Never underestimate pink power!
With World Cancer Day upon us Feb. 4, it's the perfect time to get educated about breast cancer, a disease that affects 1 in 8 women according to the American Cancer Society.
"Breast cancer does not discriminate, but it is survivable when caught early," breast health organization Susan G. Komen Orange County member Rebecca Hultquist shared with E! News. "Being a woman and getting older is the biggest risk for getting breast cancer. It's important to know your body and to know what normal feels like for you and only you. I was only 33 when I found a lump. I had just weaned my baby from nursing, and I knew what I felt was not normal and that it was not there before."
In addition to raising awareness, it's also more than appropriate to acknowledge the thousands upon thousands of people—including Rebecca—who survived this difficult disease.
E! News is celebrating more than a dozen survivors from around the world who graciously shared some of their best advice for anyone struggling with breast cancer. While every story is unique, each individual had one thing in common: They were determined to survive.
"Something else that is important about my story is that I did not wait to see a doctor," Rebecca shared with us. "Immediately on Monday morning, I called my OB/GYN and got an appointment. Being proactive and insisting on getting prompt appointments was so key to me getting diagnosed...Don't ignore yourself. Be your own advocate."
Without further ado, get inspired with these proud survivors below.
Want to shop for a cause? See 40+ products that help support breast cancer research.
This story was originally published on Sunday, October 25, 2020 at 11 a.m. PT.