Breast cancer survivor stresses annual screening

Joan Werner has been a registered nurse in Montana since 1977. She’s seen it all when it comes to health care.

That didn’t make it any easier, though, when in December 2008 her doctor told her she had breast cancer.

“I couldn’t even feel the lump,” Werner said. “My doctor had trouble finding it as well. It was found in the mammogram.”

Werner is still a nurse at North Valley Hospital, where she has worked since 1979, and she worked nearly every day during her treatment.

“I missed a day and a half,” the Columbia Falls resident said. “That was only because my blood count was low and I shouldn’t have been around people. Still, they had to send me home.”

Werner’s cancer was removed in early January 2009. The lump measured 2.8 centimeters and had been growing rapidly. Because of the size, her doctors prescribed chemotherapy and radiation treatments to catch any lingering traces of cancer. She still goes to Glacier Oncology every six months and continues her mammograms.

“A mammogram can save your life,” Werner said. “I’ve always been a non-doctor-goer, I hated going to the doctor. That’s not the case anymore.”

Werner’s lumpectomy and subsequent chemo and radiation treatments allowed her to avoid a mastectomy. Even though she said she “sailed right through” her treatment, she admits at times it wasn’t easy.

“The first couple chemo treatments I

had nausea and my full body hurt,” she said. “I felt like I was hit by 15 Mack trucks. But it was the treatment the doctor said he’d put his wife on.”

Werner’s mother, grandmother and several aunts had breast cancer in their lifetimes. So did the family of Werner’s husband, Terry.

This leaves Werner, a native of Salem, S.D., with fears for her daughters. She tears up when she thinks of what her and her husband’s genes might mean for the two young women.

“It’s scary for my kids,” she said. “I really encourage women to get checked, especially if it runs in their family.”

Her daughters, Katrina Johnson, 33, and Kristin Werner, 30, were her biggest support during treatment and recovery.

When her hair began to fall out from the chemotherapy, she was worried about her looks.

“My hair did fall out,” she said. “It was traumatic to be able to just pull it out in clumps. My younger daughter offered to shave her head for me.”

Werner told her daughter to save her pretty hair. In an act of loving defiance, she has donated three times to Locks of Love, clipping her hair for a cause. Werner had several wigs as well as scarves she used during her treatment.

That wasn’t the only family support, as husband Terry took time off from work at Costco to drive her to doctor’s appointments.

“It’s been amazing,” Werner said of the support she has received, tearing up again. “My former boss stood by my side when I got the surgery.”

Donna Holland, Werner’s former boss, battled breast cancer the year before, and the two were very supportive in the other’s recovery. Holland, now retired, was out of cellular phone service and could not be reached.

Now cancer free, Werner has spent the last few years as one of the Flathead Valley’s top money earners in the Relay for Life. She was captain of the North Valley Hospital team last year, but has taken a more secondary role as her other medical problems have come to the forefront.

“I walked one lap,” she said of her most recent effort. “But both of my knees need to be replaced, so that was all.”

At 61, Werner said she isn’t focused on retirement, but rather on spreading the message that breast cancer can be beat.

“I can be the one that has been there and done that,” she said. “They can see someone has survived it and there are quite a few different treatments they can do.”

She got her first mammogram in 1996 at North Valley, and had been dutifully getting screened once a year.

For women who find anomalies in their screenings or get that terrifying call to diagnose, Werner offers hope.

“Just follow up with your doctor and do your mammograms,” she said. “Pray and hope everything goes well and use the support your family offers.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.