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This Glamorous 101-Year-Old Just Beat Breast Cancer With Style And Strength

June 4, 2025

At an age when most people are slowing down, Layne Horwich faced a diagnosis that would challenge even the youngest and strongest among us — breast cancer.

But instead of letting her age define her, she chose strength, action, and optimism.

Layne at 100 years old / Credit: Scott Matasar

It all started when Horwich, then 100 years old, noticed a lump on her breast while changing into her nightgown. Without delay, her granddaughter scheduled a mammogram, which led to a diagnosis: stage one breast cancer.

While many centenarians might have chosen to forgo treatment, Horwich made a clear and confident decision to have surgery.

"She had done her own research and learned that the pill form of the medication could cause hair thinning, and she told me by no means did she want that because she went to the beauty parlor every week," her oncologist, Dr. Catherine Pesce, said.

Horwich underwent a successful lumpectomy and avoided chemotherapy or radiation. Dr. Pesce noted that Horwich’s health and vitality made her a good candidate for surgery, calling her an “extraordinarily healthy” patient who amazed everyone at her six-month follow-up.

Horwich credits her longevity to staying active — she played tennis until she was 92 — and to what she calls “a little luck.”

Even after surgery, she kept her signature sense of style intact, applying lipstick before being wheeled out of the hospital.

"I have a picture of me coming out after the surgery, and it's really funny because it doesn’t look like anything happened," Horwich said.

Layne and Dr. Pesce / Credit: Endeavor Health

Beyond her medical journey, Horwich became an unexpected TikTok star when Estee Lauder featured her in a short video, just one day after her cancer diagnosis, to highlight her decades-long loyalty to their skincare line.

The video resonated widely, capturing not only her beauty routine but also her unwavering grace.

Now 101, cancer-free, and still living independently, Horwich continues to inspire. She recently passed her driving test and enjoys spending time with her large and loving family, which includes three daughters, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Her message to women of all ages? Don’t ignore your health.