#1
#1 out of 117.4K est. views
health1d ago
These twins' lives were identical, until one got colon cancer at 21
- Brinlee Luster is diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at 21, shocking her family and altering their plans.
- Mariela, the healthy twin, grapples with survivor's guilt while supporting Brinlee and reshaping her own career.
- The sisters launch The Port Studio, a business selling port-friendly apparel and affirmation cards to support others.
- Brinlee undergoes multiple surgeries and heavy chemotherapy, facing substantial out-of-pocket costs.
- Brinlee's latest blood test shows a negative result, signaling remission as doctors monitor for five-year remission.
- Doctors note rising rates of colon cancer in young adults and discuss potential drivers like antibiotics and lifestyle.
- The twins face ongoing financial and logistical challenges, including insurance gaps as Brinlee ages out of her father's plan.
- Mariela moves to Nashville and contemplates a career shift toward patient-centered work in healthcare access.
- The family receives community support, from charitable grants to strangers covering meals and travel costs.
- The Port Studio wins early orders for port-friendly clothing, signaling a durable business born from adversity.
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