Miranda McKeon's Women's Empowerment Mission
- Five years after being diagnosed with stage 3 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer at age 19, actress Miranda McKeon says survivorship is about embracing who you’ve become rather than trying to return to your pre-cancer self.
- The Pink 365 podcast host has expanded her advocacy into women’s health, public speaking, and media, encouraging women to support one another and recognize that they are defined by far more than a cancer diagnosis.
- McKeon openly discusses medically induced menopause, fertility concerns, dating after cancer, and sexual wellness, urging women to talk with their healthcare teams instead of suffering in silence.
- Although posting vulnerable content can feel uncomfortable, McKeon says hearing from women who sought screenings or felt better prepared to support loved ones makes every “vulnerability hangover” worthwhile.
- McKeon says survivorship brings ongoing emotional and physical challenges long after treatment ends, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion while adjusting to a new outlook on life.
By sharing how she navigates medical menopause, dating after cancer, fertility uncertainty — and other often-overlooked challenges after breast cancer — McKeon continuously pushes forward, without losing her spark. “It is my duty to help the girls,” the passionate Pink 365 podcast host tells SurvivorNet.
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Before starting chemotherapy, McKeon chose to freeze her eggs, and also went through egg retrieval surgery, as cancer treatment can affect your fertility.
Women Supporting Women
When asked how she got through the most difficult days, McKeon did not hesitate to answer.
“My mom literally did everything for me,” McKeon proudly recalls, explaining that Anne McKeon dropped her life on the east coast to come be with her. Despite what Miranda was going through with her health, it was important for her to experience some sort of normalcy on campus, so her mother lived nearby. “She was there whenever I wanted.”
Now McKeon is paying it forward, encouraging women — survivors or not — to support one another, and embrace the beauty and individuality of their multi-layered selves.
“There should be so many more facets to just defining yourself by one thing. I think, you know, women contain multitudes. So it’s nice to let all of those things interplay,” McKeon shares, explaining that she has expanded from cancer advocacy into women’s health media, entrepreneurship and public speaking.
After launching her new project last October, the budding powerhouse (who recently teamed up with pioneer journalist and breast cancer survivor Katie Couric for her HORMONAL! documentary) has plans to cover everything from health to finances and female empowerment in this latest iteration of her branding.
‘Give Yourself Permission to Become Someone New’
McKeon maintains that she is not letting cancer overpower her identity. Instead, she is using the strenuous chapter as a launching pad into a fearless new era of her life, taking all the bonuses that it has brought, which includes being able to guide others through tough times.
“Cancer changes you, and instead of trying to become your ‘old self,’ you have to give yourself permission to become someone new. That can actually be a really beautiful thing.”
“I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that survivorship isn’t about getting back to who you were before cancer. For a long time, I thought that was the goal — that eventually I’d return to my old life. But that’s not really what happens.”
‘Vulnerability Hangovers’ Are ‘Totally Worth It’
Posting a lot of candid videos as she has navigated the more challenging impact from this disease, McKeon is not afraid to get deep on her social media feed, but like many of us, admits she can have a little bit of a ‘vulnerability’ moment afterwards.
“Anytime I post a video, a lot of the times, like, the ones [SurvivorNet] picks up, it’s because they are making real impact—and I get incredible DMs (direct messages) from women, talking about going to get their scans, or stuff like that. And that always makes everything I do—and all of the ‘vulnerability hangovers’ that I have for posting—totally worth it.”
McKeon describes the most meaningful exchanges, which, she says, are a lot of times from the sister or daughter of the person diagnosed with cancer, and how “binge-watching” McKeon’s videos have helped them process, with some saying they feel “much better equipped to handling the situation” with their loved one, and as one person voice it, overall, “10 times better.”
That vulnerability that McKeon sometimes feels is “worth it,” she says, if even one woman can catch her cancer early or help her friend or family member with McKeon’s insight, which is certainly wise beyond her years. As with other survivors, they did not choose this path, but making the most of it is what counts, while not losing sight of other dreams and goals associated with the person “pre-cancer.”
