Real Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira says her breast cancer diagnosis left her changed — tougher, more grounded and focused on health. A routine check after her doctor noted very dense breast tissue led to a mammogram and a diagnosis of stage 1B estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer in her left breast.
Abraira underwent surgery in June 2026 to remove the tumor. To help decide whether chemotherapy would be beneficial, she had the tumor tissue analyzed with the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score. The genomic test clarified her risk and supported the choice to receive 12 weeks of chemotherapy; she also completed radiation therapy. As surgical oncologist and clinical geneticist Doreen Agnese, MD, explained, radiation is commonly given after a lumpectomy and may also be directed to lymph nodes when they are involved. Decisions about chemo and targeted therapies depend on tumor size, lymph node status, and receptor type, and genomic assays can help guide systemic treatment for ER-positive tumors.
Treatment wasn’t without hard days. Abraira remembers resisting her first chemo appointment until her partner, Russell, gently but firmly convinced her to proceed — a moment she says “broke me to reset.” She coped by taking things moment by moment: when she felt achy or sluggish she visualized moving through a tunnel toward brighter light, a strategy that helped her stay focused and get through each day.
More than physical recovery, Abraira describes a shift in identity — a clear before-and-after. “It gave me this different type of strength and confidence,” she says. She’s started posting older photos again and says she prefers who she is now: less concerned with wigs or appearances, more attentive to what truly matters. Her priorities have changed — she eats differently, drinks far less, and centers her life on health and being the best version of herself.
Abraira has also turned her platform toward awareness. She partners selectively and chose to work with Abbott to share her experience with the Oncotype DX test because she lived it and can speak from the heart. She appreciates that the test is accessible to women from diverse backgrounds and that it brings science into treatment decisions — a message she especially wants to share with family members who might rely only on faith or superstition. “No, grandma, we’re going to listen to the science,” she told one relative, emphasizing both prayer and evidence-based care.
Her advice to other women is practical and urgent: get screened if you can, know your body, and don’t ignore changes. Perform regular self-checks and report anything suspicious — you know your body better than anyone. Abraira’s experience reinforced one clear truth for her: if you don’t take care of yourself first, it’s harder to be there for everyone else. Now, she says, health comes first, and living with intentionality and strength is the lasting gift of her journey.