Meet Melissa Berry, aka Cancer Fashionista. Melissa has been a #1 fan and supporter of AnaOno since the very beginning! Fun fact, Melissa was the muse behind our Melissa Front Closure Bra.
Brief summary of your diagnosis/surgical outcome
"I’m an 11 year triple negative breast cancer survivor. My treatment included aggressive ACT chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy with breast and nipple reconstruction. This experience brought profound challenges with body image, self-esteem, and mental health. These challenges, coupled with my background in fashion and beauty public relations, inspired me to create Cancer Fashionista, a platform dedicated to empowering women affected by cancer to look and feel their best. Since then, I’ve also launched the, “Dear Cancer I’m Beautiful” podcast series which serves as a valuable and relatable resource to my amazing community."
What Advice Would You Give to Someone Diagnosed with Breast Cancer?
"Don't Google. Doing some research is fine, but it's always best to seek advice from your doctor. Interview a couple of them to determine who resonates most with you and which treatment path is best for you. There are so many different types of breast cancer, I can't express the importance of working with your doctor to devise a plan that works best for you from beginning to end."
How Did You Met Dana/Hear About AnaOno?
"I first met Dana Donofree at a Living Beyond Breast Cancer conference. My dear friend, Hayley Dinerman, the Executive Director of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, encouraged me to attend. At the time, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m so glad I went. Meeting Dana felt like connecting with a kindred spirit. As fashion industry veterans—Dana as a fashion designer and me as a fashion and beauty publicist—we instantly connected on many levels. She truly understood the unique challenges we face after a breast cancer diagnosis and applied her creative expertise to designing beautiful, empowering bras and intimate apparel for all of us. AnaOno quickly became a brand I not only admired but also deeply believed in."
What Did It Mean to You to Have the Melissa Bra Named After You?
"Having the Melissa bra named after me was beyond an honor—it was a full-circle moment. It symbolizes resilience, beauty, and the power of community. Through Cancer Fashionista and my podcast, "Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful," I’ve always believed in helping women embrace their bodies and rediscover their confidence after breast cancer. What makes this bra even more special is its thoughtful design, especially the front closure. I love the ease and simplicity it provides, which is such a blessing for those of us who may have a limited range of motion after surgery. Knowing that the Melissa bra helps women feel beautiful, comfortable, and empowered fills my heart with gratitude. It’s not just a bra; it’s a reminder that even in the face of challenges, we can reclaim our power and femininity."
"My friend Deltra and I have started a podcast series to help women with breast cancer navigate dating, sex and more. Breast cancer and sex are two terms you don't hear together a lot. And I think sex and intimacy and dating are hard enough without cancer, but you add cancer to it and it's whole other universe. And unless you've had cancer or breast cancer, it's very hard to understand some of the challenges that we face. We started this podcast series to use our lived experiences with breast cancer to help empower other women."
Interested in watching more episodes from Melissa and Deltra? Check them out on Youtube, where they post monthly episodes that highlight intimacy, dating, finding confidence and feeling sexy after breast cancer.
Founder and CEO of AnaOno.
After a diagnosis of breast cancer in her late 20’s, Dana took her own lived experience and fashion design background and (re)designed intimates for those that have undergone breast surgery. Dana’s story has been published around the world in outlets like New York Times, BBC, Huffington Post, The Today Show, and more.
