was 33, an assistant principal, and a mother of four when she discovered a lump in her breast that she initially dismissed as a postpartum change due to nursing.

At her one-year checkup, she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, and three years later, continues to take medication and get routine scans.

“They’re a constant reminder of what I’ve been through, but also a reassurance that I’m still here, still fighting, and still being cared for,” she said.

Socorro cherishes the people closest to her and recently renewed her vows with her husband. She also channels her energy into advocacy and fundraising for cancer research.

“I’ve chosen to share my story, even the vulnerable parts, because I believe stories bring change,” she said. “I support fundraising events, connect with women going through treatment, and use my platform to keep breast cancer research and awareness at the forefront.”

For Socorro, thriving after cancer means living each day with intention.

“Nourishing my body with good food, staying active, and prioritizing rest. Just as important, I hold on to gratitude and keep my faith at the center of everything. That’s how I continue to thrive, even after cancer,” she said.