CBS daytime drama Beyond the Gates has teamed up with the Know Your Lemons Foundation to shine a spotlight on life-saving breast health education through a powerful new storyline. The collaboration officially began airing on December 15, 2025, and centers on a major health crisis within the Dupree family.
In the storyline, family matriarch Anita Dupree, played by Tamara Tunie, is diagnosed with breast cancer. The goal of the partnership is to help viewers better understand what diagnosis and treatment can really look like, while encouraging awareness, early detection, and proactive health care.
Beyond the Gates is also airing two public service announcements tied to the campaign. The first PSA aired on January 1 and features series stars Karla Mosley (Dani) and Daphnee Duplaix (Nicole).
Anita’s Diagnosis and What Viewers Will See
Anita’s breast cancer is confirmed as triple-negative breast cancer, a form that disproportionately affects Black women. After sharing the devastating news with her husband Vernon, played by Clifton Davis, and daughters Dani and Nicole, viewers will follow Anita’s journey over the coming months.
The storyline will realistically explore chemotherapy, including the physical and emotional toll it takes. Viewers will see Anita experience hair loss, fatigue, and the mental strain of treatment. The story also expands to show how genetic testing affects the entire family, including the men, as Anita’s daughters and grandchildren confront the results of BRCA gene testing.
Why This Story Matters
While breast cancer deaths have declined by 44 percent since 1989, a troubling mortality gap still exists between Black and white women. Limited access to care and lack of awareness remain major barriers.
By partnering with Know Your Lemons, Beyond the Gates aims to help bridge that gap. Anita’s storyline offers a heartfelt and realistic look at a situation that is tragically common, helping viewers see how a diagnosis can ripple through families and communities.
What the Show’s Producers Are Saying
Executive producers Michele Val Jean and Tracey Thomson shared why this story was so important to tell.
“Our goal is to tell a story that raises awareness about the prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer and the importance of regular screenings to aid in early detection,” they said. “Beyond that, we want to encourage and empower women to take an active role in their own breast health. You are your own best advocate.”
Know Your Lemons on Education and Empowerment
Dr. Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont, CEO and founder of the Know Your Lemons Foundation, emphasized how vital education is when it comes to breast health.
“So often we don’t learn about breast health until we have a breast problem,” she said. “In partnership with Beyond the Gates, we can educate about the 12 symptoms of breast cancer and share an app that has saved many lives through early detection. Including us in Anita’s diagnosis is a meaningful way to raise awareness and encourage viewers to get screened and report changes with confidence.”
Features of the Know Your Lemons App
The Know Your Lemons app offers several tools designed to empower users, including:
• Custom options focused on Black breast health
• A personalized risk score based on age and health history
• A custom screening plan tailored to country guidelines
• Easy-to-understand visuals explaining the 12 signs of breast cancer
• Audio-guided self-exams to help users understand what feels normal
• Screening reminders and achievement badges to encourage consistency
About the Know Your Lemons Foundation
The Know Your Lemons Foundation is a global nonprofit founded by Dr. Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont. Through creative and inclusive education, the organization works to improve early detection of breast cancer worldwide.
Their campaigns and award-winning app have reached more than 2 billion people globally, helping make breast health knowledge more accessible, visual, and memorable. For many, that education has been the difference between early detection and a later diagnosis.
Photo Credit: CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Follow Soap Opera News on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, spoilers, recaps, interviews, and more.
Leave a Reply