Sisters United: Battling Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Spreading Awareness Together

When Katie Cooper, 27, felt a ping-pong-ball-sized lump on her chest one September morning, she could hardly believe her instincts. “It felt hard and literally it sounds made up that it appeared overnight,” she recalls, her voice laced with disbelief. Living in Charlotte, North Carolina, she swiftly reached out to her doctor—concerned, yet with a glimmer of denial. What the tests revealed was a harsh reality: Katie had triple-negative breast cancer.

This genetic battle became even more poignant when just two weeks later, her sister, Lyndsay Cooper, 32, received the same devastating diagnosis. Both sisters carry a BRCA1 mutation, a genetic anomaly that significantly heightens the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. This realization pushed them into a cycle of intensified medical surveillance—undergoing breast MRIs at an age most would view as premature.

Lyndsay remembers her own encounter with fate—years earlier, eager to trace her roots, she took a 23andMe test. “When I was 25, I learned I had a BRCA1 mutation,” she says, underscoring the importance of genetic testing and monitoring. It was a wake-up call—one that turned proactive awareness into a pressing necessity. Upon Katie’s diagnosis, Lyndsay followed suit, noting the urgency of the situation; after all, the aggressive nature of triple-negative cancer waits for no one.

“I was like, ‘There’s no way that my sister and I both have breast cancer at the same time,’” she reflects, battling disbelief. Yet, the system had other plans. Armed with knowledge but plagued with fear, both sisters faced the long, winding road of treatment.

Katie’s lump, approximately 3 cm in size when discovered, was shockingly hard—she describes it as feeling “really solid.” Treatment began swiftly, the sisters coordinating their medical journeys like a synchronized relay team—texting each other updates, sharing insights on appointments, and leaning on one another for emotional support during the storm.

“It’s been a weird bonding experience,” Lyndsay says, her voice tinged with melancholy and camaraderie. The sisters now find themselves in the trenches together, facing Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer, a notably aggressive form of the disease that is more prevalent among younger women, particularly those of African descent or with BRCA mutations.

As they embark on chemotherapy, paired with immunotherapy, they are also preparing for bilateral mastectomies—a decision that was initially preventative, now it is a necessity for treatment. “Doctors strongly advise getting a mastectomy so that the cancer doesn’t return, and it’s still not a 100% chance,” Lyndsay explains, the weight of medical jargon hanging heavily in the air.

The sisters have already begun to grapple with the harsh side effects of treatment: hair loss, waves of nausea, fatigue that wraps around them like a heavy blanket. Yet, through it all, there’s a silver lining—a shared experience that allows them to bolster each other’s spirits.

“Having her to just talk through things has helped,” Katie affirms, encapsulating the necessity of support in the face of adversity. Community is everything; it’s the lifeline that pulls them through.

In a world where social media often amplifies physical appearances and the pursuit of perfection, Katie and Lyndsay are flipping the script. They’ve taken their story to TikTok, aiming to spread awareness about breast cancer while sharing their journey with others. “If we help one person do a self-exam and find something or help one person going through the same thing— that is my big goal,” Katie expresses with unwavering conviction.

The sisters’ search for answers and connection doesn’t just end with them; they’ve invited their friends to feel their lumps, a raw and vulnerable act aimed at demystifying the experience of self-exams. “It was very hard,” says Katie, “We’re told as women to do your breast exams, but how do we know what we’re looking for?”

Now empowered by their ordeal, they hope to create a wave of awareness—one that encourages open conversations about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. “As women, we can lean on each other,” Katie adds, generating a sense of unity amidst the chaos.

The journey remains uncertain, but with the advancement in cancer treatment and a supportive network of family and friends, both sisters are determined to forge ahead, hand in hand. They are not just battling cancer—they’re spreading hope, inspiring others to be vigilant, and reminding us all that knowledge is indeed power.