Chantel’s story
Hey ladies! My name is Chantel, a.k.a. Supa Chan, and I am honoured to take part in this year's International Women's Day campaign through Alex at H.E.R Bodywear. Cancer doesn’t discriminate against anyone. Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis as a young, Black, pregnant woman with no family history of the disease was shocking and completely devastating for me and my husband.
Being an advocate during this time was the best thing I could do for myself.
The fear of the unknown meant I had to question and challenge everything that was put in front of me. My journey was long, filled with many lows and a few highs. It consisted of chemotherapy, surgery, giving birth, chemotherapy again, surgery again, and finally, radiotherapy.
I was diagnosed when I was just 10 weeks pregnant with my second child. My first child, my son, was just 15 months old. Believe it or not, I wasn’t even planning to get myself checked out. I just had finished a year of breast pumping and had been dealing with mastitis issues. I knew something felt different, but I thought it would just sort itself out. Looking back, I’m so glad I took the action needed and got seen as quickly as possible.
My advice to anyone who has just received a breast cancer diagnosis, is going through the thick of treatment, or has finally had the all-clear—whatever that looks like to you—is to know that I see you and understand what you're going through.
Those days when people call you brave, but all you want to do is curl up into a ball—I get it! When it comes to your health, always get things checked out, and if you feel like you’re not being listened to, don’t stop until you get the answers you need.
My son is now 3 years old, and my daughter is almost 18 months, so there is light at the end of the tunnel! Happy International Women’s Day to all the previvors, survivors, thrivers, and to the women no longer with us.
Find out more about my story on my Instagram account.
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