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A survivor's journey through breast cancer dia

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<strong>cancer</strong> <strong>dia</strong>gnosis and treatment<br />

Finding strength from others<br />

Jonna began feeling the challenges<br />

a <strong>cancer</strong> <strong>dia</strong>gnosis can bring. The<br />

independent, single mom needed to<br />

learn to ask others for help.<br />

Monday, Oct. 13, 2008<br />

“Sitting home and healing is not an easy<br />

task for someone who is used to doing a<br />

million things at once. I may have been<br />

trying to do too much on my own.”<br />

While she had the support of friends<br />

and family, she knew there were some<br />

things they couldn’t understand. Jonna<br />

found strength in Gundersen Lutheran’s<br />

<strong>breast</strong> <strong>cancer</strong> support group.<br />

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008<br />

“I met an entire room of amazing women<br />

in various stages of <strong>breast</strong> <strong>cancer</strong>. They all<br />

seem to believe in the power of humor and<br />

laughter, and I’m really glad I went.”<br />

The struggles of chemotherapy<br />

Jonna began chemotherapy, and her four<br />

months of treatment were like that of<br />

many other patients: filled with ups and<br />

downs.<br />

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008<br />

“The first day of chemo went well. I still<br />

feel pretty good, but tomorrow may be a<br />

different story.”<br />

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008<br />

“I haven’t felt as good as I had hoped. The<br />

first and second day after chemo went fine,<br />

but the third day I hit bottom and just<br />

wanted to sleep as much as possible.”<br />

Jonna realized she needed to lean on<br />

those close to her to help her make it<br />

<strong>through</strong> the emotional challenges of<br />

chemo.<br />

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009<br />

“I know people think I am strong, and can<br />

handle anything, but even the strong need<br />

a shoulder once in awhile. The mental<br />

part of <strong>cancer</strong>/chemo can be the worst<br />

part.”<br />

In February, she moved on to a new<br />

stage in her <strong>journey</strong>.<br />

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009<br />

“Last treatment today! The entire staff<br />

stopped by with bubbles they were blowing<br />

<strong>through</strong>out my room while hollering out<br />

congrats. In a bittersweet way, I will miss<br />

all of them!”<br />

A new chapter begins<br />

A month after her final chemotherapy<br />

treatment, Jonna began ra<strong>dia</strong>tion<br />

therapy at Gundersen Lutheran with 33<br />

treatments over about seven weeks. Near<br />

the end of ra<strong>dia</strong>tion, she began feeling<br />

emotions she didn’t expect.<br />

Tuesday, April 14, 2009<br />

“The last couple of weeks have been some<br />

of the toughest so far. Over the last few<br />

months, I’ve dealt with the physical,<br />

the mental, even the spiritual. But, the<br />

last couple of weeks have been purely<br />

emotional.”<br />

But, she was in good spirits by her last<br />

treatment on April 17, 2009.<br />

“It’s the end of this chapter, but the<br />

opening of a new one with new beginnings<br />

and new positive opportunities. The<br />

treatments are over, but my story<br />

continues.”<br />

Read more of Jonna’s story, at<br />

gundluth.org/<strong>breast</strong>care, “Survivor<br />

stories.”.<br />

Women like Jonna Peterson can<br />

feel confident in the care they<br />

receive at the Gundersen Lutheran<br />

Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast<br />

Care. The Center has emerged<br />

as a model in the nation, most<br />

recently becoming the first <strong>breast</strong><br />

center in the country to be named<br />

a Certified Quality Breast Center<br />

of Excellence by the National<br />

Consortium of Breast Centers.<br />

What does that mean for women<br />

in the Tri-state Region? It means<br />

they can be certain they’re<br />

receiving the highest quality care<br />

from a team dedicated to the early<br />

detection, efficient <strong>dia</strong>gnosis and<br />

compassionate, individualized<br />

treatment of <strong>breast</strong> <strong>cancer</strong>.<br />

Visit us online: gundluth.org 5

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