Caro’s Journey: From Diagnosis to Empowerment
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer both globally and in Türkiye. Our most powerful tool in preventing the disease is early detection. In battling it, our greatest strengths lie in not giving up, not falling into despair, and discovering the power within ourselves.
In 2016, when Austrian Caroline Justich was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at the age of just 39, she chose not to see it as the end—but instead to accept her illness. Since that day, she has not only come to realize her own inner strength in the fight to survive, but has also turned her experience into a guide, embarking on a journey that now inspires women across the world.
Be accepted is a guide in which a breast cancer patient tells her story in her own words—encouraging and empowering women everywhere. From diagnosis to treatment, Caroline Justich shares her medical journey, chemotherapy process, psychological resilience, support from her social circle, and alternative coping strategies. Be accepted stands as a powerful source of hope and inspiration for patients—and for all of us.
Created in strategic partnership with Siemens Healthineers and supported by the European Society of Breast Imaging, Be accepted has become an inspiring resource that not only offers guidance to patients and support to physicians, but also promotes a holistic approach to fighting cancer.
Following its launch in the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Greece, Portugal, and Spain, Be accepted is now also available in Turkish.
In the interview below, you will witness Caro’s story of both personal and collective hope. Be accepted is not just a healthcare initiative—it is a story of holding on to life, reshaping oneself, and becoming a light for others.
How did the idea of bringing the “Be Accepted” project to life come about?
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer stage 4 on October 11, 2016, I was first told to take care of my will because I might not live for Christmas anymore. Dying from cancer is never part of anyone’s plan; certainly, it was not part of mine. I cried and panicked until I called my friend Michael. He happens to be a radiologist, not just any radiologist, but a really good one, one of Europe’s leading breast radiologists and the current president of EUSOBI.
He told me, “Alright, I’ll do everything I can to help you.” And he told me one sentence that has stuck with me ever since: “It is gonna be a roller-coaster ride, Caro—there are going to be ups and downs, there are certainly going to be loops; just don’t let go.” I said, “Alright, I will hold on.”
He took immediate action, prepared me for the next steps, equipped me with the right mindset, and explained in normal language what was going to happen because I had no clue about all of this and did not understand the medical terminology. He gave me a concrete plan to put into action and let me know where to go.
My next visit was with my oncologist, who looked at my findings and told me, “3% of patients sharing your medical condition can be cured.” He continued to talk and explained that the rest can be managed and live well with cancer, and that new treatments will come. I did not hear this anymore; all I could think of was, “How will I be part of that 3%?” “How can I maximize my chances?” I told him then and there I would be part of the 3% and to do everything to make this happen.
What I learned was that cancer therapies today are very effective, and luckily, I could receive the best possible treatment in our solid healthcare system that we have established in Austria. My goal was to get as many chemotherapy treatments as possible in one go. So, what did I have to do to make that happen? I had to make sure I was mentally and physically strong to cope with the side effects and all the other challenges a cancer diagnosis brings along. I made this my full-time job.
After 9 rounds of chemotherapy in one go, my scans were clear. Today, more than 8 years later, I am still alive and living a very different but very high and special quality of life. I had a lot of patients, but also medical professionals addressing me, so I thought a lot about how I could help others in my situation and create a multiplication effect. What can I do to share my luck, as not everyone has a radiologist as a friend? I wanted to create something that gives access to the high-end knowledge of leading medical experts and evidence-based complementary fields to all breast cancer patients. In 2022, I founded "Be Accepted" with the endorsement of the European Society of Radiology. Our logo is an octopus that represents a 360-degree approach, and this is how we do it; we aim to benefit and involve everyone in the medical pathway. It is a one-stop-shop solution.
What was it like for you to put this journey into words?
Putting my journey into words happened out of being grateful for how my life with cancer developed, having access to knowledge and resources, but also because I experienced a cancer journey firsthand and know what it means and what it needs. When I was diagnosed, I wished for a program like "Be Accepted." "Be Accepted" provides everything a patient needs to know to immediately become active by applying, as we call it, the Smart 8. It provides a head start in time and knowledge. My goal is to help as many as possible. Sharing my story is not about putting myself in the center. My goal is that "Be Accepted" supports radiologists as a communication tool to help them communicate a cancer diagnosis right at the start of a patient’s journey. For patients, it is a program that provides access to everything needed to immediately become active and draw attention and focus on the possibilities to optimize chances and quality of life.
