I never thought it would happen to me. After all, I had done all the “right things” to stay healthy, so in the summer of 2020 when I felt a lump in my left breast, I was convinced it was nothing more than a cyst. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. Yet a quiet voice inside still whispered, “But what if…?”
Weeks passed. I obsessed over the lump, touching it constantly but telling no one yet. One restless August night, unable to sleep, I finally told my husband Dusty. It was around 3 a.m. and he was watching a late-night movie. Snuggling up next to him, I said, “There’s something I need to share with you.”
The overwhelming outpouring of love and support from our fans, fellow cam models and those behind the scenes at Chaturbate was a reminder that we are valued as people, not just bodies.
His face tensed with worry. I reassured him it wasn’t about us — he is my rock and my source of strength — and then I mustered the courage to say the words.
“I found a lump in my breast.”
Having finally shared the burden of this news, my mind filled with fear, questions and uncertainty, the floodgates of emotion opened. Dusty held me as I cried and he promised that whatever this was, we’d face it together. The next morning, I called my doctor, who ordered a mammogram and biopsy.
In the U.S., one in eight women face breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. As an adult performer, the thought of this diagnosis was especially terrifying. Breasts symbolize femininity, beauty, desirability — and as a webcam model, mine are on display to entice and attract viewers. My thoughts spiraled: Would I be scarred? Would I lose one or both of my breasts? Would I still feel sexy? Would my career end? If it did, how would I support myself?
While I waited for test results, I kept showing up on cam, though my mind was often elsewhere. The bruise from my biopsy made me self-conscious. I tried covering it with makeup, but that didn’t hold up against the copious amount of coconut oil we use during our streams! Surprisingly, very few people even noticed or asked why my left breast was black and blue.
The wait felt endless and when the test results finally came, I expected reassurance that the lump was benign. Instead I was told I had an appointment with an oncologist.
My heart sank. Dusty and I braced for the worst. It was October 2020, in the middle of the COVID pandemic, so offices weren’t allowing companions, but the staff let Dusty come with me to meet with the doctor.
When the oncologist entered with a somber face, I knew what the diagnosis was before she spoke a word.
“I’m very sorry to tell you, but it’s breast cancer,” she said.
The words hit like a freight train. I sobbed in Dusty’s arms. We went straight to my parents’ house to share the bad news, feeling a swirl of fear, anger, sadness and disappointment — but also a strange sense of relief. At least now we knew what we were up against.
As we processed the diagnosis and consulted with my doctors about my plan of treatment, Dusty and I also talked about our future as adult performers.
We had begun streaming on Chaturbate four years earlier, in 2016. From the beginning, it was more than a gig to us: We wanted to demonstrate an authentic, loving relationship built on mutual respect, trust, playfulness, passion and vulnerability. After many serious discussions and weighing our options, I decided to share my diagnosis openly with our community.
We had no idea how people would react, but the overwhelming outpouring of love and support from our fans, fellow cam models and those behind the scenes at Chaturbate was a reminder that we are valued as people, not just bodies.
Then came one of the hardest decisions: surgery. My cancer was stage 1: early and treatable. It was in the breast lobe rather than the milk duct, another good sign. But precancerous cells were also found in my right breast. My options were bilateral lumpectomies with radiation, or a double mastectomy with the possibility of reconstruction.
I thought long and hard, balancing survival, body image and career. I knew beauty isn’t just physical, yet I still wanted to feel attractive — to myself, to Dusty and to our online audience.
In the end, I chose bilateral lumpectomies with radiation. I was grateful to even have a choice; many women don’t.
My surgery was scheduled for December 15, 2020. COVID restrictions allowed Dusty only 15 minutes with me beforehand. The helplessness in his eyes as I was wheeled away is burned in my memory.
During surgery, I had a severe allergic reaction to the blue dye used to trace lymph nodes, and they nearly had to stop. Thankfully, the team stabilized me and removed the tumor, precancerous cells and three lymph nodes. Only one lymph node had microscopic cancer cells, which indicated we had caught it in time before the disease spread and became much more serious.
A week later, as I removed the bandages and got a glimpse of what my breasts now looked like, I was disheartened. They were deformed and misshapen, with angry red scars, stitches and bruises.
My first thought was: “They’re ruined!” I feared I’d never feel sexy again, never want to be on cam or show my breasts to anyone. But the logical part of me knew the swelling and bruising were temporary. Over time, the scars faded, becoming symbols of strength and survival, reminders of the battle I had won.
It wasn’t over quite yet, though. Next came 33 rounds of radiation. Every weekday for six and a half weeks, I drove to the clinic, undressed from the waist up, lay on the table, held my breath and let the beams target my left breast to kill any possible rogue cancer cells. The treatment itself was quick but the routine was grueling. Still, I was grateful I didn’t need chemotherapy — my “tumor score” was low, and for once failing a test was good news.
When Dusty and I returned to camming, I kept my chest covered at first. A bright red square of skin from the radiation stretched across my left side. Most of our audience already knew and respected my boundaries. New viewers sometimes questioned it, but sharing openly led to deeper connections. Many revealed that their wives, sisters or mothers had gone through breast cancer too. I realized that simply showing up, even scarred, mattered.
Millions of women carry these marks, but rarely are they seen, especially in a way that still honors them as attractive and desirable. Dusty and I knew how important it was to show that scars don’t erase sexuality or beauty, and are nothing to be ashamed of or keep hidden. Intimacy, playfulness and love still shine through no matter what our bodies look like, or how they might change throughout our lives.
Today, five years later, my scars have faded and are barely visible. Each year, when I go for my mammogram, emotions rush back, but every clear scan is a gift. Dusty and I are still thriving in our career, streaming and creating content while staying true to our mission, as well as coaching other couples through their own obstacles, whether those are relationship conflicts or navigating difficult life situations.
Looking back, I know that being keenly aware of my body saved me. I found that lump because I was very familiar with my breasts and how they felt. Had I ignored it, things could have been much worse.
I share my story with the hope that it encourages others to be vigilant as well. Check your breasts every month. Get mammograms after 40, especially if cancer runs in your family. Implore the women in your life to do the same. It could save your life, or the life of someone you love. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. But breast cancer is one of the most detectable and treatable forms — if caught early.
I am deeply grateful to be here, scars and all, living fully. I am grateful to be able to share my experience, and to continue pursuing a career path in the adult industry. Not only is it what I love doing, but it’s also proof that women can still be sexy and beautiful despite, and maybe even because of, the challenges they have overcome.
Peppermint is a longtime Chaturbate broadcaster and content creator, performing with her husband Dusty since 2016. They are also certified relationship coaches and guide other couples in cultivating and sustaining passionate, thriving partnerships. Learn more at www.peppermintdusty.com
