Miranda McKeon, known for her role in “Anne with an E,” was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at only 19 years old, just after finishing her first year of college. Her experience led her to undergo several challenging procedures, including a double mastectomy and fertility treatments before starting chemotherapy. She also went through medically induced menopause, which is uncommon for people her age.
Since becoming cancer-free in 2022, McKeon has made breast cancer awareness a central part of her life. Now living in New York City, she uses her platform as a content creator to share her story and encourage her peers, especially fellow Gen-Z members, to monitor their health and take early detection seriously. She regularly discusses the importance of self-screening and knowing one’s own body, urging her friends and followers to check anything unusual and not to ignore their health concerns.
McKeon recently joined women’s health startup BeSound as an advisor, motivated by her desire to help others detect breast cancer early. BeSound focuses on providing advanced medical imaging tools, like ultrasound and photoacoustic technology, to clinics, making these resources more accessible for young women. The company’s founder, Bailey Renger, also had her own health scare in her twenties and found existing medical imaging options lacking. McKeon says she was impressed by BeSound’s technology after trying it personally and believes it will be valuable for her friends now and in the future.
Both McKeon and Renger want to change the way young women’s health concerns are treated. They believe that age should not be a reason to ignore possible symptoms and are working to empower women to demand proper medical support and not rely on a “wait and see” attitude. Through their efforts, they aim to provide women with the tools and confidence to take control of their health journey.
With her personal experience and ongoing advocacy, Miranda McKeon hopes her work will make a difference for other young women facing breast cancer and bring attention to the importance of early detection and proactive health care.
