Breast Cancer Confidence Project Launches "You Are Whole" Book Celebrating Beauty and Resilience After Cancer

tmanon1
Oct 8
3 min read

Updated: Oct 10

Rochester Breast Cancer Confidence Project draws media attention and community support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

By: MMM Editorial Team

Breast Cancer Confidence Project celebrates the launch of “You Are Whole,” a book of survivor portraits and stories. Photo courtesy of Breast Cancer Confidence Project.

When the Breast Cancer Confidence Project (BCCP) unveiled its new photography book You Are Whole, the room was filled with applause, tears, and an undeniable sense of pride. The event, held in Rochester, New York, marked not only the culmination of months of planning but also the beginning of a broader conversation around self-image, beauty, and recovery for breast cancer survivors.

A Celebration of Wholeness

Credit: Imran H.

The book features local breast cancer survivors sharing their stories and intimate boudoir portraits — a vibrant reminder that beauty and wholeness exist beyond surgery scars and diagnoses and their own expectations for their bodies. Michaela Raes, founder and CEO of BCCP, launched the project after her own experience with breast cancer at just 28 years old.

“What am I going to look like? Will I ever feel whole again?” she recalled asking herself during treatment. That question became the foundation for You Are Whole, a book designed to show survivors that their beauty and confidence can endure.

“We want survivors to see themselves reflected — to know they are not alone, not broken, and still powerful,” said Raes during the launch event.

National Attention and Local Impact

Mañón Media Management led the press outreach for the launch, ensuring the story reached both local and national audiences. Coverage spanned across major outlets, from WHEC and 13WHAM to the Democrat & Chronicle and Rochester Beacon, shining a light on the nonprofit’s empowering work.

Behind the Launch: A Model for Mission-Driven PR

Through this project, MMM showcased its full suite of services — from media strategy and event PR to storytelling that connects emotionally with audiences. By focusing on accessibility, authenticity, and action (the “Three A’s” framework), the team translated a deeply personal mission into a story that resonated broadly.

“Our goal wasn’t just to get attention — it was to elevate a message of healing and representation,” said Tianna Mañón, CEO of Mañón Media Management.

The event’s success illustrates the power of strategic storytelling: when emotional truth meets professional polish, audiences don’t just watch — they engage.

Continued Momentum

As the You Are Whole campaign continues, BCCP hopes to inspire new conversations about body image and self-esteem after cancer. Raes and her team plan to bring the project to hospitals, support groups, and photo exhibits across the region.

This work stands as a model of how nonprofits can pair vulnerability with visibility — and how Mañón Media Management helps ensure those stories reach the audiences that matter most.