Sarah Wynn co-owns Wynn Farms in Greater Napanee
An Ontario farmer is thankful her doctor persisted in encouraging her to get a mammogram.
Sarah Wynn, who co-owns Wynn Farms, an apple orchard and agritourism business in Bath, Ont., wasn’t in a hurry to get the screening.
“I didn’t think too much of it, but it was my doctor who kept reminding me it’s coming up and that I need to book it,” she told Farms.com. “I have a lot to thank my family doctor for.”
Wynn had her initial mammogram in April.
One wasn’t enough as doctors wanted to do additional screening.
“At first it was another mammogram for a deeper look, then it was for a biopsy,” she said.
It was after the biopsy – on May 27th – that she received her diagnosis.
At 43 her doctor told her she had invasive lobular carcinoma in her right breast.
This kind of cancer starts in the lobules, the glands responsible for milk production. It can spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body, and be present without lumps typically associated with breast cancer.
In Wynn’s case, two lymph nodes, which help the immune system fight off infections and diseases, were impacted.
“It was so traumatic, and I was by myself at the time because my husband Jim was at the farm,” said Wynn, whose family also includes three children. “You don’t think when you live a healthy lifestyle and do everything right that something like this would happen to you.”
Sarah Wynn (Supplied photo).
In Ontario, women as young as 40 can self-refer themselves for a screening through the Ontario Breast Screening Program.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. About one in eight Canadian women develop breast cancer, and more than 32,000 women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis by the end of this year, the Canadian Cancer Society says.
For women between 40 and 49, incidence rates are about 140 per 100,000 women.
The next part of Wynn’s journey included surgery.
She had a 12-hour operation on July 20.
“I didn’t want this experience to be lived again so I opted for a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction,” she said. “The doctors used a lot of my own tissue to make everything look as natural as possible and help me feel as feminine as possible.”
On the morning of her surgery, Wynn posted to her farm’s Facebook page.
“I have breast cancer,” the message read accompanied by a photo of her in a hospital gown with her husband by her side. “By the time anyone reads this I will be in the operating room undergoing as 12-hour surgery.”
She wants her journey to be an example for other women that screenings and early detection is important.
“My cancer was already spreading when I had my mammogram, so who knows what could’ve happened if I’d waited any longer,” Wynn said. “I understand the vulnerability of being in the breast cancer clinic. I hope my story can help other women.”
Between the surgery, and the following radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Wynn’s body documents the evidence of her journey.
“My hair is falling out, and that’s a bummer. And I have lots of scars and it can be a lot to look at whenever I get undressed,” she said. “But these scars not only say that I’m a breast cancer fighter but that I’m also a breast cancer survivor.”
In addition, as a farmer, mom, and a wife, Wynn is used to being busy and focusing on the next task.
But she’s had to learn to slow down.
“I’m a go-getter and at times it’s discouraging,” she said. “I’ve had to learn to put a lot of trust in people and hope they have the same passion for our farm as I do. And I’ve also been reminded that this is my time to fight so I can be here in the future, so as hard as it is, I’ve had to take a step back.”
As her recovery continues, Wynn is using this experience to take stock of the positives in her life.
The little things matter more than ever now.
“I now seek to find gratitude daily,” she said. “From the sunshine on my face, a butterfly on my window or the power of prayer. These are things I might have overlooked before, but not anymore.”
As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Farms.com is looking for more women in ag who who’d like to share their breast cancer journeys.
Anyone interested can contact Diego Flammini at diego.flammini@farms.com or at 1-888-248-4893, ext. 208.