Lakeview Employee, Chelsey’s Incredible Journey of Strength and Survival
Chelsey Meuleners, a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) at Lakeview Clinic who works alongside Dr. Carlson, is not only a valued member of the clinic team but also a remarkable example of resilience and courage in the face of breast cancer.
Chelsey grew up in Cologne, attended school in Waconia, and now lives just outside of Cologne with her husband Tim and their three children: Aiden (9), Raelynn (7), and Blair (3). It was shortly after the birth of her youngest daughter that Chelsey’s life took an unexpected turn.
At just 32 years old, while breastfeeding, Chelsey noticed what she believed was a blocked milk duct or the onset of mastitis. “I didn’t think it was anything more,” she recalls. “Who would think it was something more?” After two rounds of antibiotics, her symptoms worsened; her skin began to take on the appearance of an orange peel, prompting further medical evaluation. An ultrasound, mammogram, and biopsy revealed the devastating news; Chelsey had stage three breast cancer and tested BRCA positive.
Cancer had already touched Chelsey’s family. Two aunts, a grandmother, and two uncles had previously been diagnosed with breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Still, nothing could prepare her for the fear and uncertainty that followed her diagnosis.
“My biggest fear was what do I do now? How am I going to care for my kids? Who’s going to be there if things don’t work out?” Chelsey said.
Her treatment journey was long and grueling: 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a month of radiation, a double mastectomy, full hysterectomy, and reconstruction surgery. Most recently, a new spot on her hip led to a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, followed by another round of radiation.
Despite it all, Chelsey found strength in her community. “When you first get diagnosed, you think you are alone in this. I didn’t want to burden anyone with my diagnosis,” she shared. “But they always say you have a village, and boy did that happen. There was so much love and support from family, friends, neighbors, and my amazing coworkers. There’s no way my husband and I would have made it through without them.” She added that the level of care at Lakeview was amazing. “Dr. Chinnock, Dr. McPadden, and Dr. Stapleton were my doctors at Lakeview and both they and their nurses were supportive and helpful throughout this journey.” She also recognized that the care between Lakeview, Ridgeview, and MN Oncology was a great support system during her journey.
Today, Chelsey is happy to say she is in full remission, and she’s hopeful that it stays that way for a long time. Her advice to others is “don’t wait if you feel something is off, get it checked out right away!”
Her story is not only one of medical perseverance but of the unwavering strength of community support. Chelsey continues to serve patients at Lakeview Clinic with compassion, empathy, and the unique perspective of someone who knows firsthand the impact of quality care and heartfelt support.
You can learn more about Prevention and Early Detection of breast cancer in General Surgeon, Dawn Stapleton’s article; available HERE.
Lakeview Clinic offers state-of-the-art 3-D Digital Mammography. Mammography is one tool used for breast cancer screening. Lakeview Clinic also recommends monthly self-breast exams and regular visits to your doctor as additional tools for the early detection of breast cancer. Mammogram appointments can be scheduled online or by calling (952)442-4461.