Sherry’s Cancer Journey: Faith, Family, and Exceptional Care
Sherry lives in the small town of Wakefield, Nebraska.
She and her husband, Steve, a retired farmer, stay busy with their growing family – ten grandkids and “by the end of this year, we will have ten great-grandkids,” beams Sherry.
In the spring of 2022, Sherry and Steve were looking forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They had rented a house in Branson for their whole family to enjoy time together that summer.
“That spring, I noticed something didn’t seem quite right. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had skipped two of my annual mammograms,” remembers Sherry.
Sherry contacted her local doctor’s office, which urged her to get checked. After an initial examination, Sherry was referred to Nebraska Cancer Specialists (NCS) in Omaha for further testing. Sherry underwent a biopsy, which confirmed she had HER2-positive breast cancer.
Sherry immediately met with Dr. Mary Huerter Wells, a Medical Oncologist at NCS. “Dr. Wells put me at ease. She told me right away that at NCS, we meet together as your medical team,” says Sherry.
Every week, Dr. Wells and her medical team attend Tumor Conference. The team of physicians review patient cases and determine a course of action.
Sherry’s treatment plan included six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by a double mastectomy and lymph node removal. “We did the chemo first,” remembers Sherry. “I went once every three weeks for a treatment. I then had surgery, followed by five weeks of radiation.”
Throughout her treatment, Sherry was impressed by the care and support she received from the NCS team.
“Sherry always had a smile, whether feeling poorly from treatment or tired of the frequent visits. She was positive throughout her treatment and didn’t mind our frequent phone calls. Everyone who had the opportunity to take care of Sherry knows what a sweet and wonderful woman she is and how strong she was during her treatment,” said Stacey Patterson, NCS Nurse Case Manager.
The NCS team routinely made efforts to minimize the burden of travel for Sherry and her husband. It is about a two-hour drive from Wakefield to Omaha, so NCS tried to have treatments and lab work done closer to their home whenever possible.
“During my chemo treatment, they worked closely with my local hospital, so I didn’t always have to travel to Omaha,” says Sherry. “NCS also stayed in touch with my local doctor all the time. Any test, anything I had done, he was notified.”
Despite facing setbacks, such as developing an infection that required the removal of her breast implant, Sherry always felt cared for and persevered in her journey.
“Dr. Wells’ office stayed in touch with me. The nurse would call me and ask how I was doing and if I had any questions,” remembers Sherry. “They did not let me feel alone ever.”
Even getting in touch with her doctor was easy. Sherry remembers, “I called NCS one evening because I felt sick. I got the answering service, who said, ‘Well, she’ll give you a call in 15 minutes.’ And I couldn’t believe it. I was expecting someone on call to get back to me. No, it was Dr. Wells herself who called me personally.”
In addition to her NCS team, Sherry’s faith and family were crucial in helping her navigate the challenges of her cancer journey. At the top of her list, her husband’s unwavering support was an immense strength.
“I don’t know how many hours Steve spent just sitting and waiting. I think I told him daily that I was sorry that he had to go through that, but he never once complained,” Sherry shares, with a few tears in her eyes.
One year after beginning treatment, Sherry received the joyous news that she was cancer-free.
“Oh, it was very emotional. I just remember myself and my husband – we looked at the doctor and said, ‘Seriously?’ Dr. Wells said, ‘Look, I like a good joke, but I would never joke about this,’” chuckles Sherry.
Yes, she was serious–Sherry had beat cancer.
Sherry’s cancer diagnosis and treatment made it impossible to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary as they had hoped that year. But now, celebrating 52 years of marriage, they are working on a re-do to celebrate both their marriage and life together.
“To anyone who is just receiving a cancer diagnosis, I say ‘don’t panic.’ Stay in touch with your doctor, and if you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask,” says Sherry. “No question is a dumb question.”
Now, Sherry does scans every six months and is on an estrogen blocker for five years. She is thankful for the care NCS provided and her family, and looks forward to enjoying the years ahead with all of them.
