I’m Lori-Anne, 53 years old and proudly six years a breast cancer warrior. My life changed on 25 October 2018, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 HER2-positive breast cancer with liver metastasis. It was a devastating time: only two months earlier, I had lost my father to lung cancer, and before that my mother to pancreatic cancer. I knew that stage 4 is usually treated palliatively — therapy is given only until the cancer outsmarts the treatment — yet there was a slim 2% chance of becoming cancer-free.
For years, I’d been diligent about annual mammograms, but a change in medical protocols reduced them to every second year. Skipping just one year led to this advanced diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, making it the most common cancer among women worldwide. In South Africa, one in 26 women is at risk, and breast cancer accounts for 16 % of all cancer-related deaths.
I began treatment immediately. Just 16 days after my first chemotherapy session, my hair started to fall out. Losing my hair for nine months left me feeling dull and “de-sparkled.” People often underestimate how hair loss affects mental well-being. Covering my head wasn’t only about style; it was about recognising and valuing the person in the mirror.
Some patients choose wigs or scarves, but I found scarves time-consuming to tie. Hats became my solution — they were quick, stylish, and gave me sparkle, confidence, and hope. When I couldn’t find anything locally, I decided to create my own. With a friend, I made my first hat, and in December 2018 Bald and Beautiful – Hats by Lori was born, first on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
As my treatments continued — double mastectomy, a failed reconstruction, 16 radiation sessions, and several fat grafting procedures — I embraced what I call my “lemonade journey,” turning hardship into purpose. Then came astonishing news: after my mastectomy, my doctor told me I’d had a complete pathological response. I was one of the rare 2% whose outcome matched that of a stage 1 HER2+ patient. “You’re a medical unicorn,” she said.
I began sharing my story on Facebook to encourage others. A year later, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, adding new challenges but never dimming my drive. When I completed my cancer treatment, my sister joined me, and we built a full website and online shop to make our handcrafted hats more accessible. This has allowed me to focus on creating, connecting, and living intentionally.
Today, Bald and Beautiful – Hats by Lori is a sustainable business born from vulnerability and resilience. My mission is simple yet profound: to help every warrior rediscover beauty and colour in life’s darkest moments. I also advocate passionately for breast-health education, encouraging women to perform regular self-examinations and to begin annual mammograms at age 40, or earlier if they are at higher risk. Early detection saves lives.
Through every good day and hard day, I live with gratitude and purpose — proving that even in struggle there can be joy, meaning, and sparkle.
With love,
