Camp Breastie: The Summer Camp Where Cancer Survivors Find Joy, Connection, and Community

Cancer can change almost every part of life, from how someone sees their body to how they connect with friends, family, and even themselves. But what happens when people going through similar experiences get the chance to put the medical side of life on pause for a moment and simply have fun together?

That is where Camp Breastie comes in.

Imagine a four-day summer camp filled with cabins, lake activities, workshops, friendship bracelets, dancing, conversations, and plenty of laughter. The difference? This camp brings together people connected to breast and gynecologic cancer, including survivors, “previvors,” and caregivers.

Rather than making cancer the only thing people talk about, Camp Breastie creates room for something equally important: joy.

What Is Camp Breastie?

Camp Breastie is an adult summer-camp-style gathering created for members of the breast and gynecologic cancer community. Participants travel from different parts of the country, stay in cabins, take part in activities, and spend several days building connections with people who understand experiences that can sometimes be difficult to explain to others.

The event has grown significantly since its early days. What began as small community gatherings eventually developed into a large retreat that can accommodate hundreds of people.

Its popularity says quite a lot. The 2026 camp reportedly reached full capacity in less than two hours, showing just how strongly people in the community are looking for spaces where they can feel understood and included. Pasted text

And despite the serious circumstances that bring many attendees together, Camp Breastie isn’t designed to feel like a medical conference.

It is much more like summer camp—with a very meaningful purpose behind it.

How Camp Breastie Started

The story goes back to 2017, when Paige More discovered that she carried a BRCA1 gene mutation.

At the time, More was considering a preventative double mastectomy and was searching online for people who had gone through similar experiences. Finding that support wasn’t easy.

So she decided to share her own story on social media.

Initially, More wanted to document her experience and become someone others could look to, particularly her younger sister, who had not yet undergone genetic testing. But the response quickly became much bigger than she expected.

Her posts connected her with not only other “previvors”—people who had undergone preventative procedures because of cancer risk—but also cancer survivors, people living with Stage 4 cancer, and caregivers.

Those online connections eventually led her to future Camp Breastie cofounders Allie Brumel, Trish Michelle, and Bri Majsiak. Pasted text

The group soon realized something: people didn’t just want information. They wanted each other.

From Small Retreats to a 500-Person Camp

Before Camp Breastie became the large-scale gathering it is today, the community organized smaller meetups and retreats.

One early retreat brought together just 20 participants for a weekend in the Poconos. There were 10 previvors and 10 survivors, along with donated ski tickets and plenty of time to connect.

The response afterward was immediate. People who hadn’t attended began asking when the next retreat would happen and how they could join.

The organizers continued expanding. After applying for nonprofit status in 2018, they organized multiple retreats each year. But even then, demand continued to grow.

Eventually, the team came up with a much bigger idea: why not rent an entire summer camp?

That idea became Camp Breastie.

The event eventually grew into a gathering capable of welcoming around 500 people, transforming what began as small local connections into a much larger community experience.

What Happens at Camp Breastie?

There isn’t really one standard Camp Breastie experience.

With nearly 200 programs available, attendees can essentially create their own itinerary depending on what they need from the weekend.

Some may choose educational discussion panels featuring cancer researchers and community members. Others might prefer starting their morning with a cold plunge, swimming in the lake, mobility training, pickleball, or even a Beyoncé-themed dance class. Pasted text

And that’s intentional.

Someone who has just completed an exhausting round of treatment might not want to spend the weekend rushing from one activity to another. They might simply want to sit beside the lake, relax, and talk to someone who understands.

Meanwhile, another attendee might want to attend sessions about treatment developments, surgical options, or other healthcare topics.

There is space for both.

Camp Breastie is built around the idea that people can participate at their own pace and according to what feels right for them.

Finding Joy Beyond the Diagnosis

Perhaps one of the most meaningful parts of Camp Breastie is what happens outside the structured programs.

Attendees can make friendship bracelets, take art classes, crochet, swim, dance, or simply hang out.

For people who may feel isolated during treatment or recovery, being surrounded by hundreds of others who understand their experiences can make a huge difference.

The organizers also describe a noticeable transformation throughout the weekend.

Camp ends with an event called “Breastival,” featuring a DJ, food trucks, different activities, and a pride parade. Attendees dress according to the year’s theme, creating an atmosphere that celebrates individuality and self-expression.

One particularly powerful change is how attendees become more comfortable embracing their bodies and scars. Pasted text

More Than Just One Weekend

Camp Breastie isn’t only about having a fun weekend away.

It also creates an environment where people can exchange experiences and information about navigating healthcare. Attendees may discuss treatments, medications, doctors, and their own experiences, potentially helping others feel more prepared to advocate for themselves.

But the impact can extend far beyond medical conversations.

The founders say attendees have reported that friends, partners, and family members noticed changes after they returned home—sometimes describing it as getting “their” friend, sister, or partner back.

That might be the real magic of Camp Breastie.

It doesn’t erase cancer, and it isn’t meant to. Instead, it creates a space where cancer doesn’t have to define every moment.

For four days, people can be survivors, previvors, caregivers, friends, dancers, artists, swimmers, campers, and simply themselves.

And sometimes, finding that kind of community can be just as meaningful as finding another person who understands exactly what you’ve been through.

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