A survivor's journey through breast cancer dia

A survivor’s journey through breast
By Janelle Roghair
With no family history of breast
cancer, Jonna Peterson wasn’t
concerned when she went in for her first
screening mammogram at Gundersen
Lutheran just after her 42nd birthday.
When she got the phone call from the
Gundersen Lutheran Norma J. Vinger
Center for Breast Care asking her to
come in for further evaluation, she
figured she was like the majority of
women in her shoes, and it would turn
out to be nothing.
But for Jonna, the spot that showed
up on her mammogram was cancer. Her
world was about to change, and as it
did, she shared her thoughts and feelings
with friends and family, and now with
you, through an online journal.
The journey begins
“It’s the end of this chapter, but the opening
of a new one with new beginnings and
new positive opportunities. The treatments
are over, but my story continues.”
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008
“After receiving the phone call explaining
my diagnosis, I was surprisingly calm. My
attitude was, ‘Bring it on and let’s get this
done.’”
Jonna’s cancer was the size of a pea and
she was scheduled for a lumpectomy.
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
“Today was surgery. My first realization
waking up was that my arm was killing
me and it felt as if someone had smashed
my funny bone, but it wasn’t funny. It was
then I realized I had more done in surgery
than I had anticipated.”
During breast cancer surgery, doctors
also check the lymph nodes near the
tumor to determine if the cancer has
spread and, if so, remove them. In
Jonna’s case one tested positive for
cancer. That meant instead of radiation
therapy only, she would also need
chemotherapy.
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cancer diagnosis and treatment
Finding strength from others
Jonna began feeling the challenges
a cancer diagnosis can bring. The
independent, single mom needed to
learn to ask others for help.
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
“Sitting home and healing is not an easy
task for someone who is used to doing a
million things at once. I may have been
trying to do too much on my own.”
While she had the support of friends
and family, she knew there were some
things they couldn’t understand. Jonna
found strength in Gundersen Lutheran’s
breast cancer support group.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008
“I met an entire room of amazing women
in various stages of breast cancer. They all
seem to believe in the power of humor and
laughter, and I’m really glad I went.”
The struggles of chemotherapy
Jonna began chemotherapy, and her four
months of treatment were like that of
many other patients: filled with ups and
downs.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008
“The first day of chemo went well. I still
feel pretty good, but tomorrow may be a
different story.”
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008
“I haven’t felt as good as I had hoped. The
first and second day after chemo went fine,
but the third day I hit bottom and just
wanted to sleep as much as possible.”
Jonna realized she needed to lean on
those close to her to help her make it
through the emotional challenges of
chemo.
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009
“I know people think I am strong, and can
handle anything, but even the strong need
a shoulder once in awhile. The mental
part of cancer/chemo can be the worst
part.”
In February, she moved on to a new
stage in her journey.
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009
“Last treatment today! The entire staff
stopped by with bubbles they were blowing
throughout my room while hollering out
congrats. In a bittersweet way, I will miss
all of them!”
A new chapter begins
A month after her final chemotherapy
treatment, Jonna began radiation
therapy at Gundersen Lutheran with 33
treatments over about seven weeks. Near
the end of radiation, she began feeling
emotions she didn’t expect.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
“The last couple of weeks have been some
of the toughest so far. Over the last few
months, I’ve dealt with the physical,
the mental, even the spiritual. But, the
last couple of weeks have been purely
emotional.”
But, she was in good spirits by her last
treatment on April 17, 2009.
“It’s the end of this chapter, but the
opening of a new one with new beginnings
and new positive opportunities. The
treatments are over, but my story
continues.”
Read more of Jonna’s story, at
gundluth.org/breastcare, “Survivor
stories.”.
Women like Jonna Peterson can
feel confident in the care they
receive at the Gundersen Lutheran
Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast
Care. The Center has emerged
as a model in the nation, most
recently becoming the first breast
center in the country to be named
a Certified Quality Breast Center
of Excellence by the National
Consortium of Breast Centers.
What does that mean for women
in the Tri-state Region? It means
they can be certain they’re
receiving the highest quality care
from a team dedicated to the early
detection, efficient diagnosis and
compassionate, individualized
treatment of breast cancer.
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