Finding out that you have metastatic breast cancer that has spread to your brain could be devastating.
For Stephanie Kinsella, 29, of Allentown, it was a catalyst to try something new.
Less than a month after being treated for a brain lesion in August as a result of stage IV breast cancer, she embraced her love of cooking and launched "Chef Steph" through a video blog on her Facebook, Instagram and TikTok profiles in order to connect with other cancer patients.
"I've always been interested in cooking, even as a teenager," she said. "This is something I wanted to do when I was originally diagnosed. This time I'm more mentally prepared."
This time. Because when she learned she had breast cancer in 2024, she underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy in 2025.
This time, the Lehighton High School and Penn State University graduate has the benefit of experience to guide her future.
"I wouldn't be where I'm at today of it wasn't for the wonderful care I've received through St. Luke's," Chef Steph said.
Eleanor Harris, MD, the chief of radiation oncology at the St. Luke’s, said, "Stephanie embodies such determination to conquer her cancer and live her life fully… She's positive and willing to do whatever is necessary."
Steph first received her breast cancer diagnosis at age 27. She had already braced herself for the diagnosis, even though she hadn't discovered a lump. She said one breast felt heavier than the other, and a little harder.
"There is a list of symptoms we are told to look for," Steph said, "but that list is not all-encompassing. My symptoms were different. I simply felt that something was off. It wasn’t a lump, and if I hadn’t gotten it checked out, I might not be here today.”
Following her initial diagnosis, genetic testing showed that Steph had the BRCA1 gene for susceptibility to breast cancer. Steph underwent six months of chemotherapy before St. Luke's surgical oncologist Mohamed Lareef, MD, performed a double mastectomy. She then received five weeks of radiation therapy, five days a week.
Everything was going great until this past August when she suffered a seizure. Tests revealed that the same cancer had spread to her brain, causing a lesion, and was now stage 4 cancer.
Because the lesion was too small for surgery, she received stereotactic radiosurgery, a non-surgical form of radiation therapy used to treat brain and body tumors. She is under the care of Dr. Harris, Dr. Shah and St. Luke's medical oncologist Subhash Proothi, MD.
Instead of sinking into despair, Steph found renewed energy and purpose.
"I was like, 'Are you kidding me!'," she said. "I already did this once, but I am even more ready to fight this time, The first time, I was floating through everything, doing what I was told with appointments and treatments and going through those emotions."
Being able to draw on that in retrospect, she had one response: "Hell no, it's not getting me. I put on my oven mitts and said let's get cooking. The kitchen is the only place where I really have control "
Chef Steph is interested in sharing recipes and cancer journeys with other oncology patients, one video blog at a time.
