Embracing Humor and Gratitude While Navigating Breast Cancer
- “Anne with an E” actress Miranda McKeon, 23, joked in an Instagram Story about a possible milestone she may experience down the road: marriage. While she questioned if tying the knot is truly in her future, she undoubtedly expressed a great deal of gratitude for where she is in life and as a stage 3 breast cancer patient.
- McKeon was diagnosed with stage 3 hormone-positive breast cancer at just 19 years old. This type of cancer needs the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone to grow and thrive. To combat this, hormone therapy helps lower a patient’s estrogen levels, slowing the growth of the cancer or preventing it from returning.
- A side effect of hormone therapy is that it blocks or suppresses essential fertility hormones and may prevent a woman from getting pregnant. This infertility may be temporary or permanent, depending on the type and length of treatment. McKeon froze her eggs in case she wants to pursue motherhood in the future.
- Gratitude means being thankful for what you have and showing appreciation for it. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, several studies have indicated that learning to live with gratitude can lead to more happiness and less stress.
- One way to exercise gratitude is to take time to think about things you appreciate every day. One way to exercise gratitude in your life is to write down those things in a journal.
In a recent Instagram story, McKeon appeared makeup-free in a soft pink blouse. Her caption, stamped across the screen, was equal parts playful and profound:
Read MoreBeneath the humor lies something deeper. For McKeon—and for many cancer patients—gratitude becomes more than a concept. It’s a daily practice, a grounding force, and a way to reclaim joy in the midst of uncertainty. SurvivorNet has heard from countless survivors who say their cancer journeys awakened a profound appreciation for life, relationships, and even the smallest moments.
McKeon’s lighthearted post is a reminder that gratitude doesn’t have to be solemn—it can be playful, personal, and deeply healing. Whether it’s imagining a future wedding or simply savoring the present, she continues to show that living with cancer doesn’t mean putting life on hold. It means living with intention.
The Power of Gratitude: How Cancer Survivors Find Strength in Appreciation
Many cancer survivors who’ve shared their journeys with SurvivorNet speak not only of resilience, but of gratitude. In the face of life-altering diagnoses and grueling treatments, they consistently point to the people, moments, and simple joys that bring light into their lives.
Defined as the practice of recognizing and appreciating what we have, gratitude can be a powerful mindset for those navigating the uncertainty of cancer. Experts interviewed by SurvivorNet encourage both patients and their loved ones to embrace gratitude as a tool for emotional well-being and mental strength.
WATCH: Finding gratitude and its impact on your well-being.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, has seen firsthand how this mindset can transform the treatment experience.
“The patients who do well with cancer live life with gratitude—not for the disease itself, but for the clarity it brings,” he explains.
“They’re grateful for the opportunity to understand that life is finite, and that every moment matters.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, multiple studies show that cultivating gratitude can lead to increased happiness and reduced stress—two critical factors in supporting mental health during treatment.
Practicing gratitude doesn’t require grand gestures. It can be as simple as pausing each day to reflect on what brings you joy or jotting down a few things you’re thankful for in a journal. These small acts can help reframe even the most difficult days, offering a sense of control, hope, and emotional grounding.
Helping Patients Cope with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Miranda’s Cancer Journey Started at a Young Age
McKeon was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at 19.
Stage three breast cancer typically refers to a relatively large tumor that may have invaded nearby skin or muscle tissue. It may also mean that lymph nodes near your breast and/or under your armpit are involved. In most cases, stage three breast cancers will need chemotherapy. If the cancer is also hormone receptor-positive, aggressive hormonal therapy may be offered as well.
WATCH: Understanding Stage 3 Breast Cancer
She said a small lump “the size of a jellybean” in her breast initially caught her attention.
“I stepped away into the bathroom. I peed, fixed my hair, and performed the classic boob scoop, a typical mid-party practice,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “I brushed across a lump that was definitely not there before. It was the size of a jellybean but powerful enough to sink my stomach and set off emergency sirens in my head.”
After going to see her doctor about it, she underwent a mammogram, which screens for breast cancer. She also underwent a biopsy and an ultrasound. The tests confirmed her diagnosis of stage 3 hormone-positive breast cancer in June 2021. Interestingly, the young actress said she did not have a family history of the disease.
“I spent most of that time confused and scared, but mostly in shock,” she told Coping magazine. Most of us go through life believing that we are untouchable. It’s a crazy feeling when the spinner lands on you.”
After chemotherapy, she underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction, followed by 25 rounds of radiation.
“I never would have anticipated that going through cancer treatment would feel like working five full-time jobs at once!” she said.
WATCH: When to consider a mastectomy?
A mastectomy is the removal of the entire breast during surgery. There are several factors to weigh when considering a mastectomy, such as whether breast-conserving surgery (or lumpectomy) is possible. Your doctor will evaluate the size and features of your tumor and your family history to make a recommendation.
In some cases, a double mastectomy is a viable treatment option. During this procedure, both breasts are removed to get rid of cancer. A double mastectomy may also be performed as a preventative measure for women who are at a very high risk of developing breast cancer.
Miranda’s Treatment Spawned Early Menopause
McKeon’s breast cancer is hormone-receptive, meaning it needs the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone to grow and thrive. To combat this, doctors may want to lower a patient’s estrogen levels to help slow the growth of the cancer or prevent it from returning.
The treatment McKeon is taking, Lupron (generic name leuprolide), is a hormone therapy shot that aims to reduce her estrogen levels so her cancer does not grow.
“This shot is what keeps me in medically induced menopause. What it does is quiet the ovaries…Lupron keeps them quiet like a little baby and lets the chemotherapy pass over without doing a ton of damage,” McKeon explained.
WATCH: Understanding hormone therapy for breast cancer.
Lupron (generic name leuprorelin) is a type of hormone therapy for breast cancer. It acts as an ovarian suppression drug that stops the ovaries from making the hormone estrogen.
Lupron is usually given by injection into a muscle once a month or every three to six months. The length of treatment varies, and your doctor can determine that information.
Some known side effects of Lupron may include tiredness or fatigue, hot flashes, spotting, and muscle or joint pain.
Hormone therapy is used for hormone receptor-positive cancers. When a tumor is “hormone receptor-positive,” it means tests reveal the cancer is positive for either the estrogen and/or progesterone receptor. Cancers of this type need estrogen and/or progesterone to grow.
Her treatment helped her reach remission, though she continues treatment to offset recurrence.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are in the middle of a cancer journey and are looking to improve your emotional health, consider what you’re grateful for. To begin, ask yourself the following questions to kickstart your journey to achieve gratitude.
- What can I do if I’m struggling to be thankful for what I have in my life?
- Are there local resources for people wishing to improve their mental health?
- What else can I do to help reduce my stress level during my cancer journey?
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ANSWER QUESTIONS
