‘I never would’ve felt it’: Illini Cheer Coach, non-profit director shares story of breast cancer diagnosis

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — There are a few different types of breast cancer and WCIA is spreading awareness about each kind.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation reports lobular breast cancer represents 10-15% of all invasive breast cancers. About 43,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.

In 2023, Stephanie Record, the Illinois Head Cheer Coach and Crisis Nursery executive director, was one of those people.

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She has been on the sidelines of Illini Football games the past 30 years and this season, the team's pink poms have an even deeper meaning for her after going in for a regular mammogram and receiving a lobular breast cancer diagnosis in January of 2023.

"It doesn't show up in the form of a lump or anything. It's more spread throughout the breast," Record explained. "It's one of the breast cancers that can be growing for quite a while before it even shows up on a mammogram."

It started out small, but she said every additional screening showed something a little bit different. Before she knew it, the wife and mother of two underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

"I had a couple cheer moms who walked me through the process," Record described. "One that had been through it completely and one that was also starting her journey."

Even though she's now considered "cancer-free," Illini Cheer will always stand behind its coach and the non-profit she runs in Urbana. At a recent tailgate, the team filled a wagon of supplies with donations for the organization.

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"It was just a cool way for them to pull together both parts of my life that mean so much to me," Record said.

It's clear, that she is forever thankful for early detection and a second opinion, and most of all, she's grateful for more time with everyone she loves.

"I would've never felt it, I wouldn't have even realized there was something in there growing," she said.

Record encourages everyone to go to their regular mammogram appointments. In fact, she thought about pushing her's back. Now, she's thankful that she didn't. Early detection can save lives.