Healing Beyond the Bell with IRIS Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
Inside IRIS and how you can support survivors this Breast Cancer Awareness month at Over 40 & Fabulous Fashion Meets Passion
It’s a familiar scene: After months of chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and uncertainty, breast cancer survivors often get the chance to ring a bell. A victorious statement marking the end of treatment and their cure. There are cheers, hugs and a sense that the hardest part is finally over. But while that bell may close one chapter, for many it marks the beginning of a challenging road to recovery—one they are often left to navigate alone.
Beyond the bell, around 86% of breast cancer survivors report dealing with persistent symptoms, from arm and shoulder pain to lymphedema and loss of mobility. The lasting effects aren’t just physical either. Nearly 1 in 4 breast cancer survivors experience anxiety and/or depression as they navigate fears of recurrence, changes to their bodies and relationships and the demands of work and family. Meanwhile, the world around them may already be expecting gratitude, relief and a return to “normal.”
“But those four words—‘You have breast cancer’—completely shatter any sense of normality,” says Liz Loreti, Executive Director of IRIS Breast Cancer Rehabilitation. “They are not the same employee, colleague, neighbor, friend, parent or spouse. They need time, support and understanding to rebuild each part of themselves, and IRIS is here so they don’t have to do it alone.”
Holistic, Specialized Breast Cancer Recovery
For more than 20 years, Atlantans at every stage of survivorship—from diagnosis and preparation for surgery to active treatment and even decades after being declared cancer-free—have found free or largely subsidized care at IRIS. From the moment patients walk through the door, they are met by oncology rehabilitation specialists, some of whom are survivors themselves, dedicated to creating compassionate, holistic care plans.
Trauma-informed physical therapy, exercise and nutrition guidance, counseling and community events come together under one roof, creating a truly unique oasis for healing. “Our patients don’t have to pretend they’re okay here,” Loreti says. “They can be completely themselves and have the space to talk about how they truly feel. Sometimes they just need to be heard—not told that everything is going to be okay. Our physical therapists give them the space to simply be, and that is invaluable.”
Breast Cancer Survivor & IRIS Runway Star Brittney O. Harris
IRIS Patient Brittney O. Harris shares how specialized rehabilitation helped her reclaim everyday movement—and step into a new season.
Q: How did your breast cancer journey lead you to IRIS?
I was diagnosed with stage III invasive ductal carcinoma at 34. I went through chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation and reconstruction. After my mastectomy and lymph-node removal, the mobility in my arm just wasn’t there. When I told my plastic surgeon I could barely raise my arm, I was referred to IRIS. I started before radiation, and I’m still going. They have become like family.
Q: What did losing that mobility mean for your everyday life?
I literally could not raise my arm or grab anything out of a cabinet. Marshalls got all my money in 2025 because I needed button-down clothes that didn’t require lifting my arm. Now I can reach into the cabinet again, and I don’t have restrictions on what I can wear. That has given me back a sense of confidence you lose a little bit of with breast cancer.
Q: What felt different about receiving care at IRIS?
They approach physical therapy through the lens of a cancer survivor’s entire journey. Before radiation, they gave me recommendations to help minimize its effects on my skin, tissue and mobility. But it’s also how they care for you as a person. Lying on that physical therapy table isn’t just PT—it’s therapeutic. You can talk about your life with people who understand where you’ve been. My therapists Hannah, Grayson and Courtney have each poured into me differently. Hannah feels like home, Grayson brings peace and Courtney feels like talking to a close friend. They weren’t only helping my arm move again. They created a place where I felt safe and supported.
Q: How did IRIS support your next chapter?
During chemotherapy, I wrote a devotional called Overcoming. Cancer also showed me how important it is to have a village. If it weren’t for God and my village, I wouldn’t have made it through. That inspired me to open a Homewatch CareGivers franchise and become part of someone else’s village. I don’t know if I would have been physically or mentally ready to build a business without the confidence and encouragement IRIS gave me.
Q: What does it mean to you to walk the Over 40 & Fabulous runway in support of IRIS?
Walking the runway to me is a celebration of resilience and God’s faithfulness. The days can be hard and long, but while breast cancer has taken things from me, it has also given me things I will forever be grateful for. I’m excited to be part of this evening, raising money and awareness for IRIS so more survivors might regain mobility and confidence while connecting with others who have walked the journey.
IRIS’s specialized, accessible care is only possible with the support of the community. Join us October 23 at 103 West for the Over 40 & Fabulous Fashion Meets Passion Charity Fashion Show, Cover Reveal and Disco Dance Party. The unforgettable evening will feature powerful survivor stories, a fashion show starring Over 40 & Fabulous alumni raising $1,000 or more for IRIS Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and a high-energy disco dance party to close out the night.
Over 40 Alumni Share Why They Walk
Rebecca Walden | Class of 2014, Fab 5
“For more than 20 years, I have customized medical wigs for women experiencing chemotherapy related hair loss. Their strength and resilience inspire me to support IRIS and its life-changing mission.”
Steve Hightower | Class of 2017, Top 10
“After more than two decades of supporting clients with cancer, I have seen breast cancer’s lasting toll. I walk to help survivors move beyond fear, rediscover optimism and joy, and feel supported throughout recovery.”
Olivia Westbrooks | Class of 2025, Cover Winner
“I walk in memory of my mother, Ida Nezey—a trailblazer who dedicated her life to serving others and never allowed adversity to define what was possible.”
Trudy Davies-Davis, RN, CIP | Class of 2014, Fab 5
“As a two-time breast cancer survivor, I walk to honor every woman who has faced—or will face this disease.”
Marsha Archer | Class of 2014, Top 10
“I walk in honor of Black women, who face a 38% higher breast cancer mortality rate. I want every step to represent advocacy, awareness and meaningful action toward research and a cure.”
Sahar Zamir | Class of 2025, Inspiration Award Winner
“I walk in honor of my best friend. Her diagnosis inspired me to raise awareness, support survivors and stand beside women through their most difficult battles.”
Join us in giving survivors the care they deserve beyond the bell. Donate, purchase tickets or learn more about event sponsorship at bestselfatlanta.com/over-40-and-fab.
