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Trenna’s Breast Cancer Journey: Grace & Grit
I have breast cancer.
“Just say those four dreaded words and then go back to the beginning.”
That’s how Trenna Derdall told her family and friends about her life-changing diagnosis.
“It was the hardest thing to do—to tell my loved ones I had cancer because I knew they would be scared,” said a teary-eyed Trenna. “I knew I was going to hurt them—that I was going to cause pain.”
She says being diagnosed with cancer is shocking.
“It takes your breath away. It’s scary and you don’t know what your life is going to be like moving forward.”
She said you fear the worst and think about all the special milestones you could miss. But she knew she had to stay strong.
“So, what I fought for was my kids—my two daughters. I didn’t want to miss convocation. I didn’t want to miss them getting married and having their babies. I wanted to be there for them.”
Let’s go back to the beginning.
Before Trenna’s diagnosis, she knew something wasn’t quite right. She was having aches in her breast, but initially assumed it was common Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms. Eventually, she did a self-breast exam and felt a lump. She immediately phoned her family doctor and scheduled an appointment. Her doctor also felt a lump. Less than 10 days later, she had an ultrasound and mammogram.
“Within two hours, the doctor phoned to tell me that it wasn’t just one lump—it was two. And they were both suspicious. They were going to send me for a biopsy as soon as possible.”
Trenna recalls sitting in the stands with family and friends watching her daughter, Kenzie, at University Softball Nationals when her cellphone rang. She quickly walked to a quieter spot, as no one knew about her recent concerns and appointments.
“I just stood there on my own wondering what was going to happen. All I could focus on was that word, suspicious.”
Biopsy Appointment
Trenna decided to tell her two daughters, Kenzie and Landry (aged 20 and 22 at the time) about the biopsy appointment.
“I felt it was important they were along for the whole journey,” said Trenna. “Their happiness and their stability is really important and I wanted them to know what was going on and what the possibilities were, versus being blindsided.”
After the biopsy, she had a decision to make—have the lumps removed or undergo a complete mastectomy.
“That did not take me long to decide—I told her a mastectomy right away.”
The Life-Changing Diagnosis
That fateful date is still etched in Trenna’s memory. She recalls working in Calgary on October 29, 2018, when she took a call from her doctor that confirmed her worst fear. She had breast cancer.
“Until you actually get that confirmation, there was a piece of me that was hoping it wasn’t true, but a part of me knew that it was.”
She phoned her family and informed them that it was, in fact, breast cancer. Then she went on with her workday.
Surgery: Deal with what you know now
Before surgery, Trenna went for CT and MRI scans. The results showed that her lumps had increased from two to six in less than a month.
She decided to move ahead with the single mastectomy after helpful advice from her surgeon to deal with what we know now.
“So, I didn’t have to make that decision right away, which was great because I was feeling overwhelmed with a lot of information and a lot of decisions.”
Her cancer was moving very quickly and it was aggressive, which lead to a new concern: lymph nodes.
After surgery, her newest worst fear was confirmed—the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. This latest development meant that she would need further treatment—chemotherapy and radiation.
“You hear that word chemotherapy and you think: side effects. You think sickness and feeling terrible and exhaustion and losing your hair and losing your identity. That’s scary.”
20 Weeks of Chemotherapy
Trenna said things became very real when she met with her Oncologist early in 2019. She was told that she had an aggressive protein-based cancer (HER2+). Due to the type of cancer and her young age (46 at the time), her treatment was going to be intense—20 weeks of chemotherapy.
Before her first treatment, her cousin, Kara (the sister-she-never-had), drove from Lloydminster and her daughter, Landry, drove from Red Deer, Alberta, so they could both be there for her appointment.
“That’s probably the most scared I’ve been. To think it was going to be five whole months of treatment was extremely hard to process.”
She says the nurses at her first appointment were angels.
“They were very compassionate and very understanding of the emotion that everyone was feeling. It was hard watching my daughter go through it—not wanting to hurt either one of them.”
