Kelsie Cancer Free After Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Scare

In 2022, Kelsie O’Dell, 35, visited Edinburgh, Scotland, with a group of friends. On the medieval grounds of the great Borthwick Castle, Kelsie’s then-boyfriend surprised her by asking for her hand in marriage.

The proposal was planned. The self-examination, however, was not planned. During the trip, a jet-lagged Kelsie threw herself onto her hotel bed. In doing so, her hand landed on her chest where she felt a lump—something she knew wasn’t supposed to be there.

Taking every precaution, Kelsie scheduled an appointment with her Saint Luke’s provider for when she returned. It proved to be the right decision, as the lump would later be confirmed to be breast cancer.

Leaving nothing to chance

When she found the lump, Kelsie had three weeks left in her European trip. But she didn’t wait to schedule an appointment through Saint Luke’s patient portal.

Within days of returning home, Kelsie underwent imaging and a biopsy at Saint Luke’s Breast Surgery Specialists, which determined she had triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive cancer that often affects younger women and carries a higher risk of recurrence.

"I was so scared,” Kelsie says. “One day I’m in Scotland where my boyfriend proposed to me. It was a fabulous trip. Then I came back and I had cancer. It was a lot to take in.”

Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute team immediately put together Kelsie’s treatment plan: 16 rounds of weekly chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy, with regular lab work and scans to monitor progress.

Elizabeth Butler, DO, a Saint Luke’s breast surgical oncologist, performed a lumpectomy, removing Kelsie’s tumor as well as some of the surrounding tissue.

“Thankfully, Kelsie did everything right,” Dr. Butler says. “Once she found the mass, she moved forward with imaging and didn't wait.”

The multidisciplinary approach extended beyond medical treatment. Her oncologist, Vinay Gupta, MD, referred her to a Saint Luke’s counselor specializing in patients with cancer, ensuring she had mental health support integrated into her care.

“I just want people to know the treatment's there, and it works,” Kelsie says. “But it’s not easy. I have a friend who was just diagnosed with cancer, but I remind her to stay strong and that I’m always here to talk.”

Staying diligent

By April 2023, Kelsie was declared cancer-free.

There is still a chance of recurrence, which is why she undergoes MRIs and mammograms every six months. Kelsie is currently halfway through her five-year surveillance plan.

“Anytime something's wrong, I'm always scared that it's cancer and I've had to train myself not to go there so quickly,” Kelsie says. “I’ve changed a lot as a person since the diagnosis. I have a different mindset and it's like learning to live a new life.”

Thankfully, Kelsie has a support system to fall back on—her husband, three children, and her parents, who moved back to Kanas City from Florida to help. This, in addition to her care team, made her feel like she had a team behind her throughout her treatment and recovery.

Today, Kelsie and her husband are working on building a new home while raising her teenage boys.

After all the highs and lows these past couple years, she remains cautiously optimistic—planning for whatever comes next.

About Saint Luke’s Breast Centers

Whether you need a screening mammogram or breast cancer treatment, Saint Luke’s Breast Centers offer a full range of services and access to the latest imaging technology. Our fellowship-trained radiologists specialize in breast imaging and our specialized breast surgeons understand the intricacies of breast anatomy, bringing expertise to handle complex and unusual cases.

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