Fayetteville, Ga. (April 23, 2025) – Early in Tunisia Thorne’s journey with breast cancer at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, she decided that it was going to be the last time she got bad news and would try to go through treatment and recovery with low to no symptoms.
“I wanted to find different ways to get through the process,” Thorne said. “In ways that were beneficial to me and others.”
One of the ways she did this was by deciding to dress up for her chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Instead of focusing on the treatment itself, she focused on creating the outfits and experience she wanted. It turned out to be a hit with the doctors, staff members, and other patients as well, as they would often wait to see what she would be wearing at each visit.
“It would have been easy to dread chemotherapy, but instead I did my runway walk and photo shoots,” Thorne said. “I grew in ways I never would have otherwise. I changed to the best version of me.”
Thorne had lots of support, not just from family and friends flying in to attend treatment sessions with her, but also from programs from Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette. She went through both the Evolve and Thrive programs and then began doing MyFitRx at the Piedmont Wellness Center at Trilith.
Evolve is a 12-week program that encourages participants to make small changes. After completing the program, individuals will have added new habits or made positive changes to help them achieve their goals and strengthen their long-term wellness. Evolve focuses on nutrition, exercise, recovery, stress, and sleep. Thrive is a six-week, virtual mind and body workshop that can help with relaxation, stress relief, and more. MyFitRx is a physician-prescribed, customized eight-week pathway designed to help reduce fatigue while improving muscle function and range of motion. The combination of all three felt like a game-changer for Thorne, who now wants to get her certification and be a health and wellness coach as well.
Thorne was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2024 and had a double mastectomy and reconstruction in December. She credits her surgeon, Dr. Mio Yanagasiwa, and her team of nurses and staff members for helping her through a full year of appointments and treatments.
“They were just perfect and amazing,” Thorne said. “It was seamless.”
The positive mindset and the fashionable outfits certainly played a role in Thorne’s recovery, and she hoped it helped others as well.
“I think it’s important to do anything you can do to make somebody’s day a little brighter,” Thorne said. “Especially if they are going through something heavy.”
To learn more about Piedmont Fayette's oncology services and the programs offered through Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness, visit piedmont.org/cancer.