The nurses also informed her that she would start losing her hair after three weeks. They said it was a good sign—that her body was reacting properly to the treatments.
In between the first two appointments, she decided to cut her long hair very short.
“When you have hair, you look healthy, normal—you look like yourself. So, when I had to shave my head, that was the turning point of vulnerability for me. People were going to know that I was sick and that was really hard.”
During this time, Trenna said she needed a distraction, so she continued to work.
“I needed something that made me feel good and made me feel whole. I worked until I had six weeks left of chemotherapy.”
Ringing the Bell
After chemotherapy, she was scheduled for five weeks of radiation—25 treatments. But she said those appointments were a breeze.
“You are in and out so fast and the staff were absolutely phenomenal.”
Looking back now, she says the journey is long and affects every aspect of your life—physically emotionally, mentally, and spirituality. But, she says you learn so much about yourself and what’s truly important to you.
“Kara was my biggest supporter through it all. She was there through surgeries, treatments, appointments and everything in between.”
Kara was also by her side when Trenna rang the bell at the end of her treatments. She says that feeling is difficult to explain.
“It is energizing,” she recalls. “There is so much relief. So much happiness you don’t even know what to do with it all. You feel like you’ve accomplished something.”
The Importance of Supportive Care
A few weeks after her radiation appointments concluded, she had her second mastectomy.
“After the second surgery, a huge wave of anxiety hit me. Everything bothered me. I couldn’t cope with the daily challenges or difficulties like I used to and that’s when I knew I need counselling.”
She signed up for the Cancer Transitions program, which is offered by the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s Supportive Care Services. The facilitating social worker eventually became her counsellor. They met every week for more than 25 weeks—roughly the same amount of time as her treatments.
“My kids and my friends would go with me to listen and try to understand what I was going through and to see how they could help. She gave me so many tools that I still use to this day to control my anxiety and stay present.”
She says the social workers are fantastic and compassionate. She is so grateful and thankful for everyone at the Cancer Agency.
“The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency saved my life. Every person through this journey made it possible that I am still here.”
Five Year Anniversary
She recently celebrated her five-year anniversary from her initial diagnosis.
“When you hit the five-year anniversary, you think: life is good. I’m watching my kids convocate from university, get engaged, plan a wedding. We get to experience all these fun, amazing moments that I fought so hard to be here for.”
She says life after cancer is very different. Since her diagnosis, her career has changed. Her relationships have changed. She has learned to set boundaries and not to make decisions based on fear, obligation or guilt.
“I do things now that make me feel happy and strong.”
Giving Back to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
Trenna decided to join the Cancer Agency’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) in January 2021. Early on in her cancer journey she knew that she wanted to be part of team dedicated to giving patients the best possible care experience during a very challenging time.
PFAC is comprised of patient and family members who have had recent experiences being a cancer patient or a family member of a patient. Patient advisors, like Trenna, partner with staff to provide direct input into policies, programs, and practices that affect patient care and services in efforts to change and improve the cancer journey.
Since joining PFAC, she has been actively involved in many
projects—she was a member of the Disease Site Working Group, she reviewed the new patient guide and shared her personal experience with cancer care at the SCA through a staff education session called: “Grace and Grit”.
Trenna has been leading PFAC as Co-Chair since November 2022, after being voted in by the other advisors. She wants to ensure that “progress is always being made and in some small way, that she can make a positive impact on individuals who are fighting their cancer battle.”
To learn more about PFAC and how to volunteer, check out their page.
Advice for New Patients
Her advice for new cancer patients is to: advocate for yourself.
“Ask a lot of questions and challenge the status quo. Be a part of your cancer treatment. It is your life; your body and it is okay to remain active in the decisions that are being made for you.”
She also recommends leaning on the people you trust most to be there for you every step of the way. Let them take care of you and the Cancer Agency will do the rest.
