The Journey Behind Creating This Book and My Inspirations

So , you may be wondering why I decided to do this book in the midst of treatment.

A minimalist illustration depicting a graceful line drawing of a human figure intertwined with delicate floral elements, set against a soft, pastel background.

Well, after being told I had breast cancer, I often found myself feeling incredibly alone and frightened about what lay ahead, like most people who are diagnosed. The thought of my future loomed large and uncertain, especially since I didn’t know any other women my age who were going through this. It felt as if there was no possibility of a fulfilling life after receiving a cancer diagnosis or living with the illness itself. In January, just as I was about to start chemotherapy, I received an unexpected message on social media. It was from Katie, a fellow survivor who has become a dear friend. She was a year younger than I was and was already navigating her own chemotherapy treatments.

We decided to meet in person, and that day turned into an all-encompassing conversation where we explored our diagnoses in depth, discussing the fears and negative stories that often overshadowed our experiences with cancer. Both of us emerged from our conversations feeling a heavy weight of hopelessness, particularly because we were surrounded by a lack of positive stories. We had never encountered anyone who had successfully moved on to live vibrant, happy lives after cancer, had children, or had reclaimed optimism after their diagnosis. Instead, we were inundated with stories filled with worry and anxiety from online support groups—places where other women expressed their fears but rarely shared uplifting tales of survival and healing. Additionally, the representation of cancer in movies and television seldom highlights the triumph and joy that could follow a diagnosis, fueling our doubts even further. Feeling a spark of determination, I resolved to change that narrative. I wanted to seek out and connect with other women like Katie and me, not just for my own peace of mind, but also for her and for anyone else fighting the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

My mission became clear: I needed to create a community where we could uplift each other, share our stories of resilience, and inspire hope for a brighter future.

Without Katie and her reaching out to me on Instagram, this book wouldn't exist, so thank you for sliding into those DMs. To anyone out there who feels alone and wants to reach out to a fellow breast cancer thriver, do it! We are always on the other end of the phone, happy to talk to you!

Holly X