Ana Dornik, a resilient breast cancer conqueror, is now a fierce advocate and ally for women facing the same battle. Partnering with powerhouse organizations like DUNAV and the Woman to Woman association, she’s on a mission to ignite awareness and arm women with the tools to stand tall in their fight. For Ana, it’s all about sharing her journey because she knows firsthand the power of testimony.
“The world needs testimonies,” she says as those stories can light the way for all. Reflecting on her own initial struggles upon receiving the diagnosis, Ana admits she couldn’t envision a silver lining. But through her personal odyssey, she discovered a newfound strength, forged in the crucible of pain and adversity. Now, “Inspired by pain and suffering” she’s turning her battles into beacons of hope for others.
In a candid interview with The Balkan Voice of The Pavlovic Today, Ana Dornik shares her profound perspective on life. Storms might lead you to your destination,” she says.
Can you take us through your personal journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer?
Ana Dornik: It was a day like any other until the moment I received the diagnosis of breast cancer. After learning about it, the only “logical” outcome for me was “I will die,” as I saw my mother off with pain, to other worlds, because she passed away from sarcoma. I didn’t know about more favorable and better outcomes.
Indeed, on that day, I died. That was the day when everything in your body stops for a second.
We become silent in the face of life, realizing how insignificant we are in comparison. Confronting death wasn’t what scared me the most – it was the fact that I had never truly lived. According to my own measure. By my own values.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your treatment process?
Ana Dornik: The biggest challenge was whether I could continuously maintain the well-being of my mind, body, and spirit. Because I knew that “slipping” in this area would open the door to questions that wouldn’t bring me good focus or healing. After all, the judgments we make about ourselves guide our lives forward. Questions rooted in fear were certainly not a good compass.
Secondly, the loss of hair and radical mastectomy of the breast were the two most difficult moments for me, alongside the realization of the diagnosis itself.
Confronting death wasn’t what scared me the most – it was the fact that I had never truly lived. According to my own measure. By my own values.
The need to love and be loved, to live and feel truly alive, is equally important to the need to be beautiful, both for yourself and the world around you.
However, over time, we come to understand the true priorities and begin to shift our focus. And that is undoubtedly mental health, which is a prerequisite for physical well-being.
How did your experience with breast cancer change your perspective on life?
Ana Dornik: Thank you for the very interesting question. Our circumstances are nothing more than our perception of reality. How we experience them makes all the difference. Think about it: when you look in the mirror and see someone upset, sad, sick, or defeated… who chose that outfit you’re wearing? We did. If we believe that illness is given to us because we deserve nothing else, who will we harm? Ourselves.
The truth is, our wardrobe is full of clothes, but WE CHOSE the ones that are tight on us. The truth is, we can change the context of what we are given. Instead of seeing illness through the lens of death, we can see it as an opportunity to finally make a change.
Imagine how many people on the planet never get this chance? Do you feel a different context of the illness I’m talking about? I can choose because it’s my right. I can choose what will move every millimeter of my body, mind, and soul. I can react to circumstances so that they serve me! Because only then have I given myself entirely to the life that has been “left” to me as the testing ground for my decisions. It’s these decisions that shape future outcomes. How powerful is that, knowing that WE are the cause and consequence of everything? No one else, just ourselves.
What inspired you to become an advocate for breast cancer awareness?
Ana Dornik: It was a moment of my own wandering through the illness.
I had no one to turn to for support and help, to exchange all those emotions I kept inside and later learned to convert into what would become my “fuel.”
In those moments of self-dialogue, I realized that statistically, every eighth woman has a similar or the same need: to feel accepted, loved, supported.
If we believe that illness is given to us because we deserve nothing else, who will we harm? Ourselves.
That’s when my journey as a patient advocate began, and it will continue as long as my awareness serves me.
There are no words to describe the emotions exchanged in these relationships.
Mental empowerment is crucial not only for women with breast cancer, but for every woman before she faces any challenge ahead.
What role does DUNAV play in your activism and how would you describe the relationship you have?
Ana Dornik: DUNAV Company recognized the dedication to women facing breast cancer from the very first day and has been a partner of the Woman to Woman association for three full years now.
It brings me joy that through our combined efforts, we can reach women across Serbia and organize free preventive breast screenings.
Mental empowerment is crucial not only for women with breast cancer, but for every woman before she faces any challenge ahead.
My goal has always been and will be the well-being and health of women, but on this path, it is essential to have the right partners who will support socially significant activities.
Why did you trust DUNAV with this initiative?
Ana Dornik: Because we share the same mission: raising awareness and empowering women. When you have the same mission as the people you work with, trust is the only option. The DUNAV company and the Woman to Woman association strengthen their relationship month by month with numerous projects, and they have tangible results ahead of them.
In what ways do you believe breast cancer awareness can be improved in our society?
Ana Dornik: We need to stop looking at illness in a one-sided way. This means avoiding running away from pain, fears, and potential suffering… Why? Because if we don’t try, we won’t grow beyond our current understanding. How inspiring can that be? It doesn’t mean recklessly charging through life; it means staying curious.
We need to explore, harness the power of “good questions,” like: “What can this fall teach me? What can this illness teach me?” or “What haven’t I done well enough to protect myself from potential discomfort?” and so on.
We need to stop defaulting to “Google searches” for side effects of diseases and medications. The first step is media education because information is readily available everywhere. The world needs testimonies from women who have survived and have powerful experiences that can be “motivational” for everyone, not just women with breast cancer.
Storms might lead you to your destination. Trust the process.
What advice would you give to someone who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer?
Ana Dornik: Stay curious. Inspired by pain and suffering. Let them teach you something. You never know what storms might lead you to your destination. Trust the process.
How do you think early detection and screening can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer?
Ana Dornik: Breast cancer is curable if detected early. But early detection requires understanding that preventative screenings are far more important than monthly visits to the hairdresser or coffee with friends. It’s not that we lack access; it’s the lack of will, and that can cost us dearly. We don’t fear the checkup itself; we fear facing ourselves if cancer is already there, knowing we had the choice to go earlier but didn’t prioritize it! I wonder, when the treatment becomes our ‘priority,’ what choices will we be left with?
What are some common misconceptions about breast cancer that you aim to dispel through your advocacy work?
Ana Dornik: “Once a woman with breast cancer, always a woman with breast cancer ”My mission is to promote the mental well-being of these women, while also acting as a form of prevention through motivational workshops across Serbia and the region. Nurturing mental stability is a prerequisite for healing. Then, we can react to any circumstance in a way that empowers us.
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I myself was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 I was must say I never thought I would hear those words being a person who never smoked. But my journey began I was well informed by my doctors from start to finish . I did not realize how strong I was until that is all I had to rely on and god’s healing hands around me through chemo, surgery, radiation treatment I weathered the storm I.m cancer free ! I have kept a journal starting 2017 until now that I read often and know I’m a survivor for a Reason!