What does the phrase “Be Accepted” mean to you today?
Optimizing your chances when diagnosed with cancer means you need to get into a state of acceptance; at the same time, you need to gain a big picture of a topic you never wanted to get close to. You need to get familiar with your options, understand the healthcare landscape, and the medical terminology. You need to invest in yourself. This demands joint forces—the knowledge from high-end experts, a step-by-step guide on how to assemble all the different parts to navigate through the healthcare landscape, and how to cope with the challenges ahead. The 8 single tentacles, “the Smart 8” of our logo, the octopus, each stand for one important field to be considered by any cancer patient. The merger of these loose ends, represented by the head of the animal, is what creates the magic; it builds trust and empowers patients. “Be” stands for Breast Education but also to be a woman and remain one; it addresses the identity of a woman who becomes a cancer patient.
What gave you the most strength throughout your illness? How did you maintain your resilience?
Various things contributed to my strength. The “rollercoaster ride” sentence was one; I generally love living, my family, my two little sons, and my baby—he was only 9 months old. But it was also the community of friends I had and a lot of self-care on a physical and mental level. The Smart 8, our rubrics in "Be Accepted," all play a major role. I train myself to keep my mind and body clear. What really works well for me is “fake it till you make it.” What you do is you pretend that you are okay, that you are doing well, and it somehow works; your body and mind start to believe you. Another strategy is to turn around my thoughts and way of communication, as my oncologist did by saying 3% can be healed, while the others can be managed. He gave me a plan A and a plan B. I practice Qi Gong, I stay in movement, I am strict about my diet, and I take care of my gut health; I invest in myself.
When you imagine a patient holding the “Be Accepted” magazine for the first time, what kind of support do you hope it provides them?
The answer is already in the question. "Be Accepted" should be something to hold on to right from the start of a cancer journey to accompany a patient throughout and beyond. When you can actively participate in your health journey, everything runs smoother. And guess what? It’s also more sustainable, efficient, and effective for everyone involved. If a patient can attend her therapy in one go, there will be no delays in staging, follow-up appointments, and treatments will work more effectively. If a patient is adequately informed right at the start and has access to relevant information, everyone benefits and saves time. If a patient knows her options and finds out that in many cases, you can live well with cancer, it builds trust—and trust is really the foundation of everything. It is important for the population to motivate them to attend screening programs, to trust that there are options, and to understand that cancer does not equal death. It is important for them to have a guide, so they will move on to certified cancer centers and not get lost.
Are there any messages or stories in the magazine that you particularly wanted to highlight? Which parts do you see readers most connecting with?
First, the letter at the beginning of the magazine. The Smart 8. Each single tentacle of the octopus plays a role, and all are important to consider. The focus must be on conventional medicine; what you choose within the rubrics is individual. For instance, I reach a deep relaxation with Qi Gong; for others, it might be going into nature or practicing meditation. Tips from Caro should help to translate theoretical knowledge into everyday life.
In your opinion, how should corporate responsibility take shape alongside individual efforts in the fight against breast cancer? How does "Be Accepted" serve as an example in this regard?
It is always a 360-degree approach that will make initiatives or projects successful; it is never one alone. "Be Accepted" has many endorsements from European, Arabian, and national societies, private sponsors, and supporters, and it has a strategic partnership with Siemens Healthineers. Siemens Healthineers is a great example of how corporates can apply a 360-degree approach and do more for their clients and for society beyond personal interest. By helping to translate "Be Accepted" into different languages and providing the "Be Accepted" magazine in large numbers to radiologists, it helps many who are diagnosed but also raises awareness for the importance of attending screening programs, the ideal treatment pathway, how to cope with it, and even how to live healthy lives. "Be Accepted" is a program that can be applied by everyone. THIS 360-DEGREE APPROACH, applying the Smart 8, is a way you can live your life with a focus on what really matters. What the Healthineers do makes a real difference and mirrors their mission of pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare for everyone, everywhere, sustainably.
What would you like to say to someone reading this interview who is just beginning a similar journey?
You are stronger than what comes your way. You are in the driver's seat of your life and have the choice of how to react to what happens to you to make it work for you. Needless to say, it is not easy, but we can learn how to cope with the situation and live well. We will never have a guarantee, but we can do a lot to improve our chances. For myself, I am still undergoing four ongoing therapies; my life as a cancer patient has become a very special quality of life.