Just days before her 31st birthday, Brooklyn native Shenae Craig was diagnosed with breast cancer—a life-altering moment that turned a time of celebration into a fight for her health.

Craig’s story began in late 2022 when, after a difficult year, she hired a housekeeper to refresh her apartment. She was coming out of a depression that had lingered throughout the year, and she wanted to feel new, physically and mentally. After the housekeeper left, she treated herself to an "everything shower," where she exfoliated, shaved, and washed her hair—a ritual to help her reset. It was during this shower that she noticed something alarming.

"I felt a lump in my breast, and I just knew immediately what it was," she recalls. Her family history played a significant role in this feeling—her mother had two sisters who had battled breast cancer, so she knew the signs. "It was like, of course, it’s me," she tells BET. Despite the fear and anxiety that immediately crept in, she didn’t wait long to take action. She texted a loved one about what she found and wasted no time scheduling an appointment through Zocdoc with a nearby female doctor who didn’t hesitate to write her a referral for a sonogram despite it being unusual for women under 30 to receive one. "It looks like it could be cancer," the technician said, leaving her in shock. "My entire body got hot," she says. "I thought I was going to pass out. I just could not believe what they were saying."

The next steps came quickly. A biopsy was scheduled for Nov. 9, the day after her birthday, making it difficult to enjoy what should have been a celebratory time. “It was traumatizing,” she recalls. “I had no idea what a biopsy was or how it was done, and it wasn’t anything like I thought it would be.” In the days that followed, she would come to face the reality of her diagnosis head-on.

Craig's breast cancer journey took an immense toll on her emotionally, particularly after the physical changes. "I used to have really big, long hair, and I loved my body. I never wanted any kind of work done," she said. The diagnosis brought the harsh reality that she would lose two of the things she loved most about herself—her hair and her breasts. “It was crazy,” she reflects, still processing the gravity of those changes. Though she eventually underwent reconstructive surgery, she admits that the aftermath has been more difficult than she imagined. She continues, “Everyone talks about chemo being the hard part, but for me, after surgery was the hardest. It got pretty dark because I was just like, ‘What the hell just happened?’”

She also adds that this journey affected her confidence in dating. “I took a step back from seeing anyone. I couldn't imagine making small talk while my life was going to s**t. Now, it's rough because I’m so much more aware of how different I look.” She admits she’s still rebuilding her confidence, wondering how someone might react to her scars. “I’m still young and hot. I want to date, meet someone, and have a family, but now there’s this whole thing I have to face.”

However, this breast cancer battle wasn’t all bad for Craig—it led her to a profound self-discovery. "After going through this, I have this newfound strength." Despite the physical changes and scars, she feels more sure of herself than ever. "My sense of self has changed dramatically for the better," she said, reflecting on how surviving cancer helped her embrace a deeper, more authentic confidence. It’s a shift she didn’t expect.

When supporting someone battling breast cancer, Craig has one simple piece of advice: "Just show up." She explains how having friends and family with her was meaningful, whether sitting through appointments or simply hanging out at home. “One friend came all the way from uptown with a bag of random fruits just to sit with me all day,” the 32-year-old recalls. She adds that it is not about grand gestures but about being present. “Don’t tell them you don’t know what to do or say because we don’t either,” she emphasized. Craig also stresses the importance of letting people feel their emotions without trying to fix them. "I know my hair will grow back, but I’m pissed right now, and that’s okay. Let me feel that."