Sisters share a special kind of bond—one that weaves through childhood memories, teenage milestones, and the many joys and challenges of adulthood. For TPA Leadership Council member Jessica Ackerson and her sister Rachel Weigensberg, that bond took on a new depth when both were diagnosed with breast cancer within two years of each other.
Growing up, Jessica, the younger sister, always wanted to be part of Rachel’s world. “When she had friends over, I just wanted to be included,” she recalls. “One of my favorite memories is listening to Tiffany on her cassette stereo and taking turns dancing to each song.” Rachel, four grades ahead, was less enthusiastic about her little sister’s attempts to tag along but admits, “As we got older and I went away to school, we got closer. Now, we rarely go a day without speaking.”
Their sisterhood evolved into a deep friendship through college, relationships, weddings, and motherhood. Then, at 38, Jessica’s routine gynecological visit led to a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. “My doctor wasn’t overly concerned but wanted to get a baseline. The rest was history.” She hadn’t told Rachel about the appointment but called her in tears from the parking garage. A biopsy confirmed she had ER+ HER2- breast cancer.
Two years later, Rachel found a lump in the shower. “It seemed to appear out of nowhere. Based on absolutely nothing, I didn’t believe cancer worked like that.” But an ultrasound and multiple biopsies later, she was diagnosed with ER- HER2+ breast cancer. “Having no family history and nothing in genetic testing, it was mind-boggling that it was happening to our family again.”
For Jessica, Rachel’s diagnosis was a gut punch. “She had always done everything first in life—not that either of us wanted this—but suddenly, I was the one in the know. I felt helpless.” Rachel, meanwhile, was still processing the surreal reality. “It was crazy that we were the first in our family to have breast cancer, both relatively young, and with different types.”
Through treatment, their sisterhood became a lifeline. They traveled between their homes in Chicago and Boston, making sure to be there for each other. “We both have two kids and busy households, but we did whatever we could to close those miles,” Rachel shares. The little things—texting throughout the day, comparing post-surgical bras, sharing tips on what to pack for chemo—became their way of lifting each other up.
“Each milestone my sister hit felt like I was hitting my own all over again,” Jessica reflects. For Rachel, having her sister’s firsthand knowledge made the process less overwhelming. “I felt better prepared for what to expect, what doctors to see, and what questions to ask.”
Breast cancer has reshaped their perspective on life, health, and each other. “I tackle life head-on and don’t leave room for regrets,” Jessica says. “I always knew my sister was a badass, but now everyone else does too.” Rachel, still adjusting to life after treatment, sums it up in the words of Dory from Finding Nemo: “Just keep swimming.” Their journey has also deepened their commitment to breast cancer awareness and research. Jessica found The Pink Agenda after attending Pink on the River in Chicago in 2023. “I never looked back,” she says. “Being part of TPA gives me a sense of purpose, knowing I can be a resource for others going through this.”
