Amy M. Kefalas

As a single mother managing a progressive cardiovascular disease that affects both my heart and lungs, I never imagined I would here those three words, "you have cancer". I was 35 when I was diagnosed with stage 2, triple-positive breast cancer. Over that last year I completed 12 rounds of chemotherapy, 17 rounds of HER2 treatment, numerous Lupron injections, had a double mastectomy, reconstruction surgery and received the news that I am officially cancer free. I still don’t feel like a ‘survivor’, so I decided to turn my pain into purpose and share my story online. I became a Lemonista with Know Your Lemons after they found one of my videos online. Using both Instagram and TikTok I share the 12 signs of breast cancer and the importance of self-breast exams. I bring education, empathy and real-life honesty to the conversation around breast health. I make it my mission to share what it means to navigate a chronic illness and cancer with courage, humor and grit. Advocacy, for me, means empowerment, and reminding every person that their voice – and their body – matters. I hope my story reminds you that vulnerability is strength, community is powerful, and even in the hardest seasons, there’s always room for hope, laughter and connection.