Guerdy Abraira, star of The Real Housewives of Miami, says her breast cancer journey left her with a different kind of strength and confidence.
A routine concern about very dense breast tissue led Abraira’s doctor to order a mammogram, which revealed stage 1B estrogen-receptor-positive cancer in her left breast. ER-positive cancers grow in response to estrogen.
Abraira described the early weeks as surreal and disorienting. She said there was a period of helplessness and disbelief, then a slow acceptance that allowed her to make decisions and move forward.
In June 2026 she had surgery to remove the tumor. Tissue from the tumor was tested with the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score to estimate the chance the cancer would return and whether chemotherapy would be beneficial. The test results helped Abraira and her medical team decide on a 12-week chemotherapy regimen. She also received radiation after surgery.
Surgical oncologist Doreen Agnese notes that radiation is commonly given to remaining breast tissue after a lumpectomy, and that radiation to regional lymph nodes may be recommended if nodes are involved. Decisions about chemotherapy and targeted therapies typically depend on tumor size, lymph node status, receptor profile, and sometimes genomic assays such as Oncotype DX or MammaPrint.
Abraira said recovery went as expected, though it included difficult days. She remembers resisting chemo on the first day until her husband, Russell, urged her to do it for their family. That push helped her reset and approach treatment one moment at a time. She developed a mantra of focusing on small wins—getting through each morning, imagining a light growing brighter at the end of the tunnel.
The experience also changed how she sees herself. Abraira divides her life into before-cancer and after-cancer chapters. At first she couldn’t look at photos of herself before treatment; now she is beginning to share them again. She says the new version of herself—less reliant on wigs or external ‘fluff’—is someone she likes even more.
Health and lifestyle have become priorities. Abraira says she eats differently, drinks far less, and concentrates on being the healthiest version of herself.
She has used her platform to raise awareness about breast health and to share practical information. Abraira partnered with Abbott to talk about the Oncotype DX test because it directly informed her treatment decisions. She appreciates that the test is applicable across cultural backgrounds and sees it as a way to combine science with personal advocacy.
Abraira encourages women to be proactive: get recommended screenings, know how your body normally feels, and investigate anything that seems off. She urged listeners not to dismiss symptoms and to balance caring for others with caring for themselves: if you don’t prioritize your own health, nothing else matters.
Grateful for access to modern testing and care, Abraira hopes her story will prompt other women to seek testing and speak up for their health. What she gained, she says, was not just recovery but a renewed confidence and a clearer sense of what matters.