Actress channels her breast cancer journey through storytelling

A two-time cancer

Actress Aniela McGuinness and breast cancer activist channels her experience through storytelling

By Adam Kivel

survivor’s journey

acing both cancer and its treatment requires immense strength.

Actor/model/activist Aniela McGuinness, however, took that bold attitude one step further.

“Aniela cracked jokes while on the table, and then she went and had glamour shots taken at each stage of her reconstructive surgery process,” recalls ASPS member Shashidhar Kusuma, MD, one of the plastic surgeons on her care team. “Being an actress, she already had a stage presence and an ability to take this experience and share it with others.”

That might sound lighthearted, but McGuinness’ says her journey has also been full of pain and difficulty. However, by channeling her experience through the art of storytelling, she has been able to inspire others – and herself.

McGuinness’ history with cancer is tragically long and varied. After her mother’s ovarian cancer diagnosis, McGuinness took a large role in her care. It was only a year after her mother’s passing that she would face cancer herself. When she first learned of her mother’s diagnosis, McGuinness initially considered a prophylactic double mastectomy.

“I knew that I had the BRCA1 mutation for breast cancer,” she says. “I had found the reconstructive surgeon. I had found the breast surgeon for oncology. Everyone was already on board.”

Nevertheless, when she was scheduled for the MRI and ultrasound prior to the mastectomy, she learned that she herself had already developed breast cancer. Even that early in the process, McGuinness knew she’d want to be able to tell and potentially share the story.

“I actually filmed it when I got the phone call, and it’s now on my YouTube channel,” she says. Even though she’d already planned on having a double mastectomy, the reality of the diagnosis hit hard.

“I was 31, very healthy, in great shape,” she remembers. “From the outside, it looked like I had all of the statistics proving that I would not get cancer. It was a horrible experience, but it pushed me from 80 percent certainty to 100 percent certainty that the mastectomy had been the right plan to begin with. To electively remove healthy body parts and go through the mental part of having your breasts removed – I would have questioned if I had made the right decision probably for the rest of my life.”

Stories of healing

Having come to the reconstruction process from a semi-proactive angle, McGuinness was able to consider her options and meet with potential doctors, an advantage she knows is rare and for which she is incredibly grateful. Although other women are “shot out of a cannon” at the time of their diagnosis, as she puts it – needing to make decisions immediately to begin treatment – McGuinness had already built a plan by the time of diagnosis.

“I had the genetic counseling done, which allowed me access to a lot of these doctors already,” she explains. “I had been able to take that time to figure out who I liked the best, gather

McGuinness worked with Blast ‘Em Photography for her #MyBreastChoice photo series to capture her emotions during each stage of the mastectomy, chemo and reconstruction process and change the images women saw of mastectomies. Photos courtesy of: Blast 'Em Photography

Rosie the Riveter

Bride of Frankenstein Mannequin

Cancer-free shot two months after her reconstruction

“I don’t shy away from people looking at my scars, to look and find curiosity and beauty - and with that comes a level of comfort. After a while it becomes normal.”

recommendations from women, see whose breast I liked and see what work I liked.”

In addition to the benefit of time and that adjusted perspective, McGuinness had a rare opportunity to share her experience with others. Cancer and treatments may have curtailed her ability to book acting gigs, but she channeled her storytelling ability elsewhere.

“I ended up doing a one-woman show that I cowrote with a friend - and then performed it while on chemo,” she says. “I was able to play the role of ‘Cancer’ in it. It gave me something to look forward to.”

That’s something that McGuinness stresses: People can see the reality of the physical recovery that comes with breast cancer, but they aren’t often privy to the emotional recovery that’s equally important.

“The idea of your body betraying you in a way takes time to come to terms with,” she says.

Just when things were beginning to look like they were turning around, McGuinness went to see a dermatologist to check on a spot she’d noticed on her forehead. A resident of Florida, McGuinness knew that skin cancer was a risk, but was certain that a quick visit would be the end of the concern. Unfortunately, she was wrong, and a skin cancer diagnosis led to extensive facial reconstruction surgery.

Once again, she teamed with a friend who was a fashion photographer to document every stage of the process. Although she shared the photographs of her breast reconstruction, McGuinness has yet to share her facial reconstruction photos.

“They were really beautiful, and yet my face is, in essence, mangled,” she says. “I wanted to use art to help myself through this; it became a private experience. The people I have showed have said it looks like the scarring is photoshopped on because the juxtaposition is so strange. But again, it was my way of looking forward to every step, as I would get to meet up with this friend and we’d get to photograph it.”

While going through the facial reconstruction surgery, McGuinness found another way to find light in the midst of the darkness.

“I was really depressed but I would joke around, and then the nurses would joke back,” she says. “That helped to lift my spirits back up.”

After undergoing multiple sessions, McGuinness came out of the facial reconstruction with a four-inch scar on her forehead - something she hasn’t let stand in her way as an actor and model. She recently booked commercial work, as well as a speaking role on an Emmy-nominated television show.

Turning her experience into stories that she could share helped McGuinness heal, and she continues to make a difference for countless women inspired by her journey.

“I still get emails from women saying the photo series helped them feel more comfortable with their own scars,” she says. “It gave them an opportunity to share their experience with their family and friends through each step of this process. I don’t shy away from people looking at my scars, to look and find curiosity and beauty - and with that comes a level of comfort. After a while it becomes normal.”