Three years ago this summer, I had just finished my 16th round of chemo and was preparing for my double mastectomy. Having been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 35 years old during the height of the pandemic, I experienced immense isolation and fear. But in The Breasties, a nonprofit organization supporting survivors, previvors, stage 4 thrivers, and caregivers impacted by breast and gynecologic cancers, I discovered much-needed community. While separated by quarantine and distance, I was able to connect virtually with individuals whose stories reflected my own and whose honesty and perseverance brought me hope.
Last year I attended Camp Breastie. It was my first in-person Breastie event and my first time meeting survivors in real life whose stories I identified with. These connections were healing and transformational. I am grateful that I was able to return to camp this summer, and I am still beaming from the energy and warmth that is Camp Breastie.
I had the privilege of attending sleepaway camps from the time I was 8 years old. From Jewish summer camps, including Alonim, Ramah, and Sabra, to later twirling at Brant Lake Dance Camp in the lush green Adirondack Mountains, I relished summers. Memories remain of crackling fires, guitar-led singalongs, cool blue lakes, and lifelong friendships ignited at camp.
When I heard that The Breasties was relaunching Camp Breastie, a program that had been started before the COVID-19 pandemic but was paused for several years due to COVID, I knew I had to participate. During my first year of treatment, I was living in Tucson and had met only one other patient who, like me, was in their 30s. On more than one occasion, I was told by staff at my oncologist’s office and hospital where I could sit and wait—presumably for my mother or grandmother in treatment. And more times than I wish to count, I was told I was “too young for cancer.”
The reality is that the rate of new cancer diagnoses in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) between the ages of 15 and 39 has increased over the past decade. The National Cancer Institute estimates that nearly 85,000 AYAs will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024. And, as was shared in an article I coauthored with clinical psychologist and researcher Rina Fox that was published during AYA Awareness Week, “As the number of AYA cancer cases increases each year, so does the need for access to information, programs, and communities designed to address the specific needs and challenges AYA survivors face.”
While The Breasties does not specifically target the AYA community, there are many Breasties who are young adults and/or were diagnosed with cancer (or discovered they had a genetic predisposition for cancer) in their 20s and 30s. Meeting Breasties via virtual programming during the pandemic, I was thankful to get to know individuals close to my age who had experienced treatment and surgeries similar to what I had received. Although I am not shy and enjoy connecting with strangers (especially while traveling), I was nervous about attending Camp Breastie—not knowing anyone except the friends I had made online. For that reason, coupled with my love of camp and having served as a camp counselor while in college, I raised my hand to serve as a cabin leader at Camp Breastie 2023. This summer, I was gleeful to once again be a cabin leader and also join the camp leadership committee.
Having worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years, I have yet to encounter another organization that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) like The Breasties. The focus on inclusion and the belief that every story matters permeated the camp atmosphere. We were all encouraged to talk to individuals we had never met, seek out those who appeared to be alone at a meal or event, and actively listen when hearing about each other’s experiences with cancer. Nearly 600 Breasties came together—in tears and joy—embodying The Breastie’s motto, ‘Worst Club, Best Members.’
The power of community is something I learned and felt during my upbringing in the Southern Arizona Jewish and broader Tucson communities. From singing songs at Kabbalat Shabbats to volunteering for Project Isaiah to witnessing the outpouring of love after the fatal accident that took my father and his wife, I know and embrace the energy generated by individuals coming together.
This year’s camp theme was Breastie Magic, emphasizing the power of community and the joy created by authentic connections. The love, energy, and light at camp were palpable. To go from being isolated at home, bald, recovering from chemo, and preparing for multiple surgeries less than three years ago to dancing the night away under glimmering stars in community was truly magic.
Lindsey Baker, former COO of Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, is a cancer survivor, patient advocate, and nonprofit consultant. Lindsey holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BA in psychology and sociology from Emory University. Lindsey can be reached at lrbakerconsulting@gmail.com.
