Hi! I’m Chelsea. I live with my husband, Tom and daughter, Arabella in the South Hills area.

Statistics were all on my side. From my age, lack of family history, to even the location of my tumor being the most rare location in the breast for cancer. Right after my 32nd birthday, and just weeks before my daughter turned 4, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I will never forget the doctors telling me how proud I should be for taking the lump I randomly felt seriously, and that I would have never made it to my first mammogram at age 40. 

This fueled a fire inside of me and made me want to help others in any way I can. I have now become an advocate for young women and have a strong desire for better education regarding breast health. I am thankful that I had a medical professional that took me seriously, despite my age. I have learned since then, that unfortunately this is not always the case. 

Another statistic that failed me, I developed breast lymphedema in my affected breast. The loneliness, feelings of betrayal from my own body, and feeling like I was no longer in control, just fueled me even further. I now talk about lymphedema openly, in hopes that the conversation can someday be normalized and anyone suffering with this dreaded disease, feels less alone. 

I dream of a world where someday cancer can always be cured. Until then, I will never stop advocating for those who need me now, in the future, and for those that we love that have passed on from this devastating diagnosis.