Meet Lauren Yerkes—breast cancer survivor, fashion industry leader, and the visionary behind Post Swim—a swimwear line designed to help women feel confident and supported after treatment. After facing one of life’s hardest chapters, Lauren transformed her experience into a meaningful solution for women navigating life after breast cancer. We’re proud to carry Post Swim on Stage and honored to share her story of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. Get ready to be inspired…

Tell us about Lauren. What did life look like for you before breast cancer?

Before breast cancer, I was honestly just living. My husband and I were in the middle of remodeling our home, dreaming about the future and building the life we wanted. I was working as the Chief Merchandising Officer at REVOLVE, a job I absolutely loved and poured so much of myself into. My career was thriving, my team meant the world to me, and I felt deeply connected to the work I was doing.

Outside of work, life was full. My husband and I were traveling, spending time with family, and enjoying the everyday things that felt so normal at the time. I was working out with a trainer twice a week, running, eating well, and doing everything I believed I was “supposed” to be doing as a healthy 37-year-old. I felt strong, grounded, and in a really good place both personally and professionally.

Looking back, I see that chapter as the version of life I thought I’d always be living…steady, predictable, full of momentum. I had no idea how much everything was about to change, or how those pieces of my life would eventually shape the person I became after diagnosis.

Can you share your breast cancer journey with us?

My journey began in December 2021, when I felt a lump on my left breast after coming home from the gym. Even though I’d just had a normal physical, my OBGYN brought me in right away. Because I wasn’t yet 40 and had no family history, they weren’t overly concerned. A mammogram came back clear, and I was told to return at 40 or sooner if anything changed.

By March 2022, things had changed. After noticing yellow stains on my shirt and nipple discharge, I went back to my doctor. An ultrasound again showed nothing, even though I could still feel the lump. We moved forward with a biopsy, and on April 7—three days before my 38th birthday—I was diagnosed with stage 2B triple negative breast cancer.

I began treatment in May: 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 12 months of immunotherapy. The first 10 rounds were manageable, but then everything shifted. I needed two blood transfusions and became violently ill several times a day. Before treatment #15, an endoscopy revealed ulcers throughout my GI tract, and my oncologist immediately stopped chemo and paused immunotherapy.

Five days before my scheduled double mastectomy, I was hospitalized and placed on a feeding tube after dropping to 104 pounds. I stayed in the hospital until surgery on November 7. I chose a bilateral mastectomy after learning I carried the BRCA2 mutation. Thankfully, the surgery went beautifully. I had a complete pathologic response and was declared cancer-free on November 11, 2022. I later underwent 30 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for nipple necrosis.

My feeding tube was removed in February 2023, followed by reconstructive surgery in March. My final major surgery—a hysterectomy to reduce ovarian cancer risk—was in December 2023.

This past November 11, 2025, I celebrated three years cancer-free. Some days it feels like a lifetime ago; other days it still feels impossibly close. I’m grateful every day that I made it through.

What inspired you to start Post Swim?

POST SWIM was really born because of my husband. In the summer of 2023, we were preparing for a trip to Maui, a trip meant to celebrate living again after everything we had been through.

But instead of feeling excited, I found myself spiraling. I was uncomfortable in my new body, unsure about my scars, self-conscious about my reconstruction, and struggling with the idea of being in a swimsuit at all.

I kept sharing those feelings with him, and he finally looked at me and said, “Then do something about it.” It was simple, but it changed everything. In that moment, I realized he wasn’t telling me to hide, he was challenging me to create a solution for myself and for every woman who has ever felt that same discomfort, vulnerability, or loss of confidence.

That’s where POST SWIM began: from a place of wanting to feel good in my own skin again, and wanting other women to have the same chance.

What pain points were you trying to solve for women with your Swimwear line?

For me, everything started with coverage, and I always say that in the most empowering way. On that trip to Maui, I wasn’t ready for people to see my scars, the rippling from my implants, or a body I was still trying to understand after everything it had been through. That became my focus. 

But as I began researching and learning more, about swimwear designed for women who have gone through mastectomies, and about the rise in breast cancer diagnoses in women under 40, I realized I wasn’t alone. So I started thinking about coverage, confidence, and what women like me actually needed. Whether someone is living flat after a double mastectomy, has had a lumpectomy or single mastectomy, or has undergone any type of breast surgery, their needs mattered. I also remembered my surgeons telling me to keep my scars out of the sun because they would heal better with protection. That only deepened my desire to create swimwear that empowers women to share their story when they’re ready, while also giving them the option to protect their scars and support healing. For women who have had reconstruction, I wanted to make sure they had silhouettes that could help conceal implant rippling if it made them self-conscious, the way it did for me. And for women who use a prosthetic, pockets were non-negotiable. Ultimately, everything came back to giving the community options.

My goal is simple, when you put on a POST SWIM suit, I want you to feel a sense of normalcy, whatever that means for you. Feeling vulnerable in a swimsuit is universal, and healing after cancer takes time. If our suits can help you feel like yourself again, even for a moment, then we’ve done what we set out to do.

What advice would you give for someone who’s not sure what to look for in swimwear after breast cancer?

1. My biggest advice is to find whatever makes you feel genuinely comfortable, and when you do, buy it in every color you love. Truly. When you’ve been through cancer, the last thing you need is a swimsuit that makes you second-guess yourself.

2. If you’re living flat, look for styles that don’t rub on your scars, lay flat against your chest, and feel good against your skin. Comfort is everything. You shouldn’t feel like you’re adjusting, tugging, or worrying about a tiny piece of fabric barely doing its job.

3. What matters most is choosing a suit that lets you feel like you again… supported, confident, and able to enjoy the moment without thinking twice about your body.

Any advice for someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer?

When someone is newly diagnosed, I always share the same pieces of advice:

1. First: You will get your life back. It may not feel like it in the beginning, but there is a version of you on the other side of this who is stronger, wiser, and still very much here.

2. Second: Just breathe. Take it one appointment, one test, one decision at a time. The overwhelm is real, but you don’t have to process everything all at once.

3. Third: Let people help you, even if you’re used to being the one who takes care of everyone else. Accepting help doesn’t make you weak; it gives you strength you’ll need for the road ahead.

And if someone is married or in a relationship, I always remind them of this: let others take care of your partner (and your kids, if you have them). The doctors and nurses are focused on you, but the people you love are carrying so much too. Allow your community to support them the same way they’re supporting you. That meant everything to me during my own journey.

What was the most helpful gift you received during your breast cancer journey? 

The most helpful gift I received was a book from Hoda Kotb called “I Really Needed This Today.” I read it every morning throughout treatment. It’s a collection of quotes, little pieces of wisdom, and gentle reminders that helped me reset my mindset each day. I’m a big “words person,” so having something uplifting to turn to, even for a minute, made such a difference. Those daily quotes helped me get through some of the hardest moments.