Team Pink: Stephanie Westby Shares Her Breast Cancer Journey

When Stephanie Westby and her husband Carl began making summer plans with their two children, Kaylin and James, they never imagined those plans would change so quickly. In late April, Stephanie received a breast cancer diagnosis that would bring unexpected challenges, along with an outpouring of love and support from family, friends, co-workers and the community.

Stephanie’s experience also reinforced a message she hopes over women will take to heart: Make routine screenings a priority and be your own advocate when it comes to your health.

Stephanie was 39 when she went in for her annual physical in March. She turned 40 on Friday, April 17, and had her first mammogram on Wednesday, April 22, at 8 a.m.

Although she had no idea what the screening would reveal, the mammogram became an important step in identifying her cancer.

Stephanie discussed the importance of routine breast cancer screenings and encouraged women to stay current with recommended appointments. She explained that your first mammogram is recommended at forty unless there is something in your genes or family history. She added that before 40, insurance normally does not cover mammograms so women would have to pay out of their pocket.

Breast cancer is becoming more common with women under 40 according to Stephanie.

She explained the process after finding the spot emphasizing how the staff at Emplify Health in La Crosse were so good at their jobs. She did not feel scared or nervous because of how they treated her.

After being called back for more imaging and a biopsy, she was told that it had been caught early, and the type of cancer is common and very treatable.

On Tuesday, June 2, she was scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy at Emplify Health in La Crosse.

The procedure would include breast reconstruction.

Stephanie, family, and friends went to La Crosse a day before her surgery where they all attended a LaCrosse Loggers baseball game that night.

The Westbys were family of the night at the game and were called out on the field. They enjoyed pizza at the hotel before she went upstairs to get ready for the next day. She said it was nice to have a distraction.

The group waited in the waiting room while she had surgery and recovered.

She was able to go home the same day.

Following surgery, the pathology report brought encouraging news. The cancer had not spread to other areas, and no cancer was found in the lymph nodes.

Stephanie did not need chemotherapy or radiation therapy. As a result, she did not experience hair loss often associated with chemotherapy.

Stephanie said the support she received helped her through the experience.

“I truly couldn’t have gotten through it without the help of my husband Carl, our two kids, and the love and support of both our families and our friends, wonderful co-workers from both the Mabel-Canton School and Local Union 669. And the community we live in!”

The community found several ways to show its support.

Mabel-Canton School held a pink-out day in Stephanie’s honor. Studio 52 members, along with owner Tiffany Danielson, held a pink workout day. Highlandville Fun Fest selected Stephanie as one of recipients of its 5k Run/Walk, while Run from the Sun chose her as one of the recipients of its Booze Buggy Raffle.

“The people that supported these groups were unbelievably generous, and we are so very grateful for each and every one of them,” she said. “We are truly blessed with so many people in our lives. We will never be able to thank people enough for everything that was done for us in a time when we needed it the most!!”

Flowers were another reminder of the many people thinking of people. Among the many arrangements she received was a cactus that represented how “prickly” cancer is.

The thoughtful gifts, special events and simple gestures of kindness reminded Stephanie and her family that they were not facing the challenge alone.

Since her diagnosis, Stephanie has also connected with two other women who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. One had received her diagnosis about a month before Stephanie, while the other had been diagnosed more recently. Both women needed to begin chemotherapy promptly.

Their experiences reinforced how different one person’s cancer journey can be from another’s.

Throughout the interview for this article, Stephanie stressed the importance of being an advocate for yourself. She noted that it helped she had worked in the medical industry and was able to ask her colleagues questions.