Two breast cancer survivors share their story in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month

Two local survivors have agreed to share their stories with both agreeing if it can help even one person, it’ll be worth it.

Beginning

Every story has a beginning, middle and an end. For two local women, their breast cancer stories began very similar with each having a routine mammogram scheduled that led to a breast cancer discovery – a discovery that would have never been found on its own had it not been for those mammograms. 

Lea Ann Torgerson, of Grygla, was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the left breast (Stage 2) in December of 2015. She had her annual checkup in Thief River Falls. After getting what was her 2nd mammogram at age 39, she received a call stating they wanted to perform an ultrasound on the left side of her chest. Not too long after, Dr. Bass said the results looked suspicious and ordered a biopsy with a general surgeon in TRF. “I was already prepping myself for cancer,” Lea Ann stated. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 58 (and beat the disease). Because of this, Lea Ann had already had her first mammogram at age 30, which came back clear. After the biopsy was done up high on the left breast, Lea Ann received a phone call at work about a week later. She was sitting at her desk at Digikey when Dr. Red called and gave her the news: It came back as cancer.  

As for Marilou Cwikla, formerly of Grygla, now living in Williams, she also had an annual checkup scheduled with her doctor in Roseau. This was the fall of 2015. With no family history of the disease, she was called back in after the initial test and was later called in for a biopsy to check for a suspicion of cancer. Marilou said the news to follow was devastating, “My Dr. called me at home early in the morning and he just came out and said it; I had breast cancer.” She was told it was a Stage 2 B breast cancer, but the doctor reassured her that there wasn’t a tendency of it metastasizing. Marilou recalled, “That night, I saw God holding me in the palm of his hand and I just held onto that image whenever I was afraid.  

Middle

Both women said the next steps went very fast for each. Lea Ann initially had seven lymph nodes removed at the time of the biopsy; three of which came back with tiny specks on them. She was told her options for immediate surgery, and decided along with her doctor that a lumpectomy would be the best choice. The doctor felt strongly that they had removed all of the cancer during the actual biopsy, so felt removal of the entire breast was unnecessary. This surgery was done right in Thief River Falls.

Marilou was fortunate enough to see her surgeon the day after finding out she had breast cancer. She says her doctor was very supportive and left the surgery decisions up to her. She decided on a total mastectomy of one breast. “The doctor said the chances of survival were the same whether I did a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, but my idea was to just get rid of it,” she explained. While in Grand Forks for this surgery, doctors checked the main lymph node under Marilou’s arm. It was found to have cancer so 11 lymph nodes were then removed and checked – all of which came back cancer-free.

Both women soon had outpatient surgeries to have a port inserted in their upper chest, which would be used to administer Chemotherapy in the months to follow.

Lea Ann had her first Chemotherapy in February of 2016. She says the first one was the absolute worst. “I could feel the medicine moving from one side of my body to the other,” she described. She explained how the treatments were once every three weeks and would continue that way for a full year in Thief River Falls. She’d go in for them on Wednesdays from 9am-5pm, explaining that she had two good days after Chemo so she’d usually work at Digikey Thursdays and Fridays afterwards and take the weekend and a lot of Mondays off to recover. “That’s when it would hit me. I’d come off all the medicine and just be so achy and tired,” she explained. That medicine involved a combination of four different types of Chemo, some steroids, antibiotics, Benadryl and anti-nausea meds, to name a few. With no major side effects to the treatment and medications, Lea Ann did end up in the hospital once and had to stay for a week due to extreme diarrhea that had turned bloody. After multiple tests, it was determined to be a side effect from the Chemo, which Lea Ann says was very hard on her stomach. 

Marilou’s Chemotherapy treatment was set up for approximately five months following her mastectomy. It ended up taking longer due to problems that involved a low blood count and skin reactions. Her first treatment was done in Grand Forks, along with a few others due to the complications she faced, otherwise the rest were done in Roseau. She explained that one side effect the doctors had never seen before was how the bottom of her feet turned black and cracked. “My feet looked like bratwursts that had been on the grill way too long,” she said lightheartedly. Marilou described Chemo as “hell” saying she was sick with extreme fatigue and weakness. She fainted a few times and was hospitalized twice because of the side effects. “I also battle depression and anxiety and both went through the roof. Either I was extremely emotional or I was apathetic,” she shared. Marilou also developed a C. diff infection due to the Chemo killing off all the bacteria that’s supposed to protect the body. In order to get rid of it, she had to receive donor feces because of the “good” bacteria it contains. This was administered through a tube they put down Marilou’s throat that went into her small intestine. 

After enduring Chemotherapy, both women began radiation in Grand Forks. Lea Ann’s appointments were five days a week for six weeks while Marilou’s radiation lasted five weeks. After her radiation, Marilou had another type of Chemo treatment via IV that lasted for six months, every other week. 

Lea Ann summed up her radiation experience for anyone wondering what it’s like: “It’s very quick. You have your own locker, put a gown top on and walk into a room with a VERY thick door. I would lay down on a small table that was up pretty high, grab two handles so my hands were above my head and they’d line up the machine to the three little tattoo marks they had made on me. After getting everything lined up just right, the radiation machine comes over you at an angle, gets you at another angle and maybe 30 seconds later you’re done! It’s hard to believe how tired the radiation makes you, too. 

Lea Ann said she always had someone with her on the days she had radiation, which she appreciated.

Marilou, who stayed at her daughter’s house in TRF a lot, added, “It felt like you were never home during that time.” 

End

Lea Ann Togerson and Marilou Cwikla are both cancer free today and continue to have follow-up appointments with their doctors. Lea Ann has her next appointment in a couple of weeks. When asked what will take place, she explained that they just visit and do a breast exam to make sure everything feels ok. She has not had a PET Scan because her doctor feels confident that choosing the maximum plan for Chemo, in addition to the lumpectomy, was a success in preventing any further cancer. She’ll also have a yearly mammogram done in addition to taking a daily pill called Tamoxifen that she will be on for five years.

Marilou just had a PET scan two weeks ago and everything came back clean! She has been going for checkups every six months, which will decrease as time goes on. She also takes a daily pill called Anastrozole that she will be on for five years, as well.

In sharing their story, both women want to stress the importance of self-breast checks and regular mammograms. “Don’t hesitate for a second,” both encouraged. “Mammograms save lives. Schedule that appointment,” they said.

Marilou concluded, “Cancer changes a person. Doctors and nurses are angels on earth, and family & friends are priceless. I couldn’t have made it without them and my faith.”

Facts about breast cancer in the United States

- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.

- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

- Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women.

- Each year it is estimated that over 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.

- Although breast cancer in men is rare, it is estimated 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 410 will die each year.

- Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. The damaged cells can invade surrounding tissue, but with early detection and treatment, most people continue a normal life.