Stylist Kat Cruz delivers a speech at a kickoff event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Taguig City. Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News

It's been a year since Kat Cruz opened up about being diagnosed with breast cancer, and the celebrity stylist has been using her platform to encourage the younger generation to get regular checkups and care more about their health.

Delivering a speech during the kickoff event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by the Estee Lauder Group on Thursday, Cruz reminded the youth that cancer does not care about one's age and "how healthy you think your lifestyle is."

"I wanted to open the conversation among the young who, like me, felt invincible, thought to be too busy, and always pushed back on checkups," she said. 

"It (cancer) is something that can be managed with early detection so yes, go make that appointment and include that monthly self-exam into your self-care routine," she added.

Cruz, 42, is now on cycle 16 of targeted therapy and has started with hormone therapy as part of her breast cancer treatment. 

She stressed the importance of keeping a "sense of normalcy," as well as the support of family and friends. 

"What got me through was the boundless support of family and friends, and my fight to not be defined by my sickness," she said. 

Turning emotional as she shared her learnings from her breast cancer journey, she went on: "You don't need to walk that path alone. There are so many people willing to walk it with you -- your family, your friends, and the community... That connection to people, I believe, helped my healing." 

And while it has been a challenging experience for her, Cruz still finds the silver lining in her situation, saying that it has taught her many things.

"I learned the importance of sitting still and quieting my mind, allowing me to listen to my body and give it the rest it needs to heal," she shared.

"Cancer taught me to be more intentional with my energy and actions, prioritizing what truly matters and focusing on meaningful moments rather than just staying busy," she continued. "It taught me that each decision should carry more weight, reminding me to invest my time in ways that nurture both my wellbeing and my relationships." 

"Cancer may have slowed me down, but it also opened my eyes to a more balanced purposeful way of living," she ended.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off with early detection campaign

'I thought I was too young for this': Stylist Kat Cruz diagnosed with breast cancer