Sexual Health After Cancer: Women Should Not ‘Suffer In Silence’
Navigating a life post-cancer, especially this young and while still on hormone treatment, McKeon also notes the overlooked reality of being thrust into medically-induced menopause. No one really prepared her for symptoms like brain fog, hot flashes and other menopause-related side effects, which she says have taken years for her to fully understand.
RELATED: Miranda McKeon, 22, Is Embracing Medically Induced Menopause to Keep Her Breast Cancer at Bay
She explains living with medically induced menopause through Lupron and hormone therapy, balancing concerns about bone health, fertility, and quality of life while using treatments like localized estrogen and non-hormonal medications to manage symptoms.
“For hot flashes, I take Effexor (venlafaxine). It’s technically an antidepressant, but research has shown it can also reduce hot flashes, and it’s definitely helped me.”
“I don’t really struggle with joint pain anymore, but I know many women find that Claritin helps with bone and joint pain associated with treatment,” she adds.
“Another huge topic is sexual wellness. I personally use localized vaginal estrogen, and current evidence shows it’s safe for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer because it doesn’t significantly increase systemic estrogen levels. Honestly, it’s been life-changing. I really believe more women should know about it because so many are suffering in silence.
Dating After Teen Cancer
McKeon says she is grateful to be in a “supportive” relationship, with a boyfriend who “loves everything I’m doing,” but acknowledges how daunting it was to date after going through cancer, especially so young.
“When I was dating, I constantly worried about how I would be perceived,” McKeon shares. “I’d think, ‘If someone looks at my Instagram, the first thing they’ll see is my cancer story. Then they’ll see me talking about sex positivity after cancer.’ I worried it would scare people away,” she says.
RELATED: ‘I Did a Thing!’: 19-Year-Old Actress Miranda McKeon Shaves Her Head Before Final Round of Chemo
“Now I’m in a supportive relationship, and I don’t have those fears anymore because my boyfriend loves everything I’m doing. But dating after cancer is a huge issue for young women. Many are single, navigating treatment, trying to figure out intimacy again, or realizing their relationships aren’t surviving the diagnosis.”
“Those conversations deserve much more attention than they currently receive,” she adds.
‘The Trash Will Take Itself Out’
“I had to constantly remind myself that the right person would love me for exactly who I am. I realized I was making decisions based on the imaginary opinions of people I hadn’t even met yet.”
McKeon said she was “limiting” herself, by worrying “what some hypothetical future partner might think. That doesn’t serve anyone.”
“While it may feel like cancer is filtering people out of your life, that’s actually a good thing.”
“You should become exactly who you want to be and let the wrong people remove themselves,” she urges. “The trash really does take itself out.”
Instead of worrying about whether someone wants you, McKeon says “ask yourself what you’re looking for. Get clear about what you want instead of focusing on everyone who isn’t right for you.”
McKeon is a firm believer that women should approach people they are interested in instead of the more traditional, old fashioned route of “waiting to be chosen.”
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“That’s actually how I met my boyfriend. I think we sometimes give away too much power when we wait for someone else to decide whether we’re worthy.”
“There’s something really empowering about putting yourself out there, even if it means getting rejected sometimes,” she continues.
‘Sexual Wellness Is My Duty’
When speaking with survivors of all ages, it makes McKeon “so sad” that many women “aren’t comfortable enough talking about sexual wellness with their oncologist.”
“Thousands and thousands of thousands of women who are having bad sex. And they don’t know what to say about it. And then it could be awkward with a partner. There’s so many layers of like shame to it.”
SN & You: Discussing Sex and Sexuality After Cancer
SurvivorNet previously spoke with Dr. Yuan Yuan, breast medical oncologist and medical director for breast cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and asked how they tackle the topic of sexual health with breast cancer patients.
“I think it’s important,” she says on the overall subject, but explains that during the visit with a provider, you only have so much time. “You’re focused on chemo side effects, labs, imaging, you know, a lot of things … it’s taken up all the time,” Dr. Yuan Yuan explains. “So sex has become being pushed to the corner.”
She notes that this lands more in the area of survivorship or gynecology. Ultimately, Dr. Yuan Yuan says that there should be a calling for more gynecologists in that area, doctors who are specifically trained in sexual health.
Therefore, care should be more comprehensive — which is why there are survivors like McKeon moving further into the peer support space to make a difference.
