‘I Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer At 24—This Was The First Sign I Noticed’

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‘I Was Diagnosed With ******* ******* At 24—This Was The First Sign I Noticed’

Every woman has a

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, though

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. It’s fair to say that many women—and perhaps especially the 

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—don’t expect it.

That goes for 

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, a 28-year-old nurse and #LightUpMBC ambassador in New Jersey. When she was 24 years old, having

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was the last thing on her mind, she says—and yet, she would soon get diagnosed with it.

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“Getting diagnosed with

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was a complete shock,” she says. “I have no family history of ******* *******, and I don’t carry any mutations, like the BRCA gene. It took about four months from the time I first noticed a lump to being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic ******* *******.”

The First Sign of ******* ******* Kelly Noticed

Kelly first noticed a relatively large lump in her ******* when she was showering one day. “It wasn’t painful, and I felt perfectly healthy otherwise,” she recalls. “Given my age, I assumed it was likely a cyst or fibroadenoma, which is common in younger women.”

Related: What Does a ******* Lump Actually Feel Like? Doctors Explain

She scheduled a doctor’s appointment, though they couldn’t see her for a few weeks. During that time, she noticed other subtle changes in the appearance of her ******* but assumed it was something benign. After all, she didn’t have any noticeable symptoms other than that.

“It was shocking to realize that my body was going through something so serious without me having any idea,” she says.

What It Was Like for Kelly to Get a ******* Diagnosis at 24

Kelly’s primary care doctor ordered a mammogram and ultrasound. The radiologist later reassured her nothing was suspicious. But she had also planned to see her OB-GYN, who performed a manual ******* exam and referred her to a ******* specialist, who disagreed with the mammogram results and ordered additional imaging and a biopsy.

The imaging and biopsy showed that not only did she have *******, but it had metastasized to her lymph nodes, liver and bones.

She was devastated. She recalls struggling to stay positive. “Emotionally, it was overwhelming, going from being a healthy young ****** to facing a terminal diagnosis,” she says. “My first oncologist even told me I only had months to live and that I would need to be on chemotherapy for the rest of my life.”

Related: The #1 Early ******* ******* Sign Most People Miss

Further, being the youngest person in the oncologist’s office makes her feel isolated at times. “It’s tough to feel like you’re in such a different place in life compared to other people your age,” she says. “I may look perfectly healthy on the outside, which made me more aware of how we never know what battles others might be fighting.”

Jenn Kelly

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Jenn Kelly

The Trials and Hopes of the Recovery Process

Kelly is currently on her eighth line of treatment. She’s undergone chemotherapy, targeted therapies, hormone treatments, and clinical trials—all of which came with their own set of side effects.

“This highlights the need for more research and funding to develop effective treatments for everyone,” she says.

Kelly has received positive results: a shrinkage of tumors in her *******, liver and bones. But the ******* hasn’t fully gone away. “While I’m thrilled with these results, I remain hopeful for the day I hear the words ‘no evidence of ********’ and for the discovery of a cure,” she says.

Until then, she’s focusing on healing and making meaning out of her pain. “While the odds are not in my favor, it has lit a ***** within me to research more, ****** *******, and advocate for myself and others,” she says.

Kelly has a deeper appreciation for life and what’s truly important, too, she shares, like a stronger bond with her husband, family and friends. She prioritizes her health through exercise, eating healthy foods, sauna sessions, meditations and hobbies, such as reading, hiking, painting, playing

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and spending time in nature.

Related: The One Thing Experts Say You Should Never, Ever Do if You Want To Lower Your Risk of ******* *******

What Kelly Wants People To Know About ******* *******

Again, educating others about ******* ******* is a huge passion of Kelly’s. “After being diagnosed, I’ve realized how much the public lacks awareness about ******* *******, especially in young adults,” she says. “Early detection matters for everyone.”

She encourages everyone to join her on October 13, Metastatic ******* ******* Awareness Day, to learn more about metastatic ******* ******* (MBC) and how you can help.

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, a virtual benefit, begins at 8 p.m. ET and will include inspiring stories and celebrity appearances.

Donating is another way to help the cause. “Funding for metastatic ******* ******* ******** limited, even though

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,” Kelly says. “

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, with no current cure available.”

You can follow Kelly’s journey on her

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,

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.

Up Next: 

Related: This New ******* ******* Screening Guideline Could Save Millions of Lives—Is Your Doctor Doing It?

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#Diagnosed #******* #******* #24This #Sign #Noticed

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