As a girl growing up, we hear stories; sex education talks about learning how to do a quick self-exam to check if you have any bumps or anything strange. It is a terrifying experience, as the Cancer Society estimates that 321,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 42,140 deaths will occur in U.S. women in 2026. For athletes, it isn’t different. Their focus is usually on strength, performance, and reaching the next finish line. But for four-time U.S. Olympian Chaunté Lowe

INTRODUCTION When we talk about what it takes to compete at the highest level, we talk about talent. We talk about work ethic, coaching, genetics, and opportunity. What we rarely talk about is what it takes to do all of that while your own body is working against you every single day. For athletes living with chronic illness: Crohn's disease, lupus, type 1 diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and others, that is not a hypothetical. It is Tuesday morning. It is game day. It is every