Country singer-songwriter Jillian Cardarelli has revealed she's been diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, sharing the news publicly just weeks after she found out.
The 33-year-old, known for "Over You Hangover" and "Happily Even After," was mid-celebration of her five-year wedding anniversary with husband Brian Parker and gearing up to film season two of "Crossroad Springs" when she received the diagnosis on May 21.
Cardarelli told People she had no family history of breast cancer and tested negative for related genetic markers, which made the news even harder to process. "I do not fit the profile of somebody that should get cancer at 33 years old," she said, admitting the diagnosis brought fear, sadness, and even some anger. But she was careful to draw a line around where that anger was directed. "I'm not angry at God," she said. "I'm leaning on Him more than ever."
She's since begun treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, sharing photos from the facility on Instagram alongside a message of gratitude for her medical team. "The first big step is behind me," she wrote. "Now it's time to heal while we wait for the next step in my treatment plan." She also thanked fans and loved ones directly, writing that she was grateful for everyone who had "prayed for me, checked in, and lifted me up."
Rather than keeping the diagnosis private, Cardarelli has chosen to use it as encouragement for other women to take symptoms seriously, regardless of age or family history. "It can happen to anyone," she wrote on social media. "My hope is that sharing this journey encourages other young women to get familiar with their bodies, trust their instincts, advocate for themselves, and never ignore something if it feels off." Through it all, she says her faith has held steady rather than wavered: "While this diagnosis has challenged me in every way imaginable, it has never shaken my faith." Cardarelli says she's taking the road ahead one step at a time, adding that despite everything, she still wakes up every day grateful for the gift of another day.
