Sports · Running & Athletics · 10 hrs ago
Breast cancer survivor completes New York marathon with scars visible
Lauren Spezia completed the New York City Marathon with her mastectomy scars visible on November 1.
The 33-year-old businesswoman and influencer from New Jersey finished the 42.195-kilometer race in 4 hours, 54 minutes and 4 seconds.
She said she ran to raise awareness of breast cancer and encourage women to take charge of their health.
Spezia was diagnosed in November 2024 and underwent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
She described her scars as medical marks that saved her life, and said she did not want shame to make her hide from the world.
She chose the race partly because its route passed a hospital where she received treatment.
Spezia hopes her run will support other cancer survivors and raise awareness among women; she had discussed her plan with her medical team, which supported the campaign.
Lauren Spizia, a breast cancer survivor from New Jersey, completed the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon with her mastectomy scars visible.
She ran the 42.195-kilometre race topless and recorded a time of 4 hours, 54 minutes and 4 seconds.
Spizia said she wanted to raise awareness of breast cancer and encourage women to take charge of their health.
She said the scars were medical marks that saved her life and a symbol of surviving cancer.
Spizia was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2024 and underwent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
- Who
- Lauren Spizia, a New Jersey entrepreneur and influencer who survived breast cancer.
- What
- She completed the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon topless, showing her mastectomy scars.
- When
- November 1, 2026.
- Where
- The New York City Marathon course, including a hospital where she had gone for breast cancer treatment.
- Why
- She said she wanted to raise breast cancer awareness and encourage women to take charge of their health.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Spizia was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She told her medical team about her plan, and they supported the campaign.
Spizia completed the TCS New York City Marathon in 4 hours, 54 minutes and 4 seconds.
- Runner
- Lauren Spizia
- Race
- 2026 TCS New York City Marathon
- Distance
- 42.195 kilometres
- Finish time
- 4 hours, 54 minutes and 4 seconds
- Diagnosis
- Breast cancer, November 2024
- Treatment
- 16 chemotherapy sessions and 8 immunotherapy sessions
3 sources
What people are saying
This marathon felt like the most suitable stage to deliver a message.
Going topless was not at all about sexual intent or seeking men's attention. It was the opposite.
These scars are medical marks that were necessary to save my life and a badge of honor for having beaten cancer.