This woman’s story is mind boggling and very inspiring. Not only has she beaten breast cancer twice, while raising a young son, her husband is also currently battling brain cancer. She volunteers now for Rethink Breast Cancer. It’s a national charity targetting young women with breast cancer and their unique needs. It’s a great cause and great story.
Here it is.
Tasha Westerman can look at photos now of when she had breast cancer, and see how far she’s come.
Westerman has had the disease twice.
She was first diagnosed when she was 33, when her son was just one year old.
“I didn’t think I was going to die from it, but I did wonder how he was going to react to it. As a mom you’re very worried – what’s he going to figure out, how am I going to tell him this, is he going to know that I’m going to to get thru this?”
She underwent every treatment option available.
“I’ve had 7 surgeries, I’ve done chemotherapy twice, I’ve done radiation, I’ve done all kinds of hormone therapies, my cancer has all the predictors you can find. So I’ve done the herceptin injections , I’ve done things for post and pre menopausal women.”
And the list goes on….but her son gave her strength.
“I had a little boy and he needed a mom, and that was the ultimate thing when on those days when I couldn’t grab that glass of water, when he’d come running in the room and give me that little smile, or laugh, the day to day things that mean a lot to you – that’s what gets you through.”
Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women who are post menopausal, so when women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s get diagnosed they face a unique set of challenges.
“There’s young women who are in new relationships, and their boyfriends don’t know how to deal with it, there’s young newly married couples who always wanted to have children and now they’re going to go through chemo and that might get rid of their ability to have a child.”
Not to mention concerns about their sexuality, appearance and bank account.
In addition, Doctor Anthony Magliocco, says young women face a different kind of disease.
“Breast cancer in young women can be more aggressive, it can be a higher grade cancer and also young women who have breast cancer, it may be a clue that the breast cancer is a familial gene, that’s in the family that would carry implications for their sisters and children.”
This is why the national charity Rethink Breast Cancer is targetting Calgary – Canada’s youngest city.
Westerman volunteers with Rethink. She’s very excited about how it provides support and fundraising specifically for young women right here in Calgary, specifically ‘Live, Laugh and Learn’.
“It’s a monthly support gathering for young women who’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are going through treatment or even are in remission and trying to get back to whatever their normal life will be.”
They meet at Lululemon on 4th street, drink wine and listen to guest speakers.
It’s just one way Westerman can make a difference.
“I just want to continue to do things that really take what I’ve been through as an example for others and give them one perspective, I’ve learned and try to make a positive out of a really bad situation.”
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Rethink Breast Cancer is targetting Calgary this month, our country’s youngest city. For details on events around town and more information visit their website,