More Than Skin Deep: Joy’s Journey with Vitiligo and Breast Cancer

It’s one thing to have your appearance change before your eyes, but when that change is joined by the threat of cancer, it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Joy’s story is one of strength, faith, and a spirit that refused to let life’s challenges hold her back.

When Joy first noticed a small, white spot on her nose, she was devastated. What started as a tiny dot quickly spread, leaving her with vitiligo—a condition that changes the color of the skin. For Joy, who speaks in front of people every day, it was a harsh and visible reminder of something she couldn’t control. “I prayed and prayed, but it didn’t go away. It grew, and soon I had a perfectly white nose,” Joy recalls. The stares from her congregation and the anxiety of seeing her skin change were overwhelming. But in her darkest moments, her daughter stepped in, constantly telling her, “Mom, you’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, you’re beautiful,” until Joy began to believe it herself.

Just as Joy began to accept her new reality with vitiligo, life threw another curveball her way—breast cancer. A routine mammogram revealed a spot that led to a diagnosis no one ever wants to hear. “Joy, you have breast cancer,” the doctor said. Surgery followed, and six months later, the cancer returned. The fear of facing another surgery, another battle, was tough. But Joy, ever the fighter, refused to let it break her. “This cancer is trying to kill me,” she thought, “but I’m not going to let it.”

As the vitiligo continued to spread, so did Joy’s acceptance of it. “I stopped being afraid of it. I stopped being totally obsessed with me,” she says. The same strength that helped her embrace her changing appearance also helped her during her fight against cancer. When the cancer came back a third time, Joy’s faith and determination had only grown stronger. Despite the surgeries and radiation treatments that took a toll on her body, Joy’s spirit stayed strong.

Living with both vitiligo and breast cancer has changed the way Joy sees life. “I value every minute that I have now,” she shares, a sentiment that hits home after facing not one, but two life-changing conditions. Joy’s journey is a powerful reminder that our worth isn’t defined by our skin, our health, or our circumstances, but by how we choose to live each day.

Stories like Joy’s show how important it is to share our journeys. Whether it’s living with vitiligo or battling breast cancer, these experiences are a testament to the strength and courage within our community. Joy’s story reminds us of our members, like Theo, who also faced the challenges of vitiligo, and Evonne, who battled breast cancer with bravery. By sharing these stories, we build a space of understanding, support, and hope for everyone going through similar struggles.