And as for any potential naysayers who may be uncomfortable with how much McKeon puts herself out there on social media, she tries to block it out of her head. “I’m like, honestly, this is my duty. [To] help the girls. My following is literally 96% women. So, if the 4% have to be uncomfortable — that’s literally none of my business at all. And they should be listening to these conversations, too, by the way.”
Fertility: When It’s Time, We’ll Open That Up
Fertility uncertainty remains one of the lingering realities of survivorship for younger women.
“I have hope that I’ll be able to have kids naturally, but — that’s not a definite, and… also, yeah, I don’t love that. I really put it out of my brain, honestly.”
However, McKeon shares that she had “a lot of anxiety about it when I was right out of treatment.”
“And then things quieted a little bit, and I feel like I’m not so much, like, shoving it down and, like, packing it away, rather, like, and, like, putting it on the shelf, and I’m, like, I’m not gonna, you know, manifest fertility in my body. So, when it’s time to pull that box off, Yeah. We’ll open that up.”
“I think giving yourself grace during [survivorship] is one of the most important things you can do.”
In the meantime, Miranda McKeon has plans, and gauging by her trajectory, there are many more projects and meaningful collaborations to come.
“Breast cancer advocacy will always be part of who I am because it changed my life forever.”
She points out the elated feelings that people experience when treatment is over, which, “of course, is wonderful. But survivorship is its own journey. You’re still processing everything you’ve experienced. You’re adjusting to a different body, a different relationship with your health, and often a completely different outlook on life.”
“It’s not necessarily easier — it’s just different,” McKeon concludes. “I think giving yourself grace during that transition is one of the most important things you can do.”
Learning More About Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is used for hormone receptor-positive cancers like McKeon’s. 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.
Lupron (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.
RELATED: Actress Olivia Munn, 45, Says Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer Is ‘Sometimes Exhausting’
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.
Navigating Breast Cancer & Survivorship
“Once a patient has finished his or her active therapy for breast cancer, we will often refer to that time as breast cancer survivorship,” Dr. Erica Mayer, a breast cancer medical oncologist at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, previously told SurvivorNet.
“This is a time when patients are still being actively monitored by their treatment team, not only to ensure that they remain healthy and cancer-free in the years ahead, but also to make sure that they have recovered from any side effects of their initial treatment, and that they are pursuing healthy behaviors for example, getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and keeping up with all their other routine medical care.”
Follow Your Treatment Guidelines.
“The best way to reduce your risk of recurrence with breast cancer is to follow treatment guidelines and complete the course of treatment that’s given,” says Dr. Elisa Port, a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at Mount Sinai, to SurvivorNet.
“So the challenge is to work with every individual person to make sure we give her the best chance of getting through these treatments and enjoying the benefits of these treatments, which is the lowest rate of cancer coming back,” Port says.
Limit Alcohol.
Dr. Port says the other lifestyle factor that may increase one’s risk of breast cancer recurrence is heavy alcohol intake.
Eat a Healthy Diet and Exercise.
While exercise is well known for supporting weight loss, research shows it may also play a meaningful role in lowering breast cancer risk. Our experts explain that excess weight can create chronic inflammation in the body, and fat cells can produce estrogen — a hormone that, when present at high levels over a woman’s lifetime, can raise the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
Physical activity doesn’t have to be extreme or strenuous to be beneficial. A light walk can also suffice.
For many patients, a cancer diagnosis can become a catalyst to prioritize their health and build sustainable habits that support their well‑being.
Support Through Breast Cancer Survivorship
For women needing a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis and what comes after, our SurvivorNet experts share these tips:
- Let your family and close friends know, and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support, but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day. Many survivors turn to a creative outlet like poetry, song-writing, playing guitar or painting. Whatever interested you most as a child, do that. Sometimes that spark will lead you to your next chapter.
- Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What are the potential physical and mental side effects of my cancer treatment?
- What can I do if I am feeling self conscious or frustrated about changes to my body?
- What sort of hormonal changes will I go through?
- Will I be able to get pregnant after cancer treatment?
- What can I do now to protect my fertility?
- What kind of products can I use to help improve my sex life?
- Is there anything my partner should be aware of before we are intimate?
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