Chelsea Paxton Hamel, co-host on Woody and Wilcox, reveals breast cancer diagnosis
Chelsea Paxton Hamel explained the reason she had to leave early the last couple of episodes of the Woody and Wilcox show during Thursday’s episode: She was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She reassured listeners it was caught early and her prognosis looks good, but wanted to explain her absence from the morning radio show and encourage others to schedule their annual medical checkups.
Speaking with the Observer on Thursday afternoon, Paxton Hamel, who co-hosts the show alongside Greg Wood and Chris Wilcox on 106.5 The End, discussed her early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, and how she felt about sharing it on-air.
Hoping to help
“It still feels surreal, because I feel healthy. I don’t feel sick at all,” said Paxton Hamel, who joined the show as an intern in 2011. “It’s been a whirlwind over the past couple of weeks, so I’ve just been taking it one day at a time and doing whatever I need to do to, to take care of this.”
Typically, she said, she wouldn’t share something like this until she finished going through it “because I like to speak from a place of experience.” But in this case, she knew people would start to notice she was missing from shows. And she’s hoping to relate to people on a personal level.
People may be inclined to schedule their own annual cancer screenings, she said, if they hear her talk about her diagnosis and experience. Paxton Hamel said the mom of one of her son’s friends told the radio host she scheduled a mammogram after listening to the show.
And with technology, science, and medicine improving, she’s hoping people will be able to catch signs of cancer earlier.
“Two days after the diagnosis, as I’m walking out of my surgeon’s office, I saw the news about Olivia Munn and her breast cancer diagnosis also,” Paxton Hamel said. “It seems to be I’m hearing stories from more women in their early 40s who are catching this, and hopefully early.”
Munn, an actress, recently announced on social media that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and underwent treatment and surgeries.
Detected early, prognosis good
Despite having no family history of breast cancer, Paxton Hamel said she gets a breast exam annually. A believer in prevention and regular checkups, the mammogram became standard protocol each year, she said.
And it’s because of that protocol that doctors were able to detect her breast cancer early.
“I just did what I was supposed to do, and here we are,” Paxton Hamel said. “I just wanted to get those those yearly checkups, and I’m glad I did.”
During the show, she said she’s had many appointments and tests to ensure the cancer hadn’t spread. She also shared with the audience that she was scheduled for surgery to remove the cancer on Friday.
“I just want to go and get it done, and to move into the recovery phase. My mom will be there, my husband, all kinds of support from people and great doctors, and I’m not worried about any of that,” she told the Observer. “I’m just anxious to get to the next step.”
Aside from anxiety about the surgery, however, Paxton Hamel said she’s feeling good about her prognosis and her treatment plan.
She said she’s looking forward to getting back to “regular life,” although she will make sure to do whatever doctors tell her.
Extensive support system
Having an extensive support system has also helped, she said. In addition to friends and family, her medical team rallied around her to help coordinate her treatment and recovery.
“The second I got my diagnosis, I had a nurse coordinator who I met with immediately. Then I met with the surgeon and I have this whole team of people, doctors, and radiology, and oncology,” she said. “Someone laid out all my appointments for me, people check in. I’m just blown away by how incredible it has been.”
She’s also received support from listeners of the show, who frequently call in to talk about whatever the hosts are discussing.
Before announcing her diagnosis on the show, some callers dialed in to guess why Paxton Hamel was absent, making a few humorous suggestions. But Paxton Hamel said it was fine, and she appreciated their jokes.
“Hearing those jokes just added some lightheartedness to the situation, which is a serious situation. But you know, sometimes life happens,” she said. “And obviously, I use humor to get through the day.”
What she loves about the show, she said, is it’s a place where people come together to laugh and have a good time, and “not think about the heaviness in the world.”
Bonding with listeners
After sharing her diagnosis, listeners called in to offer support, encouragement and prayers. Some shared their own experiences with cancer or trying to support a loved one.
“My favorite part of the show is sharing stories and hearing other people’s stories. Sometimes they’re more serious than others, but I think that’s so important too, because cancer affects so many people,” she said. “Having a platform or just a space to talk about those stories, and what people went through, it makes me feel not as alone. And I know somebody else listening, maybe doesn’t feel as alone in that too.”
Wilcox and Wood commended Paxton Hamel during the show for her positive outlook and for being open about her private life with listeners.
And while she was grateful for the kind words and support she’s received, she said she doesn’t want to only focus on herself.
“I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. I’m not trying to elicit any kind of pity,” Paxton Hamel said. “I just want people to know this is something that I’m going through, this is why maybe I’m missing from the show for a little bit, and just share my experience to help somebody else.”
This story was originally published March 28, 2024 at 1:48 PM.
