Country Club Living - Palm Beach North - January 2026

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 6 | C O U N T R Y C L U B L I V I N G - PA L M B E A C H N O R T H 1 1 Kristen Berset: FROM PAGEANT CROWN TO CANCER CRUSADER - By Dan Hauser - Photos provided by Kristen Berset - L ong before she became a passionate advocate for cancer research, Kristen Berset, a former Miss Florida USA and former television news anchor, seemed to have it all. But life had other plans. Berset was diagnosed with breast cancer not once, but twice before the age of 33 — a journey that transformed her platform from glamour to grit and ultimately led her to embrace a role that could help save lives. At 26, while performing a routine self‑breast exam, Berset discovered a lump. “I found a lump in the shower,” Kristen said. Yet despite her persistence, her concern was dismissed twice; doctors told her it was a cyst and suggested “watch and wait.” Frustrated and uneasy, she sought a second opinion and, at age 27, was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Berset underwent aggressive treatment, including a prophylactic double mastectomy — a choice often reserved for those with a strong genetic predisposition. Trouble was, she had no family history and didn’t carry the common BRCA mutation. Then, seven years later, at age 33, she felt another lump. That nagging sense she knew all too well returned. “As soon as I felt it, I knew.” Once again, she underwent treatment, this time using more advanced therapies, including lumpectomy and proton radiation, and emerged a second-time survivor, cancer-free once more. Rather than retreat from the spotlight, Berset turned her journey into advocacy. Today she serves as an ambassador for Gateway for Cancer Research, a nonprofit devoted exclusively to funding early-phase (Phase I and II) clinical trials for all types of cancer. Gateway stands out for putting patients at the heart of everything. The organization mandates patient advocates in trial design, quality-of-life outcomes, and meaningful feedback during and after treatment, a rare model that ensures research serves real people, not just data. “What Gateway does is bold early-phase clinical trials that focus not only on traditional endpoints, but on improving patients’ lives,” Berset said. Since its founding in 1991, Gateway has funded more than 240 clinical trials worldwide, investing over $123 million — all directed toward early-stage research with the potential to transform cancer care. Early-phase trials, often underfunded and overlooked, are where many breakthroughs begin, including new immunotherapies, targeted treatments, gene therapy, and integrative approaches that reduce side effects and improve quality of life. By prioritizing patient-centered research, Gateway ensures that treatments are not only effective but also aligned with real-world concerns: survivorship, side effects, ease of access, and long-term well-being. That mission resonates deeply with Berset’s own story: a survivor who knows firsthand how vital early detection, rapid response, and cutting-edge therapy can be. As an ambassador, Berset uses her public profile and personal experience to remind others of two powerful truths: 1. Breast cancer can strike even if you have no genetic risk 2. Self-advocacy, starting with a simple at-home breast exam, can make all the difference She also urges support for research. Gateway has invested millions into breast cancer studies alone. “Every dollar donated goes directly to cancer research,” Berset noted. Through donor support, everyone can help fuel the next wave of discovery. Because as Berset and Gateway demonstrate, progress isn’t only possible — it’s already happening. For more information about Gateway for Cancer Research, visit www.gatewaycr.org community