SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Erica Austin wears a lot of hats. She is a board member for District 186, an employee at SIU medicine, and a community activist.
Erica Austin walking the runway.
But in June, she took on a new title when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Austin had surgery to remove cancer tissue and got a preventative breast reduction. She was selected to model at New York Fashion Week for the brand Ana Ono, which makes bras for women with breast cancer.
"I had an opportunity to be surrounded with other women who have either been diagnosed, battling right now or survivors and so it was incredible," said Austin. "It was an incredible experience just to be in that environment in that space with all these women who pretty much have the same struggles."
Related Links
The community she formed at the show gave her extra encouragement as she started radiation treatments when she returned from New York Fashion Week. Now she is using her story to share her knowledge with the community.Â
The team at SIU is creating a documentary called "Reconstruction to the Runway: Erica's Breast Cancer Journey." It will be shown at an event on Wednesday, October 18th at CAP 1908 called "The Many Faces, Races, and Paces of Breast Cancer."
Copyright 2023. WANDTV. All Rights Reserved.Â
