Cancer survivor creatively styles her hospital robe in 30 different ways for a month and it's so inspiring

Enduring an illness and being hospitalized is undoubtedly challenging. Amidst these difficult circumstances, some individuals possess an incredible ability to find the silver lining and make the most of their life. They skillfully navigate their experiences with a blend of creativity and humor, demonstrating the power of positive outlooks even in the face of adversity. One of them is 40-year-old Allie Olson from Brooklyn, New York, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

“One day I tried putting a hospital robe on before radiation, but it was really confusing,” Olson told Yahoo! Life. “Instead of getting frustrated, I decided to create my own ‘robe’ design.” She said she had a "great time laughing” with her radiation therapists about her styled hospital robe and hereon, she decided to do the same for all 30 days of her radiation treatment. “I jokingly referred to the project as Radiation Runway. I loved thinking about Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn giving me feedback!" she added.

She shared, “Radiation Runway lifted the spirits in the waiting room and helped create a community of compassion and fun. Why not keep doing something that brings joy and laughter to a room? Plus, I’m an artist, so the idea was a welcome challenge.” Olson captured these robes and posted a montage of pictures on her Instagram profile after she was done with 30 days of her treatment. She has been happy with the encouragement she has received. She said it has been “wonderfully kind and uplifting,” with Instagram users calling it “beautiful,” “brilliant,” and “chic.” Olson took pictures in front of a mirror and people also appreciated her purple pineapple case as it looked beautiful and vibrant. “People laugh at my pineapple,” she says. “Many people don’t realize it’s my phone!”

She said, “It’s fantastic if my experience can help anyone else feel encouraged or laugh, especially if they are going through a hard time. Cancer takes a lot from people, but there are still ways we can have fun and celebrate life!” She was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 when she noticed a lump in her breast. “It was hard to get to the doctor because COVID was still in the early stages,” she explained. “The lump continued to grow and the pain started interfering with my life. My doctor and I both thought it was a cyst."

“A month later I noticed a new lump in the same area growing quickly and becoming painful again,” Olson said. “We did another ultrasound and biopsy, and the tumor turned out to be malignant this time.” A treatment plan was prepared for her by her doctors. In 2021, she was finally diagnosed with invasive carcinoma with medullary features at the age of 39. “It’s a rare type of breast cancer that is treated like triple-negative breast cancer,” she added. This differs from “other types of invasive breast cancer in that they grow and spread faster, have limited treatment options, and have a worse prognosis."

Olson's treatment was "exhausting." “People are what kept me going,” from the "incredible" hospital staff to her "loving family and friends who cheered me on." Olson's mother had also gone through the treatment, she explained, "She stayed positive and humorous through her cancer so it helped to watch her. She also gave me advice on what to expect and examples from her own experience.”

“I knew from the beginning the last day would be hard,” she added. “I saw the staff five days a week. They were my social outlet but also people who were saving my life. On the last day of radiation, there was also a sense of, ‘Now what?’ I was scared." She concluded, “I learned so much about the importance of rest during cancer. When I feel overwhelmed, I hit pause now because I know the value of health.”