When Tracy Milgram found a lump in her breast at just 18 years old, she had no idea how deeply it would shape her future. With a strong family history of cancer and her beloved Nana just completing breast cancer treatment, Tracy was already hyper-aware. That awareness may have saved her life—but it also thrust her into a world of “scanxiety,” surgery, and unimaginable decisions far too early.
By age 21, Tracy had endured multiple lumpectomies and tested positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation. The statistics were staggering: an 87% chance of breast cancer, 67% for ovarian cancer. Doctors laid out her options: a mastectomy, hysterectomy, and preventative medications. But Tracy was just beginning her adult life. She wanted to get married. Have children. Live.
She did all of those things. And then, at 32, she made two life-changing decisions: to begin her proactive surgical journey—and to start a small Facebook group that would grow into BRCAStrong, a nonprofit that now reaches thousands of women nationwide.
“That’s really when BRCAStrong was born,” Tracy says. “It started as a labor of love, and a safe space for women like me—women who were facing the unimaginable and just needed to know they weren’t alone.”
Today, BRCAStrong has become a lifeline to women navigating hereditary cancer risk—regardless of predisposition or genetic mutation. Its signature care packages, thoughtfully curated with post-mastectomy bras, chest buddy pillows, robes, and donated items from brands like Thrive Causemetics® and BeeCure®, have reached nearly 800 women in the past year alone.
But for Tracy, this movement has always been personal.
After her hysterectomy and double mastectomy, complications piled up. Failed implants. Multiple surgeries. Emotional and physical trauma. There was a time she lived with only one breast for over two years. And all the while, she was still running BRCAStrong—out of her garage, raising two children as a single mom, and working a full-time job in marketing.
“For years, I did everything myself. The garage became the hub—I haven’t parked a car in it for 10 years,” she laughs. “My daughter and my son help with the packages, and we’ve built this as a family.”
It was her daughter, Gabby, at just 7 years old, who told her mom before surgery, “You’re like a butterfly. You’re going to be beautiful again.” That moment stuck. Gabby sketched what would become BRCAStrong’s butterfly logo—a symbol of transformation, growth, and survival.
This summer, BRCAStrong celebrates its 10-year milestone with a gala event in Fort Lauderdale called Decades of Strength. It’s a tribute not just to how far the organization has come, but to the women it serves. Tracy’s daughter, son, and mom will all speak—fitting, as they’ve lived every step of this journey alongside her.
The path hasn’t been easy. But when asked about challenges, Tracy doesn’t dwell on the hardships. Instead, she lights up talking about what’s next: “We’re here for all women facing hereditary cancer—not just BRCA. We want everyone to feel seen, supported, and strong.”
One of her biggest takeaways? Build your support first. She didn’t—and it led to burnout. “I started with no board, no full-time staff, just me and a mission,” she shares. Now, with BRCAStrong as her full-time role, Tracy is building with intention, heart, and a fierce belief in the power of community.
That community just keeps growing. From New York to Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and even into Canada and Italy, BRCAStrong’s reach is expanding—thanks to strong hospital partnerships, social media storytelling, and word of mouth.
“It’s all about authenticity,” Tracy says. “That’s why I connected with Steve and BeeCure so quickly—it was just real. They believe in what we’re doing, and I believe in what they’re doing. That’s how impact happens.”
As BeeCure continues to support BRCAStrong through product donations and doctor outreach, the next step is building donor support to help fund the hundreds of care packages sent out each year. Tracy’s dream? That one day, every woman facing this journey receives a bag, a message of hope—and the reminder that she’s not alone.
About BeeCure
At BeeCure, we believe in showing up for others through meaningful partnerships and shared purpose. We’re proud to support BRCAStrong and Tracy Milgram’s unwavering mission to uplift women through strength, connection, and care. Learn more at brcastrong.org.