Valerie Derteano

@valeriederteano
Miami Beach, FL
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: One of the biggest lessons I learned is that nothing is promised and because of that, everything feels more meaningful. I learned that strength doesn’t always look powerful. Sometimes strength is quiet. It’s showing up to appointments when you’re drained. It’s choosing hope when you’re scared. It’s letting people see you without the brave face. Cancer humbled me. It softened me. It taught me that vulnerability is not weakness, it’s courage. Being part of Twist Out: Brushed with Cancer was one of the most healing parts of my journey. Working one-on-one with an artist and sharing my story felt different than telling it in a doctor’s office. It wasn’t about scans or side effects; it was about me as a whole person. My fears. My growth. My faith. My personality. My strength. Having someone listen deeply and then reflect my story back through art was powerful. It reminded me that I am more than a diagnosis. I am layered. I am resilient. I am still here. Seeing myself through someone else’s eyes helped me recognize traits in myself that cancer revealed: courage, patience, grace, and a deeper appreciation for life. What I want others to know is that cancer is not just physical. It touches you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. There are hard days, but there can also be unexpected beauty. Programs like Brushes with Cancer create space to feel seen, to process, and to honor your journey in a different way. If you’re walking this path, give yourself grace. You don’t have to be strong every single day. You don’t have to pretend it doesn’t hurt. Just take it one step at a time. Cancer didn’t define me, but it did refine me. And through experiences like Brushes with Cancer, I’ve learned to embrace every part of who I am, scars and all.