Rebecca Smith shared their story at the 2025 Stupid Cancer NYC Storytelling Open Mic Event in NYC.

Rebecca Smith, a 50-year-old mom of two, is not only a cancer survivor—she’s also someone who knows the heartbreak of watching a loved one face the same battle. When Rebecca was just 13, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50—the very age Rebecca is now. In this powerful reflection, she shares how turning 50 carries a profound emotional weight and why this year, in particular, means more than ever. Listen to her moving story from our open mic night storytelling event in NYC.

“[One] of the core things I learned from my mom is that you can be sad and cry and have joy at the same time; And how f****d up that is and how wonderful that is to be all of those things all the time, most of the time or some of the time.”