TNBC Advocacy: Building Community, Purpose, and Clean Beauty

Patient advocates Sarah Kelly and Melissa Berry discuss their experiences with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and how their diagnoses inspired them to create new paths in career, family, and community advocacy.

How has your TNBC diagnosis impacted your life, career, and advocacy work?

Melissa

Becoming the "Cancer Fashionista" happened entirely by accident. As a fashion and beauty publicist, my immediate thought after being diagnosed was, "How am I going to look and feel like myself during treatment?" I wasn't trying to look like a supermodel—I just wanted to feel confident going to client meetings, fashion shows, and media appointments.

When I searched online for resources, I couldn't find a single central hub covering wigs, lashes, and makeup with a modern aesthetic. Most products designed for cancer patients looked like items from a clinical catalog, which didn't match my personal style.

I began compiling a personal list of breast-cancer-friendly brands I loved, including SaltyGirl Beauty, AnaOno Intimates, and Violets Are Blue. Many of these companies were founded by "cancerpreneurs"—women who launched brands as a direct result of their own breast cancer experiences. Soon, friends and family started requesting the list for loved ones facing a diagnosis. A close friend who works in web design suggested turning the collection into a blog. Despite the exhaustion of chemotherapy, I launched the platform, and the "Cancer Fashionista" brand was born.

Sharing helpful resources—from comfortable bras to clean beauty products—turned out to be an integral part of my personal healing. Serving as a trusted guide for other women navigating treatment remains incredibly rewarding.

Sarah

After my diagnosis, returning to a high-stress corporate sales and marketing job working 60 hours a week no longer felt right. Having earned my MBA, I always wanted to start my own business, and my diagnosis ultimately gave me the push I needed to take that leap.

I began carefully evaluating the ingredients in the products I put on and in my body, seeking to regain a sense of agency during an unpredictable time. That search inspired my sister, Leah, and me to found SaltyGirl Beauty, a clean beauty company.

Beyond cosmetics, our mission expanded into education and empowerment workshops for individuals undergoing active treatment. Through "mini glowovers," we help patients reconnect with their confidence in the mirror. These workshops have since grown into annual retreats open to individuals across all ages and cancer stages, alongside survivorship programming in partnership with healthcare organizations.

Giving back is built directly into our business model through our nonprofit, Foundation4Love. A portion of product sales, alongside private donations, funds restorative experiences—such as spa days, weekend trips, and family outings—for adults undergoing treatment and their primary caregivers. Giving families the opportunity to step away from treatment and build joyful memories together is the most fulfilling part of our work.