Find essential words of wisdom, and comfort in these breast cancer quotes from thrivers and others
No one should ever have to experience breast cancer—not the fear, the pain, or the uncertainty of what course the disease will take. But amidst the dark moments, many people with the disease find themselves transformed. Some learn to let go of things they can’t control. Others develop a new perspective about who and what is most important to them. Many come to appreciate the decades of research and scientific breakthroughs that led to lifesaving treatments.
If you’ve just been diagnosed, are living with breast cancer, or finished treatment, let these words of encouragement and determination lift your spirit. If you’re looking for a short positive message for a cancer patient in your life, one of these quotes might be just right.
And if you’re fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and want to support research, you can find other resources here.
Why words of encouragement matter in breast cancer
A breast cancer diagnosis changes everything in an instant. It can create uncertainty, fear, and an overwhelming sense of vulnerability not only for the person who is diagnosed but also for their family, friends, and loved ones. In those early moments, throughout treatment, and into survivorship, supportive words can be very meaningful.
Whether it’s a short message in a card from a friend or a powerful quote from someone who’s been through it, supportive words and breast cancer quotes can help provide comfort.
People turn to quotes or other people’s stories and short messages for many reasons. Some want to share something thoughtful with a loved one starting treatment. Others are building care packages or searching for just the right message to include in a card, social media post, or community awareness campaign. No matter how they’re used, these words can offer connection and hope.
Breast cancer quotes about survivorship
“Cancer survivors are blessed with two lives. There is your life before cancer, and your life after. I am here to tell you your second life is going to be so much better than the first.”
“The experience of a cancer diagnosis will live in me. It was difficult. It was also amazing. Amazing in that you are very aware of your body, of the love that’s around you, of your capability, all sorts of things.”
“Cancer gave me a reason to be the best version of myself, and that’s what I’ve done. You realize that fear can either cripple you or it can motivate you, and it had been crippling me. And I decided to change it, and let that fear be motivating.”
“My cancer diagnosis was the permission slip I never needed to start being more intentional with my life and time. I have softened into my hard edges. I spent so many years shaming and picking apart my body, trying to improve and perfect it. Now I stand in awe of what my body is capable of—its resilience, and everything else I had taken for granted.”
“Surviving breast cancer redefined who and how I am, although I’m not sure I’d recommend it. Until then, I’d spent a lifetime being a caretaker for everyone around me. From then, I started to put myself first. I had voices at the back of my head telling me whatever I did wasn’t good enough. Now, finally, I’ve silenced them.”
Breast cancer quotes about going through treatment
“When I first was diagnosed, my gut reaction was, ‘This is a terrible thing.’ But as my journey has progressed, I feel so blessed because I’ve experienced the most incredible outpouring of love you can imagine.”
“Many, many years ago, I was on a boat with my husband. I was swimming in the water. He came to the bow of the boat and he said, ‘Jules, I don’t want you to panic, but there’s a shark in the water, so you need to come back.’ And I was far away from the boat. And so, I just saw the ladder and I started swimming toward it, and I made the decision not to look around me at all. I was just going to stay looking at the ladder. And that very much applied to how I got through my cancer adventure—was sort of looking at the ladder. Just let’s get this done, let’s get there.”
Metastatic breast cancer quotes
“I couldn’t change my metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, but I could control my mindset. There might not be a cure (yet!), but there is always hope. Today, tomorrow, and every day after. I trust in research and new treatments, and I trust in the timing of my life.”
“I wish I could say I’m fearless, that each time I have a scan or blood draw I’m not anxious or stressed. But I’m getting brave. Once you’re faced with the fear of death, or not knowing what tomorrow brings, you’re like, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ I’m working on not allowing fear to be my primary driving factor and living by the lessons I’ve learned so far: Keep breathing. Being mindful. Being grateful. Believing that the universe has a plan for me that is better than the one I could ever imagine.”
“Even with the best possible scans, my cancer is still considered incurable—although I live with tremendous hope that may change one day. The word ‘incurable’ initially petrified me because we are often led to believe cancer patients are either curable or terminal. But incurable disease can still be treatable, and there exists a third lane in between cured and terminal that is full of hope, meaning, and purpose. That’s the lane I’m in, one in which I’m thriving and living my best life—not only in spite of metastatic breast cancer, but also because of it.
“I’m now 59 with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. I still don’t have a partner, but I’ve fallen desperately in love with life. Exquisite beauty emerges everywhere: my cat on my lap, a cashier extending an unexpected smile, sunlight skipping across a lake. I use each day to soak up the world’s splendor. ‘Not yet,’ I whisper to the heavens. ‘I love it here.'”
Quotes about breast cancer research, progress, and hope
“When I think about where we were with breast cancer 30 years ago and where we are now, the advances have just been remarkable: better diagnostics, better medical therapy, better surgical therapy, better radiation therapy, and most important, a better understanding of the disease. The vast majority if not all of these significant advances have involved one or more BCRF investigators.”
—BCRF Founding Scientific Director Dr. Larry Norton
“We are really making a lot of progress in research, and treatment is very different today than it was even 10 years ago. It’s hard to predict where it will be 10 years from now, but I think breast cancer is going to be one of the first cancers where we’re going to be able to say that we’ve virtually eliminated mortality.”
—BCRF investigator Dr. Eric Winer
How short messages can make a big difference for cancer patients
When someone is facing breast cancer—whether it’s a new diagnosis, ongoing treatment, or survivorship—words can mean a lot. A simple message can remind someone they’re not alone. A shared quote can offer comfort when the right words are hard to find.
The quotes in this article aren’t just phrases—they’re messages of support and hope from one heart to another. They come from people who’ve lived it, supported loved ones through breast cancer, or stood up to raise awareness and change the future through research.
If someone you care about is going through breast cancer, don’t underestimate the power of reaching out. Send a message with a quote. Let them know you’re thinking of them. And if you’re the one facing a breast cancer diagnosis, we hope these words offer comfort or help you feel understood.
