Felicia Reed, 49, realizes real dreams for several women living with a form of metastatic breast cancer. Her team helps shape what she calls “inherited shots” for the women she photographs. It started as a discount project. Reed had left her job as a breast imaging technician to launch this initiative. But that means even more now that she herself is a survivor of breast cancer.
Reed was affected by breast cancer early in life
Reed says that her dance with breast cancer started when she was only 18 years old. “My mother, who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease, lost her battle at the age of 40,” said Reed.
But the pain of this kind of loss has revisited his family. When his younger sister was diagnosed with the same aggressive form of breast cancer. It was the first glamor Shot Reed made for a woman living with breast cancer. “It brought him such joy,” said Reed. Unfortunately, she died at 38.
“Then, at 33, my older sister was also diagnosed, but miraculously, she continues to fight her own battle,” added the photographer.
His diagnosis, his own story
“Our family history was a brutal reminder of the importance of early detection and to be vigilant,” explains Reed. “I have always been proactive about my health, especially with regard to breast cancer.”
Reed, who was a breast imaging technology making mammograms before she became a successful photographer, says: “I started to obtain mammography at 30 and I followed them religiously for almost 15 years. It went from routine to reality in November 2021. “I received an unexpected reminder for additional images and, of course, anxiety,” says Reed. Soon.
“The irony was that I had spent more than 15 years working in breast imaging and that I was now on the other side of the examination table,” adds Reed.
Black women and breast cancer by figures
As breast cancer rates decrease overall, the rates of aggressive and invasive breast cancer in black and brown women continue to increase, depending on the Search Research Foundation (BCRF). According to the BCRF, in 2025, more than 319,750 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 59,080 new cases of in situ canal carcinoma (also known as stadium breast cancer) will be diagnosed in women in the United States. Although there has been an overall drop of 44% of breast cancer deaths since 1989 – thanks to awareness -raising gains, previous diagnoses and more effective treatments – there is a persistent mortality gap between black and white women.
Diagnosis and treatment of Reed
“My diagnosis was an invasive canal carcinoma, stage 1, triple positive – considered one of the most manageable forms of breast cancer,” explains Reed. “I was given the option of 12 weeks of chemotherapy, and if I chose a mastectomy, I could avoid radiation.” The photographer has chosen this form of treatment and has undergone five surgeries to date.
“Although I cannot control my diagnosis, I could control my attitude and my approach in this difficult trip.”
The mother, the woman and the sister says, that her strong faith helped her sail in the treatment that brought her to the other side. She says that the support of her husband and two teenage sons was invaluable. “I kept a constant belief that I was healthy, before each test, and that I would remain healthy. My body was, and is always a remarkable healing machine, ”she adds.
Ensuring that patients with breast cancer feel beautiful is even more important for her now
Reed also remained focused on beauty and joy to other women living with breast cancer thanks to her photograph, even if she was still in treatment.
She has never forgotten the joy that the experience of being a cover girl gave her sister. The creative aspirant has teamed up with the Local Breast Cancer Resource Center in the Center of Texas to conduct photo sessions. “I have the non -profit association that chooses the women who will participate, and I bring together a team that brings them and creates photos inherited for them and their family.” I am honored to be part of their trip.
Even if Reed recognizes that her trip was not easy, she said, my breast cancer career was also marked by resilience, hope and a strong state of mind.
“I hope that my story inspires other women confronted with similar battles to remain positive, proactive and determined,” she says.
“Then, at 33, my older sister was also diagnosed, but miraculously, she continues to fight her own battle,” concludes Reed.
Resources
Breast cancer resource funds
Understand the carcinoma of canary cancer in situ
Triple Stade 1 breast cancer
