Breast Cancer Taught Me All I Needed to Know About Aging

I will forever be too young to be old.

- DIANE GILMAN, AS TOLD TO SHANNEN ZITZ

As a fashion designer who transitioned from dressing rock stars to making jeans for aging women, I thought aging meant reinventing yourself—finding new ways to feel confident and beautiful. That is, until I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 71 and beat it three years later at 74.

UNEXPECTED EPIPHANY

While I was receiving treatment, I experienced a truly pivotal moment. About halfway through my treatment protocol, I remember the nurses clamoring over a patient named Sheila, excitedly telling her how they had saved her a few of her favorite sandwiches. I was a little envious! Because of the fuss they were making, I assumed she was a soap opera star, a news anchor, or someone with a big name. No one had thought to bring me lunch—not that I liked the hospital food.